County fee schedule · CA · FIPS 06067
Sacramento County, CA court filing fees
All fees on this page verified July 20, 2026. Next scheduled sweep: January.
Sacramento County runs one of California's busiest civil dockets, and its clerks reject filings that arrive with the wrong fee. Superior Court civil filing in Sacramento County is $435, verified July 20, 2026. Small Claims filing is $50.
Superior Court
Complaint or other first paper, limited civil case (up to $10,000)
Varies in Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco (local courthouse-construction surcharge; see the schedule appendix).
$225eff. January 1, 2026Complaint or other first paper, limited civil case (over $10,000 up to $35,000)
Varies in Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco (local courthouse-construction surcharge; see the schedule appendix).
$370eff. January 1, 2026Complaint or other first paper, unlimited civil case (amount over $35,000)
Varies in Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco (local courthouse-construction surcharge; see the schedule appendix).
$435eff. January 1, 2026Answer or other first paper by a party other than the plaintiff (over $35,000)
Varies in Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco (local courthouse-construction surcharge; see the schedule appendix).
$435eff. January 1, 2026Motion or other paper requiring a hearing
$60eff. January 1, 2026Preparing a copy of a record, proceeding, or paper on file (per page)
$0.50eff. January 1, 2026Certifying a copy of a paper, record, or proceeding on file
$40eff. January 1, 2026Searching records or files, for each search longer than 10 minutes
$15eff. January 1, 2026Advance jury fee (nonrefundable)
$150eff. January 1, 2026
Source: Judicial Council of California, Superior Court of California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule, eff. 2026-01-01, verified July 20, 2026.
Small Claims
Filing a small claims claim for more than $1,500 up to $5,000
$50eff. January 1, 2026Filing a small claims claim for $1,500 or less
$30eff. January 1, 2026Filing a small claims claim for more than $5,000 up to $12,500
$75eff. January 1, 2026Notice of appeal of a small claims case
$75eff. January 1, 2026
Source: Judicial Council of California, Superior Court of California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule, eff. 2026-01-01, verified July 20, 2026.
Filing logistics
- E-filing:
- available; paper accepted for some case types
- Small-claims limit:
- $12,500
- Notes
- The small-claims limit shown applies to claims brought by individuals (CCP § 116.221); corporations and other entities are capped at $6,250 (CCP § 116.220).
The fee landscape in Sacramento County
Sacramento County follows the consolidated California schedule with no local overrides on file, so the statewide figures below are the county's figures. We verify that remains true on each sweep, dated July 20, 2026.
We have not yet observed a fee change in Sacramento County since coverage began. That is a statement about our observation window, not a prediction. Each figure still carries its verification date of July 20, 2026.
On a docket the size of Sacramento County's, clerks process filings by rule, not by relationship. Court e-filing reports name incorrect fee amount among the top rejection reasons, and each rejection costs a re-file cycle plus whatever the delay costs the case.
Common questions
What is the civil filing fee in Sacramento County?
Superior Court civil filing in Sacramento County is $435, verified July 20, 2026. The full table above lists each fee with its effective date and issuing source.
How does Small Claims filing compare with Superior Court filing in Sacramento County?
Small Claims filing is $50 and Superior Court filing is $435, verified July 20, 2026. Filing in the wrong court costs the difference plus the delay of a transfer.
What does service of process cost in Sacramento County?
The service fees on file for Sacramento County appear in the table above with their sources. Private process servers set their own rates, so compare before you advance the officer fee.
How often do court fees change in Sacramento County?
Fee schedules move on legislative and local cycles rather than a fixed calendar. Every fee here carries the date we last verified it, and the change log records each movement we catch.
What happens if a filing arrives with the wrong fee?
Clerks reject it or hold it until the correct amount arrives, and on e-filed cases the rejection resets your place in line. Court fee schedules change, which is why each figure on this page shows its verification date rather than a promise that nothing has moved.
Where do these figures come from?
Each fee section cites its issuing authority and links the source document, and the page header shows the date we last verified against it: July 20, 2026 for this page. The fee the clerk charges controls. If you find a discrepancy, use the report link on the row and we will verify within 2 business days.
Is e-filing required in Sacramento County?
E-filing is available in Sacramento County but paper filing remains an option for some case types. Fee amounts apply either way.
Working notes for filers
Verify before advancing fees
If you advance filing or service fees for clients, check the figure against this page's verification date of July 20, 2026 and the linked source before cutting the check. A schedule that moved since your rate sheet was printed is the classic rejection.
Rejection-proof the fee line
Incorrect fee amount is a named rejection reason in court e-filing systems. Match the fee to the exact case type and court, include mandatory add-ons, and keep the source document handy so a clerk question gets a same-day answer.
Multi-county practice hygiene
Keep one dated rate sheet per county you serve, not one blended sheet. Sacramento County's figures on this page are dated July 20, 2026. When a neighboring county's page shows a different verification date, treat the older one with more suspicion.
Working from a spreadsheet
If your route sheets or billing live in a spreadsheet, carry the verification date and source URL as columns next to each fee. A figure without its date is a liability six months later. The pro plan exports this page's data as CSV with both columns included.
Billing advanced fees back
When you advance a court fee for a client, invoice the exact figure with the court's name and the effective date. Disputes over pass-through costs disappear when the line item cites its schedule.
E-filing provider quirks
E-filing providers compute some fees and pass others through as filer-entered amounts. Filer-entered is where mistakes live. When the envelope asks you to key a fee, key it from a dated source, not from memory.
The maintained database: $39 a month covers every seat
Sacramento County County's fees, dated and cited, alongside every other county we cover. Put your counties on the book and we email you the day a fee moves, with the source document linked. $39 a month, unlimited seats, less than one rejected filing. 14-day trial, cancel anytime.
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Fees are compiled from the cited official schedules and carry the date we last verified each source. The fee the clerk charges controls. ClerkFees is not affiliated with any court and does not provide legal advice.