Writ of possession: occupants must vacate (earliest lockout)

5 days after date the levying officer served the writ on an occupant (715.020(a)) or, if posted, served it on the judgment debtor (715.020(b)), under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 715.020(c); 715.010(b)(2).

Rule text

If the judgment debtor, members of the judgment debtor’s household, and any other occupants holding under the judgment debtor do not vacate the property within five days from the date of service on an occupant pursuant to subdivision (a) or on the judgment debtor pursuant to subdivision (b), the levying officer shall remove the occupants from the property and place the judgment creditor in possession. The provisions of Section 684.120 extending time do not apply to the five-day period specified in this subdivision.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 715.020(c); 715.010(b)(2), official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Thursday, November 12, 2026
  1. Trigger (Date the levying officer served the writ on an occupant (715.020(a)) or, if posted, served it on the judgment debtor (715.020(b))): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 5 calendar days: Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
  3. That day is a Veterans Day, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Thursday, November 12, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10).
Rules applied
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 715.020(c); 715.010(b)(2)
If the judgment debtor, members of the judgment debtor’s household, and any other occupants holding under the judgment debtor do not vacate the property within five days from the date of service on an occupant pursuant to subdivision (a) or on the judgment debtor pursuant to subdivision (b), the levying officer shall remove the occupants from the property and place the judgment creditor in possession. The provisions of Section 684.120 extending time do not apply to the five-day period specified in this subdivision.
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10
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." CCP 12b: "If any city, county, state, or public office, other than a branch office, is closed for the whole of any day, insofar as the business of that office is concerned, that day shall be considered as a holiday for the purposes of computing time under Sections 12 and 12a." 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."
Official source
  • No mail extension (684.120 expressly excluded), even if the copy to the judgment debtor is mailed under 715.020(b). Lockout may occur after the 5-day period expires; the sheriff or marshal schedules the actual date. AMBIGUITY: whether CCP 12a extends a 5th day falling on a weekend or holiday; levying officers generally follow their own practice. Writ issuance timing after judgment and any 1174(c) stay are separate.
  • 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 levying officer served the writ on an occupant (715.020(a)) or, if posted, served it on the judgment debtor (715.020(b)) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, March 22, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date the levying officer served the writ on an occupant (715.020(a)) or, if posted, served it on the judgment debtor (715.020(b))): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 5 calendar days: Saturday, March 20, 2027.
  3. That day is a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, March 22, 2027 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10).

Notes

No mail extension (684.120 expressly excluded), even if the copy to the judgment debtor is mailed under 715.020(b). Lockout may occur after the 5-day period expires; the sheriff or marshal schedules the actual date. AMBIGUITY: whether CCP 12a extends a 5th day falling on a weekend or holiday; levying officers generally follow their own practice. Writ issuance timing after judgment and any 1174(c) stay are separate.

Related deadlines

All California evictions 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 2026-10-23. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.