Validation action (CCP 860, 863): public agency or interested person must sue within 60 days after the matter comes into existence

60 days after date the matter subject to validation came into existence (e.g. adoption of the resolution or ordinance, or execution of the contract, as fixed by the statute authorizing validation), under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 860, 863.

Rule text

[860] A public agency may upon the existence of any matter which under any other law is authorized to be determined pursuant to this chapter, and for 60 days thereafter, bring an action in the superior court of the county in which the principal office of the public agency is located to determine the validity of such matter. ... [863] If no proceedings have been brought by the public agency pursuant to this chapter, any interested person may bring an action within the time and in the court specified by Section 860 to determine the validity of such matter.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 860, 863, official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Tuesday, January 5, 2027
  1. Trigger (Date the matter subject to validation came into existence (e.g. adoption of the resolution or ordinance, or execution of the contract, as fixed by the statute authorizing validation)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 860, 863
[860] A public agency may upon the existence of any matter which under any other law is authorized to be determined pursuant to this chapter, and for 60 days thereafter, bring an action in the superior court of the county in which the principal office of the public agency is located to determine the validity of such matter. ... [863] If no proceedings have been brought by the public agency pursuant to this chapter, any interested person may bring an action within the time and in the court specified by Section 860 to determine the validity of such matter.
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Gov. Code 6800, 6804, 6806; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (for periods set by the Rules of Court)
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.(b) This section applies to Sections 659, 659a, and 921, and to all other provisions of law providing or requiring an act to be performed on a particular day or within a specified period of time, whether expressed in this or any other code or statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." Gov. Code 6800: "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." Gov. Code 6804: "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Gov. Code 6806: "A day is the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following." CRC 1.10(a): "The time in which any act provided by these rules is to be performed is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, and then it is also excluded." CRC 1.10(b): "Unless otherwise provided by law, if the last day for the performance of any act that is required by these rules to be performed within a specific period of time falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the period is extended to and includes the next day that is not a holiday." Elec. Code 15: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the last day for the performance of any act provided for or required by this code shall be a holiday, as defined in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed.For purposes of this section, the Friday in November immediately after Thanksgiving Day shall be considered a holiday."
Official source
  • Applies only to matters that another statute makes subject to the validation procedure (e.g. Gov. Code 53511 bonds). The authorizing statute may fix when the matter 'comes into existence' or set a different period; check it. Failure to sue within the period generally makes the matter incontestable (CCP 869, 870; not quoted here). 860: Stats. 1961, ch. 1479; 863: amended Stats. 1969, ch. 1611. Default CCP 12a weekend/holiday roll applied.
  • 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

Date the matter subject to validation came into existence (e.g. adoption of the resolution or ordinance, or execution of the contract, as fixed by the statute authorizing validation) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Friday, May 14, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date the matter subject to validation came into existence (e.g. adoption of the resolution or ordinance, or execution of the contract, as fixed by the statute authorizing validation)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 60 calendar days: Friday, May 14, 2027.

Notes

Applies only to matters that another statute makes subject to the validation procedure (e.g. Gov. Code 53511 bonds). The authorizing statute may fix when the matter 'comes into existence' or set a different period; check it. Failure to sue within the period generally makes the matter incontestable (CCP 869, 870; not quoted here). 860: Stats. 1961, ch. 1479; 863: amended Stats. 1969, ch. 1611. Default CCP 12a weekend/holiday roll applied.

Related deadlines

All California special proceedings deadlines

Local rules by county

County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.

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.