Challenge to ordinance/resolution adopting or modifying a fee, capacity charge or service charge (Gov. Code 66022): commence within 120 days of effective date
120 days after effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion (or of an automatic increase), under Cal. Gov. Code 66022(a), (b), (c).
Rule text
(a) Any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul an ordinance, resolution, or motion adopting a new fee or service charge, or modifying or amending an existing fee or service charge, adopted by a local agency, as defined in Section 66000, shall be commenced within 120 days of the effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion.If an ordinance, resolution, or motion provides for an automatic adjustment in a fee or service charge, and the automatic adjustment results in an increase in the amount of a fee or service charge, any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the increase shall be commenced within 120 days of the effective date of the increase.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Monday, March 8, 2027
- Trigger (Effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion (or of an automatic increase)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 120 calendar days: Saturday, March 6, 2027.
- That day is a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, March 8, 2027 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)).
Rules applied
Cal. Gov. Code 66022(a), (b), (c)
(a) Any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul an ordinance, resolution, or motion adopting a new fee or service charge, or modifying or amending an existing fee or service charge, adopted by a local agency, as defined in Section 66000, shall be commenced within 120 days of the effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion.If an ordinance, resolution, or motion provides for an automatic adjustment in a fee or service charge, and the automatic adjustment results in an increase in the amount of a fee or service charge, any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the increase shall be commenced within 120 days of the effective date of the increase.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- Applies only to fees, capacity charges and service charges under Gov. Code 66013, 66014 and 66016 (66022(c)); brought as a validation action under CCP 860 et seq. (66022(b)), which has its own summons publication and appearance requirements (CCP 861, not modeled).
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion (or of an automatic increase) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Tuesday, July 13, 2027.
- Trigger (Effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion (or of an automatic increase)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 120 calendar days: Tuesday, July 13, 2027.
Notes
Applies only to fees, capacity charges and service charges under Gov. Code 66013, 66014 and 66016 (66022(c)); brought as a validation action under CCP 860 et seq. (66022(b)), which has its own summons publication and appearance requirements (CCP 861, not modeled).
Related deadlines
- Challenge to general/specific plan, zoning ordinance, development agreement, variance, CUP or permit condition: commence AND serve legislative body within 90 days after decision (90 days after)
- Housing element challenge: additional window, commence and serve within 60 days after HCD reports its findings (60 days after)
- Subdivision Map Act challenge: commence action and effect service of summons within 90 days after the decision (90 days after)
- Coastal Commission decision or action: petition for writ of mandate (CCP 1094.5) within 60 days after the decision becomes final (60 days after)
- Housing Accountability Act: file and serve petition within 90 days from effective date of local agency decision (alternative 1) (90 days after)
- Housing Accountability Act: file and serve petition within 90 days from expiration of the 65589.5(h)(5)(B) time periods (alternative 2) (90 days after)
- Action to enforce zoning consistency with general plan (Gov. Code 65860): commence AND serve legislative body within 90 days (90 days after)
- Mitigation Fee Act: protest fees, dedications or exactions within 90 days after imposition (or at approval) (90 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.