California Ex Parte Local Rules, 17 Counties Compared

Not legal advice. Rules attested September 29, 2026; last full pass August 17, 2026. Verify every date yourself. Read the full disclaimer

Each verified rule carries its own date on the methodology page, all of them September 29, 2026: the date the maintaining attorney last attested it. The last full pass, signed off on August 17, 2026, checked the rules against their official sources (the code, the California Rules of Court, or for court holidays the Judicial Council calendar), with the exceptions listed on the about page. Rules still awaiting sign-off are listed on the methodology page as not yet verified. County local rules are paraphrased summaries. Individual department and judge standing orders are included only where the court publishes them and we have read the document, so assume your own department has requirements beyond what you see here. Verify every date against the operative code sections, your court's rules and your department's own order before relying on it. Using this site creates no attorney-client relationship.

The statewide rule sets the notice hour: 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the appearance, under California Rules of Court, rule 3.1203(a). It says nothing about when you must file. Rule 3.1206 requires service on appearing parties at the first reasonable opportunity and sets no filing deadline either. So the filing deadline is entirely local, and it ranges from 10:00 a.m. the court day before to fifteen minutes after the hearing hour.

Each county below carries the rule relied on, the edition that was read, and a link to the court's own published rules. Where a court publishes no rule on a point, this page says Not published. That is a research finding, not a gap: it means somebody read that court's rules and did not find a deadline. It does not mean there is no deadline, because in several counties the assigned department sets one.

At a glance

Ex parte filing and reservation requirements, 17 California superior courts
County	Filing deadline	Reservation	E-filing
Los Angeles	10:00 a.m., court day before	Not required	Mandatory
Orange	Not published	Required	Mandatory
San Diego	12:00 p.m., court day before	Required (rejected without)	Mandatory
Riverside	11:00 a.m., court day before	Unresolved	Mandatory
San Bernardino	12:00 p.m., court day before	Required (rejected without)	Mandatory
Santa Clara	No clock-time deadline	Not required	Mandatory
Alameda	Not published	Required	Mandatory
Sacramento	4:00 p.m., court day before	Required (rejected without)	Not mandatory
Fresno	2:00 p.m. day before (AM hearing) / 9:00 a.m. day of (PM hearing)	Expected (rule says "should")	Mandatory
Contra Costa	3:00 p.m., court day before	Not required	Mandatory
San Francisco	2 hours before the hearing	Some matters only	Mandatory
San Mateo	Within 15 minutes of the set ex parte hour	Not published	Mandatory
Ventura	12:00 p.m., court day before	Expected (rule says "should")	Mandatory
Kern	12:00 p.m., court day before	Required	Mandatory
San Joaquin	24 hours before the hearing	Required (rejected without)	Not mandatory
Stanislaus	10:00 a.m., court day before	Required	Mandatory
Santa Barbara	10:00 a.m., court day before	Required	Mandatory

Two counties publish no county-wide filing deadline at all, and two do not make e-filing mandatory, which is the opposite of what most practitioners assume. Read the county entry before relying on either.

This page covers county ex parte rules, not department orders

Every entry below is a county-wide rule. In several counties the assigned department, not the county local rule, sets the operative ex parte filing deadline and reservation requirement, and at least one department is stricter than its own county rule. Each county entry says under Department variation whether that is so there, but the departments' own ex parte orders are not reproduced here. Where a court publishes no rule on a point, this site says so rather than inferring one. Verify with your department. Department trial preparation orders, where a court publishes them, are on the statewide index of departments. See scope and methodology.

Los Angeles County

LASC Local Rules 3.4(a), (b)(4), (l); 3.5 · Court source

Filing deadline: Ex parte applications subject to mandatory e-filing, with all supporting documents, must be e-filed no later than 10:00 a.m. on the date before the ex parte hearing (Rule 3.4(l)). The rule says "the date before," not "the court day before"; when the hearing follows a weekend or holiday, this calculator uses 10:00 a.m. on the preceding court day, the earlier reading. In the Central District, a party exempt from e-filing files the ex parte papers in any civil matter, including unlawful detainer, at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse first-floor filing window, fees paid, by 11:00 a.m. (Rule 3.4(l)). The rule does not name the day for that window; the court day before the hearing is the safe reading.
Notice: No county-specific notice hour found. The statewide CRC 3.1203(a) 10:00 a.m. deadline applies.
Opposition: Written opposition must be e-filed by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the hearing, and a printed courtesy copy provided to the court that day (Rule 3.4(l)).
Reservation: No county-wide reservation rule. Practice varies by department; some departments (e.g. Dept. 68) state expressly that no reservation is needed. Confirm with your department.
When heard: In the Central District, unlimited civil law and motion matters, including ex parte applications, are heard at 8:30 a.m. each day in the assigned department, and the writs and receivers departments hear ex parte applications daily at 8:30 a.m. (Rule 3.5 and 3.5(a)). Limited civil and limited unlawful detainer ex parte applications are heard at 1:30 p.m. (Rule 3.5(b)). Outside the Central District, ask the office of the district's supervising judge (Rule 3.5(d)).
E-filing: Mandatory for parties represented by attorneys in all civil case types unless the court exempts them (Rule 3.4(a)). Self-represented litigants are exempt (Rule 3.4(c)). An ex parte application filed concurrently with a new complaint is not e-filed (Rule 3.4(b)(4)).
Department variation: Rule 3.5(c)-(d) directs counsel to the court website for Central District supplemental proceedings and to the supervising judge of the district otherwise.
Edition read: Local Rules ch. 3 eff. Jul 1 2026 (Rule 3.4 amended eff. Jan 1 2026; Rule 3.5 amended eff. Jul 1 2026)

LASC ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Orange County

OCSC Rule 359 (assignment); Rule 352 (mandatory e-filing). Timing is set by department. · Court source

Filing deadline: Not published. Rule 359 sets no county-wide filing deadline. Departments observed require noon the business day before. An ex parte filed with a new unlimited civil complaint: e-file complaint, application and fees by 1:15 p.m., appear 1:30 p.m. at the Central Justice Center.
Notice: No county-specific notice hour found. The statewide CRC 3.1203(a) 10:00 a.m. deadline applies.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Not in the local rules, but required by department order. Observed range: reservations with the department by 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the business day before the hearing. Confirm with your assigned department.
When heard: Not published county-wide. Departments observed: Monday to Thursday 1:30 p.m. Times genuinely differ by department.
E-filing: Mandatory for represented parties in all limited, unlimited and complex civil (Rule 352).
Department variation: Rule 359 assigns ex parte to the judge to whom the case is assigned. Each civil department publishes its own procedures PDF, and that document, not the local rules, is where the operative deadline lives.
Edition read: Division 3 Civil Rules issued Jul 1 2025

Orange County ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

San Diego County

SDSC Rule 2.1.19(A); Rule 2.1.4 (e-filing and courtesy copies); Rule 2.4.2(F) (unlawful detainer) · Court source

Filing deadline: Noon the court day prior to the ex parte appearance, and if e-filed a courtesy copy must reach the department by that same noon deadline. "The court may refuse to consider any late-filed papers." (Rule 2.1.19(A)).
Notice: No county-specific notice hour found. The statewide CRC 3.1203(a) 10:00 a.m. deadline applies.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required, and the rule has teeth: "Failure to reserve a date for hearing will result in the ex parte application not being heard." Reserve through the online reservation system or the calendar clerk for the assigned judge. No lead time is stated in the rule; departments set it.
When heard: Not published county-wide. Department-set (one department observed: 8:45 a.m. Tue/Wed/Thu).
E-filing: Attorneys must e-file documents filed in all limited, unlimited and complex civil actions on or after April 15 2021, and must serve and accept service electronically (Rule 2.1.4).
Department variation: The local rules do not send you to department rules for ex parte timing; the one civil rule that mentions a department's Policies and Procedures, Rule 2.1.21, concerns discovery outlines. Departments still publish their own rules, and at least one is stricter than the local rule (papers due 10:00 a.m. the day prior rather than noon) and takes reservations only by phone to the calendar clerk, not through the online system. Check your department.
Edition read: Local Rules eff. Jan 1 2026

San Diego ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Riverside County

General Order 2022-1 § 9; Local Rules 3118 (e-filing), 3310 (reservations). No dedicated civil ex parte local rule. · Court source

Filing deadline: If filed electronically, the application and all supporting documents must be filed no later than 11:00 a.m. the court day before the hearing (GO 2022-1 § 9(a)).
Notice: The civil page directs compliance with CRC 3.1200 et seq., "in particular, rules 3.1203 and 3.1204."
Opposition: Opposition by 8:00 a.m. the morning of the hearing, with a courtesy copy to the departmental email (§ 9(b)).
Reservation: The civil division page says the hearing is set the day following the filing of the ex parte paperwork, which implies no reservation. But Rule 3310 requires represented parties to use the Court Reservation System for "all law and motion matters" and does not carve out ex parte. Unresolved. Call the department.
When heard: Not published county-wide. Set by department trial rules.
E-filing: Mandatory for represented parties in unlimited civil, limited civil and UD. An ex parte filed concurrently with a new complaint is exempt and may be filed at the counter (GO 2022-1 § 4(a)(i)).
Department variation: Individual departments set their own ex parte hearing days and times in their department trial rules.
Caution: Trap. GO 2022-1 is a scanned image PDF. The 11:00 a.m. figure was read by OCR. Confirm it visually before relying on it. Also: Riverside Rule 5240 is titled "Ex Parte Orders" but is a juvenile rule. Do not apply it to civil.
Edition read: Local rules posted Jul 2026; GO 2022-1 eff. Jan 1 2022

Riverside ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

San Bernardino County

SBSC Rule 731 (Civil Ex Parte Applications); Rule 741; Rules 1800/1810/1830 (e-filing) · Court source

Filing deadline: All ex parte applications must be filed no later than 12:00 p.m. on the court day preceding the scheduled hearing (Rule 731).
Notice: Rule 731 writes the hour out: "A party seeking an ex parte order must notify all parties no later than 10:00 A.M. on the court day before the ex parte appearance as provided by the California Rules of Court, rule 3.1203." That restates the statewide rule rather than adding to it: the deadline binds because CRC 3.1203(a) says so, not because the county repeats it.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required. "General civil motion, including ex parte motion, hearing date and times must be reserved before eFiling," and an e-filed motion without a reserved date "will be rejected." Contact the department directly. No lead time published.
When heard: Varies by district. Rancho District: Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. San Bernardino Justice Center: Monday to Friday, times per the Schedule of Assignments.
E-filing: Mandatory for General Civil (unlimited, limited, complex) effective Sept 2 2025. Self-represented parties exempt.
Department variation: Each district publishes Calendaring Guidelines; hearing times vary by department per the Schedule of Assignments.
Fees: Rule 731 makes fee payment a precondition to making the application, excepting only a guardian ad litem appointment and approval of an undertaking or attachment.
Edition read: Local Rules eff. Jul 1 2026; Rule 731 amended eff. Jan 1 2017

San Bernardino ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Santa Clara County

SCSC Civil Rule 7(C) (all other civil ex parte applications) · Court source

Filing deadline: No clock-time filing deadline. Filing must simply come at least one court day after the 10:00 a.m. notice.
Notice: Materially different from the statewide rule. Rule 7(C)(2) pegs notice to the day before filing, not the day before a hearing, because no hearing is set: notice to all parties "no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte application is filed."
Opposition: Opposition due no later than the end of the day the application was filed (Rule 7(C)(5)).
Reservation: No reservation, because no hearing is set. "All ex parte applications will be determined on the papers unless the Court orders otherwise. The Court will attempt to consider and rule on the application, if possible, within 24-48 hours." A hearing happens only if the court orders one. Either side may ask: the application must state whether any party requests a hearing (Rule 7(C)(4)(c)), and an opposing party makes its request in the opposition (Rule 7(C)(5)).
When heard: No set ex parte calendar time. Ruled on the papers, target 24 to 48 hours.
E-filing: Ex parte applications must be e-filed by counsel and any party with e-filing access (Rule 7(C)(1)). Self-represented litigants may use the DTS dropbox.
Department variation: Communications about intent to oppose or withdrawal go to the case management department, not the clerk. No Rule 7 language directs counsel to a department standing order for ex parte timing.
Extra requirements: Rule 7(C)(4)(e) requires a separate form of order attached to form EFS-020. Rule 7(C)(3): a provisional-remedy application must state the preliminary relief sought on the first page. Rule 7(C)(4) also requires the application to state whether the relief is opposed, whether any party requests a hearing, and email addresses for all counsel and self-represented parties.
Edition read: Civil Rules eff. Jan 1 2026

Santa Clara ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Alameda County

No Alameda local rule sets out general civil ex parte procedure. Rule 3.650 covers UD stays only; Rule 3.27 e-filing; Rule 3.30(c) courtesy copies. · Court source

Filing deadline: Not published. No local ex parte filing cutoff was found. Rule 3.30(c) does require courtesy copies delivered to the courtroom clerk the same day as filing for any matter heard two court days or fewer from filing, which captures nearly every ex parte.
Notice: The court states directly that CRC 3.1200 et seq. applies. Exception: a UD stay under Rule 3.650 requires at least 24 hours notice by telephone or in person.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required, and it cannot be done through the portal: "Ex parte reservations shall be obtained from the courtroom. They cannot be obtained via the portal." No lead time published. (Contrast Rule 3.30(b), which routes motion reservations to the eCourt portal.)
When heard: Only Dept. 511 (UD / non-direct-calendar) is published: Monday and Tuesday 9:15 a.m., Wednesday 1:30 p.m. Direct calendar department schedules are behind the portal login and are not on the public web.
E-filing: Represented parties must e-file (Rule 3.27(a)). EFS-007 exemption available.
Department variation: Law and motion and ex parte in a direct calendar case are heard in the assigned department. The per-department schedule appears in the Notice of Assignment and on the login-gated eCourt portal.
Edition read: Title 3 eff. Jul 1 2026; Rule 3.650 amended eff. Jul 1 2007

Alameda ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Sacramento County

SSC Local Rule 2.35 (civil home court ex parte applications); Rule 2.02 (civil filings). Rule 1.07 is a separate rule for the Presiding Judge's department. · Court source

Filing deadline: Rule 2.35(A): ex parte applications and supporting documents "shall be filed pursuant to Rule 2.02 and paid for by 4:00 p.m. one court day prior to the hearing." The civil home court department pages add service: moving papers "must be served and filed by 4:00 p.m. the date before the hearing."
Notice: Stated by the court on its Civil Home Courts page: notify the parties no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the ex parte appearance, absent exceptional circumstances.
Opposition: For an order shortening time only: opposition 5 court days and reply 2 court days before the hearing, and in no event may the last paper be filed later than 9:00 a.m. two court days before the hearing (Rule 2.35(C)). That is the schedule for the motion heard on shortened time, not for the ex parte application.
Reservation: Rule 2.35(A): hearings on ex parte applications "shall be reserved with the assigned Civil Home Court Department no sooner than 5 court days and no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte application hearing." The court's Civil Home Courts page routes the reservation through the Court Reservation System on the Public Portal before the moving documents are submitted, says a reservation cannot be made without an assigned case number, and warns that "Any motion submitted without a reserved hearing date will be subject to rejection."
When heard: By department: 9:00 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Writ departments differ materially, and at least one will not reserve a date at all, instead reviewing the pleadings and advising the moving party only if a hearing is necessary. One writ department prefers at least 48 hours notice.
E-filing: Not mandatory. Rule 2.02 lets civil documents be e-filed, mailed, brought in person or placed in the drop box, and the court delayed mandatory e-filing past Jul 1 2024 to an unspecified future date. One exception since Jul 1 2026: represented parties must e-file limited civil unlawful detainer documents at the Carol Miller Justice Center (Rule 2.99.06(A)).
Department variation: Strong department variation. Uncontested applications are usually ruled on without a hearing; contested ones may be set for hearing or ruled on the papers depending on the department.
Edition read: Local rules eff. Jul 1 2026; Rule 2.35 adopted Jan 1 2013, last revised Jul 1 2026

Sacramento ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Fresno County

FSC Rule 2.7.1 (format and filing), Rule 2.7.2 (cases in which hearings not required) · Court source

Filing deadline: Split by whether the hearing is set in the morning or the afternoon. Not later than 2:00 p.m. on the day preceding the hearing if the hearing is in the morning; not later than 9:00 a.m. on the date of the hearing if the hearing is in the afternoon (Rule 2.7.1(B), eff. Jan 1 2024). The rule says "the day preceding"; when a morning hearing follows a weekend or holiday, this calculator uses the preceding court day.
Notice: Rule 2.7.1(A) states that applications "failing to comply with Rules 3.1200 through 3.1207 of the California Rules of Court will be rejected." CRC 3.1205 separately directs the clerk not to reject an application for filing because it fails rule 3.1203's notice requirement, so how far the local rejection sentence reaches on notice is unsettled. Give notice by the statewide 10:00 a.m. hour either way.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Rule 2.7.1(A) says parties "should obtain a date and time for the hearing of the application from the law and motion clerk," or may obtain one at the civil filing counter on presentation of the moving papers and payment of fees. Get it first: which filing deadline applies depends on whether the hearing is set in the morning or the afternoon. No lead time is published. The rejection sentence in Rule 4.1.5(C), "E-filed motions or ex parte applications without a calendared hearing date, department, and time will be rejected," is part of the records-under-seal rule and reaches only a motion or application for a sealing order.
When heard: Not published as a set time. The rules distinguish only morning from afternoon settings and assign scheduling to the law and motion clerk.
E-filing: Represented parties must e-file in all civil, family law and probate (Rule 4.1.2(A)(1)).
Department variation: Fresno centralizes ex parte scheduling in the law and motion clerk and does not direct you to a general civil department standing order. A trial continuance sought by ex parte application goes to the assigned Civil Judge for All Purposes at least 5 court days before trial, and one presented later must carry a detailed factual declaration showing good cause for the delay (Rule 2.1.10(D), (E), eff. Jul 1 2025).
Decided without a hearing: Rule 2.7.2 lists nine categories decided without a hearing, among them an application to exceed the page limit, a stipulated order, guardian ad litem, extension of time to serve a pleading, service by publication, trial continuance, and a Doe substitution under CCP § 474.
Caution: Trap. The court FAQ page states only the "9:00 a.m. on the date of the hearing" half of the rule and omits the 2:00 p.m. prong. Follow Rule 2.7.1(B), not the FAQ.
Edition read: Local rules Jul 1 2026 publication; Rule 2.7.1 eff. Jan 1 2024

Fresno ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Contra Costa County

Standing Order 3.5 (filed Sep 3 2025, eff. Sep 15 2025) controls. Local Rule 3.46 and Rule 3.40(3)(B) survive but are superseded as to civil ex parte timing. · Court source

Filing deadline: All ex parte papers must be served and submitted to the Clerk no later than 3:00 p.m. the day before the ex parte determination, filed electronically unless self-represented and not participating in e-filing (§ I.D).
Notice: Notice to the opposing party no later than 10:00 a.m. the day before the application will be presented, absent exceptional circumstances, per CRC 3.1203. A declaration regarding notice must accompany the papers (§ I.B).
Opposition: Opposition by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the ex parte determination, e-filed, served personally or electronically, with proof of service (§ I.E).
Reservation: No reservation, and set ex parte hours were abolished. Beginning Oct 1 2025 civil departments no longer hold set ex parte hours. What replaces it is an email notification to the assigned department no later than 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte determination (§ I.C).
When heard: No set hours. There is no ex parte hearing unless the court orders one. The court will endeavor to rule within 24 hours of the scheduled determination date, or 24 hours after a hearing if one is scheduled (§ I.G).
E-filing: Effectively mandatory for represented parties (§ I.D; Standing Order 3.2).
Department variation: The email notice step goes to the assigned department, but the timing rules are now uniform countywide by standing order.
Scope: Applies to unlimited and limited civil and unlimited UD. Does not apply to family, probate, limited UD, or restraining order cases (§ I.A.1).
Extra requirements: § I.F: if either party wants to appear, the application or opposition must say so on the face page. Hearings occur only if the court orders one.
Caution: Trap. The court's own ex parte web page still lists "24 hour notice pursuant to CRC 3.1200-3.1207" for civil, which contradicts Standing Order 3.5. Local Rules 3.40(3)(B) and 3.46(1) also still describe department ex parte hours that no longer exist. Follow the Standing Order.
Edition read: Standing Order 3.5 filed Sep 3 2025, still unamended in the combined standing orders revised Jul 8 2026

Contra Costa ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

San Francisco County

LRSF Rule 9.0 (Ex Parte Applications, CRC 3.1200-3.1207); LRSF 3.4 (Civil Case Management); LRSF 8.10(C) (Real Property) · Court source

Filing deadline: Two hours before the hearing. "Endorsed-filed copies of all moving papers must be submitted to the clerk in the Law and Motion Department no later than two (2) hours prior to hearing." In practice: e-file the moving papers and deliver a copy to Dept. 301 (odd case numbers) or Dept. 302 (even). Real Property Court differs: 12:00 p.m. the day before (LRSF 8.10(C)(2)).
Notice: Rule 9 incorporates CRC 3.1200-3.1207 in its own caption. No SF-specific notice hour was found.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required only for a defined subset: a temporary restraining order, alternative writ, appointment of a receiver or similar matter must be scheduled with the court at least 24 hours in advance (by email to the Dept. 301 or 302 calendar address, or by phone). For ordinary ex parte applications no reservation is required by rule.
When heard: Law and Motion / Discovery: 11:00 a.m. Monday to Friday. Presiding Judge: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday to Friday. Real Property Court: 9:00 a.m. Monday to Friday, except Tuesday 10:00 a.m. reserved solely for UD stays of execution.
E-filing: All papers in Designated Cases must be e-filed, and Designated Cases include all general civil except small claims (LRSF 2.11(A)(3), (C)(1)).
Department variation: Rule 9.0 itself splits ex parte practice among Law and Motion, the Presiding Judge, Real Property, Civil Case Management, family and probate, each with different times and mechanics. SF does not send you to an individual judge standing order. In the Civil Case Management Department ex parte applications other than to shorten time are submitted on the papers with no personal appearance, and require a proposed order and a self-addressed stamped envelope (LRSF 3.4).
Caution: Trap. Ex parte hearings in Law and Motion and Discovery are held by CourtCall and no in-person appearances are permitted. Also: the court posted fee schedule is stale (shows $40 with a 2010 effective date). The statewide fee is $60.
Edition read: Uniform Local Rules revised Jul 1 2026; Rule 9 last revised Jan 1 2024

San Francisco ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

San Mateo County

SMSC Rule 3.500 (general civil); Rule 3.19 (Presiding Judge calendar); Rule 3.1202 (UD) · Court source

Filing deadline: Measured against the hearing hour, not the prior day. Ex parte applications and proof of payment must be received directly by the courtroom clerk for the assigned civil judge no later than 15 minutes from the time set for ex parte hearings (Rule 3.500(b)). Presiding Judge matters: no later than 2:15 p.m. on the date of the hearing (Rule 3.19(B)).
Notice: Rule 3.500(a) incorporates all requirements of CRC 3.1200 et seq. Practical trap: to appear remotely, the moving papers including a proposed order must be served on all parties, submitted in paper to the assigned judge, and the fee paid, by at least 10:00 a.m. two court days before the ex parte appearance (Rule 3.500(e)). That is the sharpest San Mateo deadline and it is earlier than the CRC notice deadline.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Not published. No reservation rule was found for general civil. Rule 3.500 sets fixed department days and times instead of a reservation system.
When heard: General civil: 1:30 p.m., two days per week per department. Which two days is not published; confirm with the department. UD: Tuesdays and Fridays 1:30 p.m. in Dept. 30. Presiding Judge matters: 2:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
E-filing: Split regime. General civil ex parte filings must be e-filed (Rule 3.500(c)), but Presiding Judge matters must be submitted in paper and cannot be e-filed (Rule 3.19(D)). Two contradictory rules in the same county, split by which calendar the matter is on.
Department variation: Rule 3.500(a) itself sends you to the court website for your judge specific ex parte days.
Caution: Trap. Failure to present a proposed order at the time of presentation results in denial of the application (Rule 3.500(c)). A courtesy copy must be emailed to the department or provided in hard copy at the hearing, with a subject line stating the case caption, "Ex Parte Application" or "Opposition to Ex Parte Application", and the hearing date and time.
Edition read: Local Court Rules as amended eff. Jul 1 2026; Rule 3.500 amended eff. Jan 1 2026

San Mateo ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Ventura County

VCSC Rule 3.20 (pointing to Chapter 15); Rules 15.00.A, 15.01, 15.03 · Court source

Filing deadline: Rule 15.03(A) phrases it as a preference: papers "preferably filed by noon the day before the hearing." But departments make it firm: "Moving papers are to be filed no later than noon the court day prior to the hearing. If the documents are received after the filing deadline, your hearing may be continued." Copies to be conformed are brought on the day of the hearing, not lodged in advance.
Notice: No Ventura-specific notice time. Rule 15.02 (Notice) was deleted in 1998; Rule 15.03(A) requires only service "prior to the hearing," whenever practicable by personal delivery, fax, email or overnight delivery. CRC 3.1203 governs. Verified absence, not an assumption.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Rule 15.01: a party seeking an ex parte hearing "should call the Judicial Secretary of the assigned courtroom to reserve the next available ex parte hearing date." Rule 15.03(A): "The reservation number should be included in the caption of the application." Both are phrased as "should" and neither states a consequence; do both anyway. Departments observed cap ex parte at 2 per day. No lead time published.
When heard: Rule 15.01: unless otherwise ordered, all ex parte hearings are heard at 8:30 a.m. Departments observed confirm 8:30 a.m. each court day with a limit of 2 per day, generally heard before other calendar matters.
E-filing: Mandatory for attorneys in limited and unlimited civil per CRC 2.253(b). Self-represented parties exempt.
Department variation: Rule 15.01 routes the application to the assigned judge and reservation through that courtroom Judicial Secretary. Departments publish their own Rules and Procedures that set their own ex parte terms, and the binding filing deadline lives there rather than in the local rules.
Edition read: Ventura County Rules of Court Jul 1 2026; Rule 15.03 rev. eff. Jul 1 2023

Ventura ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Kern County

KCSC Local Rule 3.4 (Ex Parte Applications and Orders); Rule 1.10 (e-filing) · Court source

Filing deadline: All applications and supporting paperwork must be filed no later than 12:00 p.m. the court day prior to the scheduled hearing (Rule 3.4(a) and (b)). Note that Kern splits the two deadlines: notice at 10:00 a.m., filing at noon.
Notice: Written into the local rule: "Notice must be provided to all parties no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day prior to the scheduled hearing, in accordance with California Rule of Court, rule 3.1203(a)(b)." No earlier local requirement.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required as pre-clearance rather than a courtroom reservation: "All ex parte matters must be pre-cleared with the Clerk's Office." Applications requiring notice are noticed in the Civil Division or Direct Calendar Court for a ruling. No lead time specified. Note that Rule 3.3.1 expressly states the law and motion phone reservation system does not apply to ex parte.
When heard: Not published. Rule 3.3.1 says only that law and motion matters are heard per applicable courtroom schedules. Rule 3.4(e) makes no oral argument the default. Ex parte requests are decided "solely on the moving papers without oral argument or comment by counsel," though the judge may exempt a matter.
E-filing: Mandatory for represented parties in all limited and unlimited civil (Rule 1.10, rev. Jan 1 2025). EFS-007/EFS-008 hardship exemption available.
Department variation: Rule 3.4 routes matters to the Civil Division or Direct Calendar Court. Only the Presiding or Direct Calendar Judge, or a designee, signs ex parte orders, and counsel "shall not seek to have ex parte orders signed by judges other than those assigned by the Presiding Judge" (Rule 3.4(c)-(d)). No published ex parte standing order was found.
Edition read: Local Rules eff. Jul 1 2026; Rule 3.4 eff. Jul 1 2003, rev. Jan 1 2020

Kern ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

San Joaquin County

SJSC Local Rule 3-106 (Ex Parte Applications and Orders); Rule 3-114 (Chambers Conferences and Ex Parte Matters) · Court source

Filing deadline: A rolling 24-hour clock, not a clock-time cutoff, and the only one of the 17 counties structured this way: "The party shall file the moving papers and any applicable filing fee due no later than 24 hours prior to the requested hearing date and time." Proof of service must be on file before the scheduled hearing.
Notice: No San Joaquin-specific clock time. Rule 3-114(B) requires only "reasonable notice," orally or in writing, of the time and place, and counsel should be prepared to explain the efforts made to give informal notice. CRC 3.1203 governs. Verified absence.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required, and it is a hard prerequisite to filing: "Ex parte matters must be approved and scheduled by the Law and Motion Judge by his or her clerk prior to filing documents in the clerk's office." Contact the assigned civil courtroom for approval before filing. Does not include unlawful detainers. No lead time specified.
When heard: Not published. Rule 3-103(B) permits remote appearance at ex parte hearings via the audio bridge unless the tentative ruling or the court requires in person.
E-filing: Not mandatory. Local Rule 6 states only that the court "allows" electronic filing for specific case types. No mandatory e-filing provision was found. Treat as permissive.
Department variation: Rule 3-101 puts civil cases on direct calendaring, assigned to one judicial officer for all purposes at filing, and ex parte scheduling routes to the assigned civil courtroom clerk. No published department standing orders were found.
Caution: Trap. Rule 4-106 is Probate / Civil Mental Health only and Rule 5-200 is family law. Do not use either for civil unlimited.
Edition read: Local Rules eff. Jul 1 2026; Rules 3-106 and 3-114 eff. Jan 1 2018

San Joaquin ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Stanislaus County

SSC Local Rule 3.01(F)-(G) (Law and Motion / Ex Parte Hearings); Rule 1.14 (mandatory e-filing) · Court source

Filing deadline: Missed means dropped. The strictest of the 17, and the sanction is automatic. Papers must be e-filed (or hand filed if exempt) no later than 10:00 a.m. on the court day prior to the scheduled hearing, and "if the ex parte hearing request and supporting paperwork is not filed with the Clerk's Office by 10:00 a.m. on the court day prior to the scheduled hearing (whether by e-filing or by hand) the ex parte hearing will be dropped." Stanislaus aligns the filing deadline with the 10:00 a.m. notice hour.
Notice: Rule 3.01(F): "Notice of the ex parte hearing shall be given as prescribed in California Rules of Court rule 3.1203." No stricter local requirement.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required, and by email since August 17, 2026. The court's Civil Division page: "Effective August 17, 2026, all ex parte hearing requests must be emailed to crc_civil@stanct.org." Put the department number and "Ex Parte Hearing Request" in the subject line, and the case name, case number and a contact phone number in the body; a courtroom clerk then contacts you. Rule 3.01(F), which predates the change, still reads "Parties requesting an ex parte hearing shall contact the assigned department. The bailiff/courtroom clerk of the department will schedule the hearing." No lead time specified, but the 10:00 a.m. filing cutoff effectively means you must reserve by then. Note the law and motion reservation line is not the ex parte channel.
When heard: Not published for ex parte. Rule 3.01(A) sets law and motion at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to Friday, but subdivision (F) states no ex parte time. Do not assume 8:30 a.m. carries over; hearings are set individually by the assigned department.
E-filing: Mandatory in all civil, limited, unlimited and complex (Rule 1.14(A)(2)). Self-represented exempt but encouraged. EFS-007/EFS-008 exemption available.
Department variation: Rule 3.00.1 puts most civil cases on direct calendaring and Rule 3.01(F) sends you to the assigned department. But the substantive deadlines are court-wide, and no published Stanislaus department standing orders were found.
Fees: Court reporter fee, if requested: $30 for a hearing under an hour, half-day rate $350 over an hour, full-day $700 past noon (Rule 3.01(G)). Request the reporter at the same time you request the ex parte hearing.
Caution: Trap. Rule 3.02(D) is a separate and different regime for unlawful detainer ex parte. Do not apply it to general civil.
Edition read: Local Rules revisions eff. Jul 1 2026; Rule 3.01 amended Jan 1 2024; Civil Division page ex parte request notice eff. Aug 17 2026

Stanislaus ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

Santa Barbara County

SBSC Local Rule 1009 (Ex Parte Orders), the only local rule governing civil ex parte. Rule 1012 (e-filing). · Court source

Filing deadline: Aspirational. Not a hard cutoff, and this is a real distinction from Stanislaus, which uses the same hour. Rule 1009: "To the extent practicable, papers in support of an ex parte application should be filed and served by 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the scheduled hearing; later-filed papers may not be timely available to the court and may require a continuance of the hearing." Same hour, different legal force.
Notice: Rule 1009 incorporates CRC 3.1200-3.1207 wholesale, so the 10:00 a.m. court-day-before deadline applies with no local variation.
Opposition: Not published.
Reservation: Required, but the requirement comes from the department, not Rule 1009, which is silent on scheduling. Every published civil department policy requires contacting the judicial assistant or secretary, and several state that civil ex parte hearings "are set at the court's discretion and the department's availability." No advance interval published for civil.
When heard: Not published court-wide; Rule 1009 states no time. By department: one Santa Barbara department hears ex parte generally at 8:30 a.m. daily except Mondays. The Santa Maria departments publish no set time and set matters at the court's discretion. Some Santa Maria departments require the personal appearance of both parties, or of the moving party, on all ex parte matters.
E-filing: Mandatory in all civil cases including limited, unlimited and complex (Rule 1012(a)(1)). Exceptions include self-represented parties, court-ordered exemptions, non-scannable and voluminous materials, and jurisdictional-deadline documents such as notices of appeal.
Department variation: The most explicit department variation of the 17. Every civil department policy opens by stating that ex parte setting practices "have nuances individual to each department," and the departments do in fact differ materially. You must consult the assigned department Policies and Procedures.
Caution: Trap. Santa Barbara Rules 1405 through 1410 are detailed ex parte rules (policies, scheduling, notice, service and filing) but they sit in the family law chapter and key off CRC 5.151, 5.165 and 5.167. They do not govern civil. Rule 1406 phone list is confusingly labeled "Civil Departments" because the same list appears in civil Rule 1301 for tentative rulings. Do not import Rule 1406 10:00 a.m. scheduling cutoff or Rule 1408 1:00 p.m. service and filing deadline into a civil calculation.
Edition read: Local Rules eff. Jan 1 2025; Rule 1009 amended Jan 1 2025; no newer edition was found on the court's site when this was read

Santa Barbara ex parte deadlines, with the worked example and the traps this summary leaves out.

When this was read, and when to re-read it

County local rules change on January 1 and July 1. Each entry above states the edition that was read rather than a single site-wide date, because the editions genuinely differ. Santa Barbara was read from its January 2025 edition, the newest on the court's site when it was read. Los Angeles was read from its Chapter Three effective July 1, 2026, the same edition the Los Angeles trial binder page uses. The court's older lacourt.ca.gov address still serves the January 2022 edition, where the ex parte times sat in different subdivisions, so check which one you have open. Two of the seventeen changed materially in the last twelve months. Re-read them in December and June, before the effective dates.