Small Claims Court San Diego: Your Filing Guide for SD County

Your landlord kept your deposit. A contractor left your project half-finished. Someone owes you money and has stopped responding. San Diego's small claims court exists precisely for situations like these — and the process is more accessible than most people expect.

This guide covers where to file in San Diego County, what documents to bring, how service of process works locally, and the specific details that trip up first-time filers.

Claim Limits: How Much Can You Sue For?

California's small claims limits apply uniformly across all counties. As an individual (natural person), you can sue for up to $12,500 under CCP § 116.221. Corporations and LLCs are capped at $6,250.

One filing-frequency rule that catches people off guard: you may only file a maximum of two claims exceeding $2,500 anywhere in California within a single calendar year. If your claim is $2,500 or less, there is no frequency restriction.

San Diego County Courthouse Locations

San Diego County's small claims cases are handled through the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. The county has several courthouse locations:

Hall of Justice — 330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 This is the main downtown San Diego courthouse and handles the bulk of small claims filings for the central and coastal areas.

El Cajon Courthouse — 250 E. Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020 Serves the East County region including El Cajon, Santee, and surrounding communities.

Vista Courthouse — 325 S. Melrose Dr., Vista, CA 92081 Serves North County inland communities including Oceanside, Escondido, and Vista.

Chula Vista Courthouse — 500 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910 Serves South Bay communities including National City, Chula Vista, and surrounding areas.

Where to file depends on where the defendant lives or does business, where the contract was to be performed, or where the incident occurred (CCP § 116.370). Filing in the wrong courthouse can result in your case being transferred or dismissed.

If you're uncertain which location applies to your dispute, the San Diego Superior Court website (sdcourt.ca.gov) has a branch locator tool, or you can call the small claims advisory line.

Filing Hours and How to Submit

Clerk windows at San Diego County courthouses are generally open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though hours can vary by location and are subject to change. Arrive early — lines can be long, especially at the Hall of Justice downtown.

To file your claim, you need:

1. Form SC-100 (Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court) — completely filled out. This form is available at the courthouse or at courts.ca.gov.
2. Filing fee — paid by cash, check, or credit card depending on the courthouse:
3. Up to $1,500: $30
4. $1,500.01 to $5,000: $50
5. $5,000.01 to $12,500: $75
6. Fee waiver (optional): If you qualify (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, or low income), file Form FW-001 at the same time.

E-filing is available for San Diego County. For parties represented by attorneys, e-filing is mandatory. For self-represented individuals, it is optional. Visit sdcourt.ca.gov for e-filing portal information.

The San Diego Small Claims Advisory Service

San Diego County provides free advisory services as required by CCP § 116.940.

Advisory phone line: (858) 634-1777

San Diego's advisory service is well-regarded and offers legal assistance workshops in addition to phone advice. Advisors can help you determine which courthouse to use, explain proper service of process, review your evidence strategy, and flag common errors before you file.

Hours vary — call ahead or check the San Diego Superior Court website for current availability. The advisors cannot represent you in court or predict the outcome of your case, but they can confirm you've filled out your forms correctly.

Service of Process in San Diego County

After filing, you must formally notify the defendant. California law prohibits you from serving papers yourself — service must be performed by a disinterested adult (18 or older) who is not a party to the case.

Your options:

• Personal service: A friend, neighbor, or professional process server hands the papers directly to the defendant. Must occur at least 15 days before the hearing date (20 days if the defendant is outside San Diego County).
• Substituted service: If personal service fails after 2-3 attempts, papers can be left with a responsible adult at the defendant's home or workplace, then mailed to the same address. Service is complete 10 days after mailing, so account for this in your timeline.
• Certified mail (clerk service): The court clerk mails papers via certified mail for a $15 fee. This only works if the defendant personally signs the return receipt — if they refuse or someone else signs, service is invalid.

After service is completed, your process server must fill out and sign Form SC-104 (Proof of Service). File this with the court clerk at least 5 days before the hearing.

Local Tips for San Diego Filers

Parking at Hall of Justice. Downtown San Diego parking is expensive. The courthouse is on W. Broadway — several paid lots are nearby, and the trolley (Blue Line) stops at Civic Center, a short walk away. For El Cajon, Vista, and Chula Vista courthouses, parking is generally easier.

San Diego businesses and the Secretary of State lookup. If you're suing a business, you must name the correct legal entity — not a trade name. Look up the business at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov to find the registered legal name and the Agent for Service of Process. Naming a business incorrectly is a leading cause of dismissed cases.

Hearing scheduling. San Diego County typically schedules small claims hearings 20 to 70 days after filing. The downtown Hall of Justice tends to have longer waits than the branch courthouses.

Mediation. San Diego County offers a voluntary mediation program for small claims disputes. A trained mediator helps both parties reach a negotiated resolution before the judge hears the case. If you're open to settlement, ask the court clerk about the mediation option when you file — it's free and can resolve your dispute the same day as your scheduled hearing.

What to Bring to Your Hearing

Judges in San Diego, like all California small claims judges, hear multiple cases in a compressed time frame — typically 15 to 20 minutes per case. Preparation is what separates wins from losses.

Bring three copies of everything (one for the judge, one for the defendant, one for yourself): - Contracts, invoices, receipts - Text messages and emails (printed, with dates visible) - Photos (printed and labeled) - A one-page timeline summarizing what happened, dates, and amounts

At the hearing, state your case concisely: what happened, when, what you're owed, and why. Let your evidence do the heavy lifting.

After the Hearing

If you win, the court issues a Notice of Entry of Judgment (Form SC-130). There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period before you can enforce the judgment — this gives the defendant time to appeal or pay voluntarily.

If they do not pay, you must take enforcement action yourself. Options include bank levies (requiring a Writ of Execution, Form EJ-130), wage garnishment (Form WG-001), and real estate liens (Form EJ-001). The San Diego Sheriff's Department handles levy enforcement.

Get the Complete Filing Guide

The procedures above cover the essentials, but a complete case requires understanding demand letters, evidence standards, what happens if you're countersued, and the full collection toolkit for after you win. The California Small Claims Court Filing Guide consolidates all of this into a printable, step-by-step format.

Get the California Small Claims Court Filing Guide