California Unlawful Detainer Timelines: Court Days vs. Calendar Days

This page explains which deadlines in California unlawful detainer (eviction) practice are measured in court days (business days – excluding weekends and judicial holidays) and which run in ordinary calendar days. It also summarizes the main statutes and case law governing motions to vacate default judgments, providing quick links to the key authorities.

Quick‑glance takeaway

Timeline Stage	Statute(s)	Day‑Count	Typical Length
3‑Day Rent or Covenant Notice	CCP §1161(2), §1161(3)	Court days	3 business days
3‑Day Nuisance / Illegal Use Notice	CCP §1161(4)	Calendar days	3 consecutive days
3‑Day Post‑Foreclosure Quit	CCP §1161a	Calendar days	3 consecutive days
30‑/60‑Day Termination (periodic tenancy)	Civ. Code §§1946, 1946.1	Calendar days	30 or 60
30‑Day Tenancy‑at‑Will Termination	Civ. Code §789	Calendar days	30
Answer to UD Summons	CCP §1167 — 5 court days (through 12/31/24) → 10 court days (on & after 1/01/25 per AB 2347)	Court days	5 / 10
Trial Setting After Issue Joined	CCP §1170.5(a)	Calendar days	20
Summary‑Judgment & Discovery Motions	CCP §§1170.7, 1170.8	Calendar days	5‑day notice
Discovery Response & Cut‑off	CCP §§2030.260(b), 2031.260(b), 2033.250(b); 2024.040(b)(1)	Calendar days	5 to respond; cut‑off 5 days before trial

Totals → 3 key timelines now use court days; 13+ still use calendar days.

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1. Pre‑Lawsuit Notices

1.1 3‑Day Notices to Pay Rent or Cure a Breach  (CCP §1161(2) & (3))

• Uses court days. Weekends & judicial holidays are excluded.
• Amended by AB 2343 (2019) to give tenants a full three business days.

1.2 3‑Day Notice to Quit for Nuisance / Illegal Acts  (CCP §1161(4))

• Calendar days. No exclusion language; count all consecutive days (extend only if the last day lands on a weekend/holiday per CCP §12a).

1.3 3‑Day Post‑Foreclosure Notice to Quit  (CCP §1161a)

• Calendar days. Applies to former owners / holdovers; bona‑fide residential tenants usually get 90 days under other law.

1.4 30‑/60‑Day Termination of Periodic Tenancy  (Civ. Code §§1946, 1946.1)

• Calendar days. 30 days (<12 months tenancy) or 60 days (≥12 months).

1.5 30‑Day Termination of Tenancy at Will  (Civ. Code §789)

• Calendar days. Confirmed by Covina Manor v. Hatch.

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2. Filing & Response Deadlines After Suit Begins

2.1 Time to Respond to Summons  (CCP §1167)

• 5 court days (pre‑2025) → 10 court days starting Jan 1 2025 (AB 2347).
• Service method extensions still apply (e.g., substitute service adds mailing time).

2.2 Trial‑Setting Deadline  (CCP §1170.5(a))

• Calendar days. Trial must be set within 20 days after case is at issue.

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3. Expedited Motions & Discovery

3.1 Summary‑Judgment Motions  (CCP §1170.7)

• 5‑day calendar‑day notice (vs. 75 days in ordinary civil actions).

3.2 Discovery Motions  (CCP §1170.8)

• 5‑day calendar‑day notice for motions to compel or protective orders.

3.3 Written Discovery & Depositions

Discovery Tool	Statute	Wait to Serve	Time to Respond	Day‑Count
Interrogatories	CCP §2030.020(c)	5 days after service of summons	5 days	Calendar
Inspection / Production	CCP §2031.020(c)	5 days	5 days	Calendar
Requests for Admission	CCP §2033.020(c)	5 days	5 days	Calendar
Depositions	CCP §2025.270(b)	5‑day notice (10 if mailed)	—	Calendar
Discovery Cut‑off	CCP §2024.040(b)(1)	—	All discovery must finish ≥5 days before trial	Calendar

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4. Setting Aside Defaults & Default Judgments

4.1 Statutory Relief

• CCP §473(b) – Mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect (6‑month limit).
• CCP §473.5 – No actual notice despite valid service (≤2 years or 180 days from notice).
• CCP §473(d) – Void judgments (no time limit).

4.2 Case‑Law Highlights

Point of Law	Leading Cases
Excusable neglect standard	McClain v. Kissler (2019); Kendall v. Barker (1988)
Actual‑notice relief under §473.5	Kawada Co. v. Ebanos Crossing (2020); Daniels v. Murillo (2020)
Judgment void for no service	Ramos v. Oros (2023); Dill v. Berquist (1994)
Equitable (extrinsic) relief	Rappleyea v. Campbell (1994)

Practice Pointers

• Move fast – courts deny relief if the tenant is not diligent.
• Distinguish no service (void judgment) from valid service / no notice (§473.5).
• Include a proposed answer and a declaration explaining the excuse.

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5. Policy Trend & Statistical Snapshot

• Court‑day deadlines expanded in 2019 (AB 2343) and 2024 (AB 2347):
  • 3‑day rent/cure notices → court days.
  • Summons response → 5 → 10 court days.
• Everything else (trial‑setting, discovery, motions) remains calendar days.
• Current count:
  • 3–4 provisions use court‑day calculations.
  • 13+ provisions use calendar‑day calculations.

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6. References

1. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161–1161a, 1167, 1170.5, 1170.7, 1170.8.
2. Cal. Civil Code §§ 789, 1946, 1946.1.
3. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2024.040(b)(1), 2025.270(b), 2030.020(c), 2031.020(c), 2033.020(c).
4. AB 2343 (2019) – Ch. 597, Stats. 2019; AB 2347 (2024) – Ch. 424, Stats. 2024.
5. McClain v. Kissler (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 399; Kendall v. Barker (1988) 197 Cal.App.3d 619.
6. Rappleyea v. Campbell (1994) 8 Cal.4th 975; Ramos v. Oros (2023).
7. Covina Manor v. Hatch (1955) 133 Cal.App.2d Supp. 790.