California Code
PART 3 - OF SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS OF A CIVIL NATURE
TITLE 7 - EMINENT DOMAIN LAW

CHAPTER 1 - General Provisions

Section 1230.010. - 1230.010. This title shall be known and may be cited...

Section 1230.020. - 1230.020. Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, the power...

Section 1230.030. - 1230.030. Nothing in this title requires that the power of...

Section 1230.040. - 1230.040. Except as otherwise provided in this title, the rules...

Section 1230.050. - 1230.050. The court in which a proceeding in eminent domain...

Section 1230.060. - 1230.060. Nothing in this title affects any other statute granting...

Section 1230.065. - 1230.065. (a) This title becomes operative July 1, 1976. (b)...

Section 1230.070. - 1230.070. No judgment rendered prior to the operative date of...

CHAPTER 2 - Principles of Construction; Definitions

ARTICLE 1 - Construction

Section 1235.010. - 1235.010. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, these preliminary...

Section 1235.020. - 1235.020. Chapter, article, and section headings do not in any...

Section 1235.030. - 1235.030. Whenever any reference is made to any portion of...

Section 1235.040. - 1235.040. Unless otherwise expressly stated: (a) “Chapter” means a chapter...

Section 1235.050. - 1235.050. The present tense includes the past and future tenses;...

Section 1235.060. - 1235.060. “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive. (Added by...

Section 1235.070. - 1235.070. If any provision or clause of this title or...

ARTICLE 2 - Words and Phrases Defined

Section 1235.110. - 1235.110. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, these definitions...

Section 1235.120. - 1235.120. “Final judgment” means a judgment with respect to which...

Section 1235.125. - 1235.125. When used with reference to property, “interest” includes any...

Section 1235.130. - 1235.130. “Judgment” means the judgment determining the right to take...

Section 1235.140. - 1235.140. “Litigation expenses” includes both of the following: (a) All...

Section 1235.150. - 1235.150. “Local public entity” means any public entity other than...

Section 1235.155. - 1235.155. “Nonprofit, special use property” means property which is operated...

Section 1235.160. - 1235.160. “Person” includes any public entity, individual, association, organization, partnership,...

Section 1235.165. - 1235.165. “Proceeding” means an eminent domain proceeding under this title....

Section 1235.170. - 1235.170. “Property” includes real and personal property and any interest...

Section 1235.180. - 1235.180. “Property appropriated to public use” means property either already...

Section 1235.190. - 1235.190. “Public entity” includes the state, a county, city, district,...

Section 1235.193. - 1235.193. “Electric, gas, or water public utility property” means property...

Section 1235.195. - 1235.195. “Resolution” includes ordinance. (Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1275.)

Section 1235.200. - 1235.200. “State” means the State of California and includes the...

Section 1235.210. - 1235.210. “Statute” means a constitutional provision or statute, but does...

CHAPTER 3 - The Right to Take

ARTICLE 1 - General Limitations on Exercise of Power of Eminent Domain

Section 1240.010. - 1240.010. The power of eminent domain may be exercised to...

Section 1240.020. - 1240.020. The power of eminent domain may be exercised to...

Section 1240.030. - 1240.030. The power of eminent domain may be exercised to...

Section 1240.040. - 1240.040. A public entity may exercise the power of eminent...

Section 1240.050. - 1240.050. A local public entity may acquire by eminent domain...

Section 1240.055. - 1240.055. (a) As used in this section, the following terms...

ARTICLE 2 - Rights Included in Grant of Eminent Domain Authority

Section 1240.110. - 1240.110. (a) Except to the extent limited by statute, any...

Section 1240.120. - 1240.120. (a) Subject to any other statute relating to the...

Section 1240.125. - 1240.125. Except as otherwise expressly provided by statute and subject...

Section 1240.130. - 1240.130. Subject to any other statute relating to the acquisition...

Section 1240.140. - 1240.140. (a) As used in this section, “public agencies” includes...

Section 1240.150. - 1240.150. Whenever a part of a larger parcel of property...

Section 1240.160. - 1240.160. (a) None of the provisions of this article is...

ARTICLE 3 - Future Use

Section 1240.210. - 1240.210. For the purposes of this article, the “date of...

Section 1240.220. - 1240.220. (a) Any person authorized to acquire property for a...

Section 1240.230. - 1240.230. (a) If the defendant objects to a taking for...

Section 1240.240. - 1240.240. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any public...

Section 1240.250. - 1240.250. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, where property...

ARTICLE 4 - Substitute Condemnation

Section 1240.310. - 1240.310. As used in this article: (a) “Necessary property” means...

Section 1240.320. - 1240.320. (a) Any public entity authorized to exercise the power...

Section 1240.330. - 1240.330. (a) Where necessary property is devoted to public use,...

Section 1240.350. - 1240.350. (a) Whenever a public entity acquires property for a...

ARTICLE 5 - Excess Condemnation

Section 1240.410. - 1240.410. (a) As used in this section, “remnant” means a...

Section 1240.420. - 1240.420. When property is sought to be acquired pursuant to...

Section 1240.430. - 1240.430. A public entity may sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise...

ARTICLE 6 - Condemnation for Compatible Use

Section 1240.510. - 1240.510. Any person authorized to acquire property for a particular...

Section 1240.520. - 1240.520. If the defendant objects to a taking under Section...

Section 1240.530. - 1240.530. (a) Where property is taken under Section 1240.510, the...

ARTICLE 7 - Condemnation for More Necessary Public Use

Section 1240.610. - 1240.610. Any person authorized to acquire property for a particular...

Section 1240.620. - 1240.620. If the defendant objects to a taking under Section...

Section 1240.630. - 1240.630. (a) Where property is sought to be taken under...

Section 1240.640. - 1240.640. (a) Where property has been appropriated to public use...

Section 1240.650. - 1240.650. (a) Where property has been appropriated to public use...

Section 1240.655. - 1240.655. (a) If Golden State Energy commences an eminent domain...

Section 1240.660. - 1240.660. Where property has been appropriated to public use by...

Section 1240.670. - 1240.670. (a) Subject to Section 1240.690, notwithstanding any other provision...

Section 1240.680. - 1240.680. (a) Subject to Sections 1240.690 and 1240.700, notwithstanding any...

Section 1240.690. - 1240.690. (a) When property described in Section 1240.670 or 1240.680...

Section 1240.700. - 1240.700. (a) When property described in Section 1240.680 is sought...

CHAPTER 4 - Precondemnation Activities

ARTICLE 1 - Preliminary Location, Survey, and Tests

Section 1245.010. - 1245.010. Subject to requirements of this article, any person authorized...

Section 1245.020. - 1245.020. In any case in which the entry and activities...

Section 1245.030. - 1245.030. (a) The person seeking to enter upon the property...

Section 1245.040. - 1245.040. (a) The court, after notice and hearing, may modify...

Section 1245.050. - 1245.050. (a) Unless sooner disbursed by court order, the amount...

Section 1245.060. - 1245.060. (a) If the entry and activities upon property cause...

ARTICLE 2 - Resolution of Necessity

Section 1245.210. - 1245.210. As used in this article, “governing body” means: (a)...

Section 1245.220. - 1245.220. A public entity may not commence an eminent domain...

Section 1245.230. - 1245.230. In addition to other requirements imposed by law, the...

Section 1245.235. - 1245.235. (a) The governing body of the public entity may...

Section 1245.240. - 1245.240. Unless a greater vote is required by statute, charter,...

Section 1245.245. - 1245.245. (a) Property acquired by a public entity by any...

Section 1245.250. - 1245.250. (a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, a resolution...

Section 1245.255. - 1245.255. (a) A person having an interest in the property...

Section 1245.260. - 1245.260. (a) If a public entity has adopted a resolution...

Section 1245.270. - 1245.270. (a) A resolution of necessity does not meet the...

ARTICLE 3 - Resolution Consenting to Eminent Domain Proceeding by Quasi-Public Entity

Section 1245.310. - 1245.310. As used in this article, “legislative body” means both...

Section 1245.320. - 1245.320. As used in this article, “quasi-public entity” means: (a)...

Section 1245.325. - 1245.325. Where an owner of real property seeks to acquire...

Section 1245.326. - 1245.326. Where an owner of real property seeks to acquire...

Section 1245.330. - 1245.330. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a quasi-public entity...

Section 1245.340. - 1245.340. The resolution required by this article shall contain all...

Section 1245.350. - 1245.350. (a) The legislative body may refuse to consent to...

Section 1245.360. - 1245.360. The resolution required by this article shall be adopted...

Section 1245.370. - 1245.370. The legislative body may require that the quasi-public entity...

Section 1245.380. - 1245.380. The requirement of this article is in addition to...

Section 1245.390. - 1245.390. The adoption of a resolution pursuant to this article...

CHAPTER 5 - Commencement of Proceeding

ARTICLE 1 - Jurisdiction and Venue

Section 1250.010. - 1250.010. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1230.060 and in...

Section 1250.020. - 1250.020. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the proceeding...

Section 1250.030. - 1250.030. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the county...

Section 1250.040. - 1250.040. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure for...

ARTICLE 2 - Commencement of Proceeding Generally

Section 1250.110. - 1250.110. An eminent domain proceeding is commenced by filing a...

Section 1250.120. - 1250.120. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the form...

Section 1250.125. - 1250.125. (a) Where summons is served by publication, the publication...

Section 1250.130. - 1250.130. Where the court orders service by publication, it shall...

Section 1250.140. - 1250.140. Where the state is a defendant, the summons and...

Section 1250.150. - 1250.150. The plaintiff, at the time of the commencement of...

ARTICLE 3 - Parties; Joinder of Property

Section 1250.210. - 1250.210. Each person seeking to take property by eminent domain...

Section 1250.220. - 1250.220. (a) The plaintiff shall name as defendants, by their...

Section 1250.230. - 1250.230. Any person who claims a legal or equitable interest...

Section 1250.240. - 1250.240. The plaintiff may join in one complaint all property...

Section 1250.250. - 1250.250. (a) If the only interest of the county or...

ARTICLE 4 - Pleadings

Section 1250.310. - 1250.310. The complaint shall contain all of the following: (a)...

Section 1250.320. - 1250.320. (a) The answer shall include a statement of the...

Section 1250.325. - 1250.325. (a) A defendant may file a disclaimer at any...

Section 1250.330. - 1250.330. Where a party is represented by an attorney, his...

Section 1250.340. - 1250.340. (a) Subject to subdivisions (b) and (c), the court...

Section 1250.345. - 1250.345. Subject to the power of the court to permit...

ARTICLE 5 - Objections to Right to Take

Section 1250.350. - 1250.350. A defendant may object to the plaintiff’s right to...

Section 1250.360. - 1250.360. Grounds for objection to the right to take, regardless...

Section 1250.370. - 1250.370. In addition to the grounds listed in Section 1250.360,...

ARTICLE 6 - Settlement Offers and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Section 1250.410. - 1250.410. (a) At least 20 days prior to the date...

Section 1250.420. - 1250.420. The parties may by agreement refer a dispute that...

Section 1250.430. - 1250.430. Notwithstanding any other statute or rule of court governing...

CHAPTER 6 - Deposit and Withdrawal of Probable Compensation; Possession Prior to Judgment

ARTICLE 1 - Deposit of Probable Compensation

Section 1255.010. - 1255.010. (a) At any time before entry of judgment, the...

Section 1255.020. - 1255.020. (a) On making a deposit pursuant to Section 1255.010,...

Section 1255.030. - 1255.030. (a) At any time after a deposit has been...

Section 1255.040. - 1255.040. (a) If the plaintiff has not made a deposit...

Section 1255.050. - 1255.050. If the property to be taken is subject to...

Section 1255.060. - 1255.060. (a) The amount deposited or withdrawn pursuant to this...

Section 1255.070. - 1255.070. In lieu of depositing the money with the State...

Section 1255.075. - 1255.075. (a) Prior to entry of judgment, a defendant who...

Section 1255.080. - 1255.080. By depositing the probable compensation pursuant to this article,...

ARTICLE 2 - Withdrawal of Deposit

Section 1255.210. - 1255.210. Prior to entry of judgment, any defendant may apply...

Section 1255.220. - 1255.220. Subject to the requirements of this article, the court...

Section 1255.230. - 1255.230. (a) No withdrawal may be ordered until 20 days...

Section 1255.240. - 1255.240. (a) If the court determines that an applicant is...

Section 1255.250. - 1255.250. (a) If the amount originally deposited is increased pursuant...

Section 1255.260. - 1255.260. If any portion of the money deposited pursuant to...

Section 1255.280. - 1255.280. (a) Any amount withdrawn by a party pursuant to...

ARTICLE 3 - Possession Prior to Judgment

Section 1255.410. - 1255.410. (a) At the time of filing the complaint or...

Section 1255.440. - 1255.440. If an order has been made under Section 1255.410...

Section 1255.450. - 1255.450. (a) As used in this section, “record owner” means...

Section 1255.460. - 1255.460. An order for possession issued pursuant to Section 1255.410...

Section 1255.470. - 1255.470. By taking possession pursuant to this chapter, the plaintiff...

Section 1255.480. - 1255.480. Nothing in this article limits the right of a...

CHAPTER 7 - Discovery; Exchange of Valuation Data

ARTICLE 1 - Discovery

Section 1258.010. - 1258.010. The provisions of this chapter supplement but do not...

Section 1258.020. - 1258.020. (a) Notwithstanding any other statute or any court rule...

Section 1258.030. - 1258.030. Nothing in this chapter makes admissible any evidence that...

ARTICLE 2 - Exchange of Valuation Data

Section 1258.210. - 1258.210. (a) Not later than the 10th day after the...

Section 1258.220. - 1258.220. (a) For the purposes of this article, the “date...

Section 1258.230. - 1258.230. (a) Not later than the date of exchange: (1)...

Section 1258.240. - 1258.240. The list of expert witnesses shall include the name,...

Section 1258.250. - 1258.250. A statement of valuation data shall be exchanged for...

Section 1258.260. - 1258.260. (a) The statement of valuation data shall give the...

Section 1258.270. - 1258.270. (a) A party who is required to exchange lists...

Section 1258.280. - 1258.280. Except as provided in Section 1258.290, upon objection of...

Section 1258.290. - 1258.290. (a) The court may, upon such terms as may...

Section 1258.300. - 1258.300. The superior court in any county may provide by...

CHAPTER 8 - Procedures for Determining Right to Take and Compensation

ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions

Section 1260.010. - 1260.010. Proceedings under this title take precedence over all other...

Section 1260.020. - 1260.020. (a) If proceedings to acquire the same property are...

Section 1260.030. - 1260.030. (a) If there is a dispute between plaintiff and...

Section 1260.040. - 1260.040. (a) If there is a dispute between plaintiff and...

ARTICLE 2 - Contesting Right to Take

Section 1260.110. - 1260.110. (a) Where objections to the right to take are...

Section 1260.120. - 1260.120. (a) The court shall hear and determine all objections...

ARTICLE 3 - Procedures Relating to Determination of Compensation

Section 1260.210. - 1260.210. (a) The defendant shall present his evidence on the...

Section 1260.220. - 1260.220. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), where there...

Section 1260.230. - 1260.230. As far as practicable, the trier of fact shall...

Section 1260.240. - 1260.240. Where any persons unknown or any deceased persons or...

Section 1260.250. - 1260.250. (a) In a county where both the auditor and...

CHAPTER 9 - Compensation

ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions

Section 1263.010. - 1263.010. (a) The owner of property acquired by eminent domain...

Section 1263.015. - 1263.015. At the request of an owner of property acquired...

Section 1263.020. - 1263.020. Except as otherwise provided by law, the right to...

Section 1263.025. - 1263.025. (a) A public entity shall offer to pay the...

ARTICLE 2 - Date of Valuation

Section 1263.110. - 1263.110. (a) Unless an earlier date of valuation is applicable...

Section 1263.120. - 1263.120. If the issue of compensation is brought to trial...

Section 1263.130. - 1263.130. Subject to Section 1263.110, if the issue of compensation...

Section 1263.140. - 1263.140. Subject to Section 1263.110, if a new trial is...

Section 1263.150. - 1263.150. Subject to Section 1263.110, if a mistrial is declared...

ARTICLE 3 - Compensation for Improvements

Section 1263.205. - 1263.205. (a) As used in this article, “improvements pertaining to...

Section 1263.210. - 1263.210. (a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, all improvements...

Section 1263.230. - 1263.230. (a) Improvements pertaining to the realty shall not be...

Section 1263.240. - 1263.240. Improvements pertaining to the realty made subsequent to the...

Section 1263.250. - 1263.250. (a) The acquisition of property by eminent domain shall...

Section 1263.260. - 1263.260. Notwithstanding Section 1263.210, the owner of improvements pertaining to...

Section 1263.270. - 1263.270. Where an improvement pertaining to the realty is located...

ARTICLE 4 - Measure of Compensation for Property Taken

Section 1263.310. - 1263.310. Compensation shall be awarded for the property taken. The...

Section 1263.320. - 1263.320. (a) The fair market value of the property taken...

Section 1263.321. - 1263.321. A just and equitable method of determining the value...

Section 1263.330. - 1263.330. The fair market value of the property taken shall...

ARTICLE 5 - Compensation for Injury to Remainder

Section 1263.410. - 1263.410. (a) Where the property acquired is part of a...

Section 1263.420. - 1263.420. Damage to the remainder is the damage, if any,...

Section 1263.430. - 1263.430. Benefit to the remainder is the benefit, if any,...

Section 1263.440. - 1263.440. (a) The amount of any damage to the remainder...

Section 1263.450. - 1263.450. Compensation for injury to the remainder shall be based...

ARTICLE 6 - Compensation for Loss of Goodwill

Section 1263.510. - 1263.510. (a) The owner of a business conducted on the...

Section 1263.520. - 1263.520. The owner of a business who claims compensation under...

Section 1263.530. - 1263.530. Nothing in this article is intended to deal with...

ARTICLE 7 - Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1263.610. - 1263.610. A public entity and the owner of property to...

Section 1263.615. - 1263.615. (a) A public entity shall offer a one-year leaseback...

Section 1263.620. - 1263.620. (a) Where summons is served during construction of an...

ARTICLE 8 - Remediation of Hazardous Materials on Property to be Acquired by School Districts

Section 1263.710. - 1263.710. (a) As used in this article, “remedial action” and...

Section 1263.710. - 1263.710. (a) As used in this article, “remedial action” and...

Section 1263.711. - 1263.711. As used in this article, “hazardous material” shall have...

Section 1263.720. - 1263.720. (a) Upon petition of any party to the proceeding,...

Section 1263.730. - 1263.730. Where the required action is caused to be performed...

Section 1263.740. - 1263.740. The presence of any hazardous material within a property...

Section 1263.750. - 1263.750. (a) Notwithstanding any action taken pursuant to this article,...

Section 1263.760. - 1263.760. An offer by the plaintiff to purchase the property...

Section 1263.770. - 1263.770. This article shall only apply to the acquisition of...

CHAPTER 10 - Divided Interests

ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions

Section 1265.010. - 1265.010. Although this chapter provides rules governing compensation for particular...

ARTICLE 2 - Leases

Section 1265.110. - 1265.110. Where all the property subject to a lease is...

Section 1265.120. - 1265.120. Except as provided in Section 1265.130, where part of...

Section 1265.130. - 1265.130. Where part of the property subject to a lease...

Section 1265.140. - 1265.140. The termination or partial termination of a lease pursuant...

Section 1265.150. - 1265.150. Nothing in this article affects or impairs any right...

Section 1265.160. - 1265.160. Nothing in this article affects or impairs the rights...

ARTICLE 3 - Encumbrances

Section 1265.210. - 1265.210. As used in this article, “lien” means a mortgage,...

Section 1265.220. - 1265.220. Where property acquired by eminent domain is encumbered by...

Section 1265.225. - 1265.225. (a) Where there is a partial taking of property...

Section 1265.230. - 1265.230. (a) This section applies only where there is a...

Section 1265.240. - 1265.240. Where the property acquired for public use is encumbered...

Section 1265.250. - 1265.250. (a) As used in this section: (1) “Fixed lien...

ARTICLE 4 - Future Interests

Section 1265.410. - 1265.410. (a) Where the acquisition of property for public use...

Section 1265.420. - 1265.420. Where property acquired for public use is subject to...

CHAPTER 11 - Postjudgment Procedure

ARTICLE 1 - Payment of Judgment; Final Order of Condemnation

Section 1268.010. - 1268.010. (a) Not later than 30 days after final judgment,...

Section 1268.020. - 1268.020. (a) If the plaintiff fails to pay the full...

Section 1268.030. - 1268.030. (a) Upon application of any party, the court shall...

ARTICLE 2 - Deposit and Withdrawal of Award

Section 1268.110. - 1268.110. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the plaintiff...

Section 1268.120. - 1268.120. If the deposit is made under Section 1268.110 prior...

Section 1268.130. - 1268.130. At any time after the plaintiff has made a...

Section 1268.140. - 1268.140. (a) After entry of judgment, any defendant who has...

Section 1268.150. - 1268.150. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), when money...

Section 1268.160. - 1268.160. (a) Any amount withdrawn by a party pursuant to...

Section 1268.170. - 1268.170. By making a deposit pursuant to this article, the...

ARTICLE 3 - Possession After Judgment

Section 1268.210. - 1268.210. (a) If the plaintiff is not in possession of...

Section 1268.220. - 1268.220. (a) The plaintiff shall serve a copy of the...

Section 1268.230. - 1268.230. By taking possession pursuant to this article, the plaintiff...

Section 1268.240. - 1268.240. Nothing in this article limits the right of a...

ARTICLE 4 - Interest

Section 1268.310. - 1268.310. The compensation awarded in the proceeding shall draw interest,...

Section 1268.311. - 1268.311. In any inverse condemnation proceeding in which interest is...

Section 1268.320. - 1268.320. The compensation awarded in the proceeding shall cease to...

Section 1268.330. - 1268.330. If, after the date that interest begins to accrue,...

Section 1268.340. - 1268.340. Interest, including interest accrued due to possession of property...

Section 1268.350. - 1268.350. (a) As used in this section, “apportionment rate” means...

Section 1268.360. - 1268.360. The interest payable for each calendar quarter shall draw...

ARTICLE 5 - Proration of Property Taxes

Section 1268.410. - 1268.410. As between the plaintiff and defendant, the plaintiff is...

Section 1268.420. - 1268.420. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b): (1) If...

Section 1268.430. - 1268.430. (a) If the defendant has paid any amount for...

Section 1268.440. - 1268.440. (a) If taxes have been paid on property that...

Section 1268.450. - 1268.450. If property acquired by eminent domain does not have...

ARTICLE 6 - Abandonment

Section 1268.510. - 1268.510. (a) At any time after the filing of the...

ARTICLE 7 - Litigation Expenses and Damages Upon Dismissal or Defeat of Right to Take

Section 1268.610. - 1268.610. (a) Subject to subdivisions (b) and (c), the court...

Section 1268.620. - 1268.620. If, after the defendant moves from property in compliance...

ARTICLE 8 - Costs

Section 1268.710. - 1268.710. The defendants shall be allowed their costs, including the...

Section 1268.720. - 1268.720. Unless the court otherwise orders, whether or not he...

CHAPTER 12 - Arbitration of Compensation in Acquisitions of Property for Public Use

Section 1273.010. - 1273.010. (a) Any person authorized to acquire property for public...

Section 1273.020. - 1273.020. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 1283.2 and 1284.2, the party acquiring...

Section 1273.030. - 1273.030. (a) Except as specifically provided in this chapter, agreements...

Section 1273.040. - 1273.040. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), an agreement...

Section 1273.050. - 1273.050. (a) An agreement authorized by this chapter may be...