Eviction Help in Ventura County, California
From Oxnard's farmworker neighborhoods to the commuter towns of Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, Ventura County renters face some of the highest housing costs in California. When an eviction notice shows up, knowing the local court and your deadline makes all the difference. This page explains eviction help in Ventura County: where cases are heard, what rules apply, and how to get your paperwork reviewed from home.
Eviction Defender is not a law firm. We provide guidance and document preparation for tenants, and we're based just over the county line in Porter Ranch. Your first case review is free.
Where Ventura County eviction cases are heard
Every eviction (unlawful detainer) case in the county belongs to the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura. The court has centralized eviction work at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura. Unlawful detainer paperwork is processed by the civil clerk's office there, and the eviction calendar, including emergency ("ex parte") hearings, is heard in a department at the Hall of Justice on a set weekday.
The court also operates the East County Courthouse in Simi Valley, and departments and calendar days have shifted several times in recent years. The safest move is to check the courthouse, department and date printed on your Summons (SUM-130) and any hearing notice. The court's Self-Help Legal Access Center can explain forms, though its staff can't give legal advice.
Ventura County cities we serve
We help tenants in Oxnard, Ventura (San Buenaventura), Port Hueneme, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ojai, and unincorporated communities such as El Rio, Oak View, Piru and Oak Park.
Tenant protections that matter in Ventura County
For most renters here, the main protection is the state's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482). Once you've lived in a covered unit for 12 months, the landlord generally needs a legal "just cause" to end the tenancy, and a no-fault reason (like an owner move-in or a major remodel) typically requires relocation help equal to one month's rent. Rent increases on covered units are capped too.
A few things come up often in Ventura County:
- Single-family homes and condos. Many rentals in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley are houses. These can be exempt from AB 1482, but only if the landlord gave the required written notice.
- Mobilehome parks. Some Ventura County cities have their own mobilehome rent rules, and mobilehome evictions follow a different state law. Tell us if you own your home but rent the space.
- Disaster-related protections. After declared emergencies such as wildfires, temporary state rules can limit rent increases. Ask us whether any apply to your situation.
Common eviction notices in Ventura County
- 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. The three days don't include Saturdays, Sundays or court holidays. Our guide to the 3-day notice to pay rent or quit explains what makes one valid.
- 3-day notice to perform covenant or quit for overcrowding, extra occupants or unauthorized pets.
- 30-day or 60-day notice on a month-to-month tenancy. You generally get 30 days if all tenants have lived there under a year, and 60 days if a year or more. See 30-day vs. 60-day notices.
- Notices after the owner sells the property, especially in single-family rentals.
Once you're served with a Summons and Complaint, you generally have 10 court days after personal service to file a written Answer (form UD-105). If you don't, the landlord can request a default judgment, and the sheriff can later post a 5-day Notice to Vacate.
Eviction help in Ventura County by remote drop-off
You don't need to make the trip to the Hall of Justice just to get your questions answered, and you never need to come to us.
- Call (818) 307-1308 or send a message through our contact page.
- Send photos of every page of your notice or court papers to info@evictiondefenseca.org, or mail copies to 19360 Rinaldi Street #673, Porter Ranch, CA 91326.
- Free review. We confirm your deadline, the department on your papers, and whether AB 1482 or another rule covers your unit.
- Your documents, prepared. If you want our help, we prepare your response paperwork for you to review and sign, and explain how to file it in Ventura.
Our eviction notice help center covers every type of notice. Homeowners behind on a mortgage can visit our Ventura County foreclosure help page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Ventura County eviction cases heard?
Unlawful detainer cases are processed and heard at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura. Check your Summons and any hearing notice for the exact department and date.
I live in Simi Valley. Do I have to go to Ventura?
Eviction cases are generally handled at the Hall of Justice in Ventura, even for East County tenants. Your court papers will show the location. You may be able to file some documents by mail or electronically.
Does Ventura County have rent control?
Most Ventura County apartments are covered by the statewide Tenant Protection Act, which caps rent increases and requires just cause for covered units. Some cities have separate rules for mobilehome parks.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit?
Generally 10 court days after personal service, not counting weekends and court holidays.
What happens if I ignore the eviction lawsuit?
The landlord can ask for a default judgment. After that, the sheriff can post a 5-day Notice to Vacate and then carry out a lockout. Options after a default are limited, so it's much better to respond on time.
Eviction Defender is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information about California law and Ventura County as of 2026.
Facing eviction in Ventura County? We can help you get organized
Send us your notice or court papers today, and we'll help you understand your deadline and options. Call (818) 307-1308.
When You Choose Our Services, It Matters More Than You May Know
There was a time when my family and I faced eviction.
We did not have the resources, information, or understanding we needed at the time. We were confused, anxious, and worried about how I was going to take care of my family. I felt powerless standing against a landlord and their attorney because I simply did not know what I needed to know.
That experience stayed with me.
Later in life, I was blessed with the opportunity to come full circle—to learn, research, understand, and obtain the information I once desperately needed. What I went through became more than just a difficult chapter in my life. It became a purpose.
Today, when someone comes to us facing an eviction, foreclosure, landlord-tenant dispute, or another serious matter, I don’t look at their paperwork as just another file.
I understand that there is a person and a family behind those papers.
When I hold your paperwork in my hands, I remind myself that you are trusting me with something incredibly important. In a very real sense, I am holding a representation of your life in my hands.
That responsibility matters to me.
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You deserve information.
You deserve to understand your situation.
You deserve to know what options may be available to you.
And you deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.
When you choose our services, you’re not just choosing someone to look at paperwork.
You’re choosing someone who understands what it feels like to be on the other side of that paperwork.
Because I’ve been there. And that’s why your situation matters to me.
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