San Diego Small Claims Court
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego (Central Division, Hall of Justice), San Diego County.
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego (Central Division, Hall of Justice), San Diego County.
All San Diego County small claims go through one office: the court treats East, North and South County as part of the Central Division. You still need a proper venue reason, and the court's ZIP list (form ADM-254) helps with that.
| Limit | $12,500 |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of San Diego (Central Division, Hall of Justice) |
| Address | Hall of Justice, 330 W. Broadway, Room 225, San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Phone | (858) 634-1919 |
| Hours | Business office Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phones are answered 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. |
| Fees | $30 for claims up to $1,500, $50 for over $1,500 up to $5,000, $75 for over $5,000 up to $12,500, and $100 if you have filed more than 12 small claims in the past 12 months. Fee waivers are available. |
| Timing | The state court self-help site says a trial date is typically about 1 to 2 months after filing. This court's own pages don't give a figure. |
| Serving papers | You can't serve the papers yourself. A friend, process server or the sheriff can do it, or the clerk can send certified mail for a fee using form SC-074. Serve at least 15 days before trial (20 if the defendant is outside the county), and file proof of service at least 5 days before trial. Costs aren't stated on the pages I opened. |
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General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.