Riverside County Eviction Defense: How to Fight an Eviction in Riverside County
Riverside County is one of the fastest-growing counties in California and has seen a significant, sustained increase in unlawful detainer (eviction) filings as rising rents and economic pressures have placed thousands of renters in precarious situations. If you are a Riverside County tenant who has received an Unlawful Detainer Summons, you must act immediately. This page explains which courthouse handles your case, how to find information about it, your filing deadline, and how to respond.
Which Riverside County Courthouse Handles My Eviction Case?
Unlike Orange County, where all unlawful detainer cases are heard at a single courthouse, Riverside County assigns eviction cases to one of five courthouses based on where the rental property is located. The courthouse name and address appear on the first page of your Summons, and that is where your response must be filed. Filing at the wrong courthouse may result in your pleading being rejected and your deadline expiring without a valid response on file.
Corona Courthouse
505 S. Buena Vista, Room 201
Corona, CA 92882
Moreno Valley Courthouse
13800 Heacock Street, Building D, Suite 201
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
Menifee Justice Center
27401 Menifee Center Drive
Menifee, CA 92584
Palm Springs Courthouse
3255 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Blythe Courthouse
265 North Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225
Filing assignments are set by the Court's administrative order on where to file civil documents and may change. Always file at the courthouse listed on your Summons.
How Do I Get Information About My Riverside County Eviction Case?
By Telephone
Call the Riverside Superior Court clerk's office at (951) 777‑3147. Clerk's office phone hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except court holidays.
Online Case Search
Civil and unlawful detainer records can be searched through the Riverside Superior Court Public Portal. Eviction cases are confidential for the first 60 days after filing; during that period a party may view the case by providing at least one plaintiff's name, one defendant's name, and the property address.
Court Web Chat
General questions about court procedures can be sent to the Court through its Court Web Chat service. Court staff cannot give legal advice.
Where Can I Get Help at the Courthouse?
The Riverside Superior Court's Self-Help Legal Services department helps self-represented litigants with residential unlawful detainer (eviction) cases, as well as answers to collection cases, small claims, name changes, and civil restraining orders. Staff can explain court procedures, provide forms and answer questions about them, and provide legal information, but cannot give legal advice. Self-Help Legal Services does not assist with unlimited civil cases or commercial evictions.
By Telephone
Call Self-Help Legal Services at (951) 274‑4499 or (760) 393‑2163. Notices posted at the Corona Courthouse list telephone hours of Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
In Person
In-person self-help locations include the Corona Courthouse (Room 201), the Menifee Justice Center (Room M103), and the Blythe Courthouse self-help room (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday). The Court also offers an in-person Forms Review Clinic; appointments can be requested at riverside.courts.ca.gov/appointments.
Workshops
Virtual eviction workshops and clinic dates are posted on the Court's Self-Help Events calendar. Self-Help Legal Services is closed on court holidays and on the last Friday of every month.
Riverside County does not accept unlawful detainer documents through its eSubmit portal. Civil documents, including eviction responses, may be filed in person at the courthouse listed on the Summons or electronically through an approved electronic filing service provider.
What Is My Filing Deadline as a Riverside County Tenant?
Your deadline to file a response depends on how the Summons was served. Court days do not include Saturdays, Sundays, or court holidays. For a full explanation, see How Long Do I Have to Respond to an Unlawful Detainer Summons?
| How you were served | Your deadline |
|---|---|
| Personally handed to you | 10 court days, beginning the first court day after service (AB 2347) |
| Left with another adult at your home or work (substituted service) | 10 court days plus 10 calendar days (CCP § 415.20) |
| Posted and mailed under a court order | 10 court days plus 10 calendar days (CCP § 415.45) |
Call (657) 510-6534 to confirm your specific deadline.
How Do I Respond to an Eviction Lawsuit in Riverside County?
A Riverside County tenant may file one of the following responses at the courthouse listed on the Summons before the deadline expires. Before filing a motion, contact that courthouse to reserve a hearing date. Filing a motion instead of an Answer generally extends the case by about one month. For a detailed comparison, see How Do I Respond to an Unlawful Detainer Summons?
- Answer (Form UD-105): responds to the complaint and raises your affirmative defenses. It is the most common response, and trial is generally set soon after the landlord requests it (CCP § 1170.5).
- Motion to Quash: challenges improper service of the Summons (CCP § 418.10).
- Demurrer: challenges the legal sufficiency of the complaint, such as a three-day notice that demanded the wrong amount (CCP § 1170).
- Motion to Strike: challenges specific improper portions of the complaint.
Tenants who cannot afford the court's filing fee may ask the Court to waive it by submitting a Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001) with the response.
What Defenses and Tenant Protections Apply in Riverside County?
A Riverside County tenant who files an Answer may raise any affirmative defense supported by the facts. Commonly raised defenses include a breach of the implied warranty of habitability (CC § 1941), a defective three-day notice (CCP § 1161), retaliation (CC § 1942.5), the landlord's acceptance of rent after serving the notice, and discrimination (Gov. Code § 12955). See What Affirmative Defenses Can a Tenant Raise?
California's statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) applies to many rental units throughout Riverside County, generally those more than 15 years old that do not fall within a statutory exemption. In 2026, that includes most units built before 2011. Where AB 1482 applies, the landlord needed a valid just cause to terminate a tenancy of 12 months or longer (CC § 1946.2), and failure to comply may be a complete defense. Several cities within Riverside County have also enacted local tenant protection ordinances. Call (657) 510-6534 to discuss whether state or local protections apply to your situation.
If You Have Received a Summons, Act Immediately
If you have received an Unlawful Detainer Summons or a Notice of Unlawful Detainer in the mail from the Court in Riverside County, call our office immediately at (657) 510-6534. Our staff is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., to discuss your situation and help you understand your rights and options.
California tenants generally have as little as 10 court days to respond to an Unlawful Detainer Summons. Missing this deadline can result in a default judgment and a Sheriff's lockout.
Superior Court of California, County of Riverside
Courthouse locations and hours, filing information, self-help resources, Judicial Council forms, and public case access are published by the Court itself.
Riverside County Superior Court
The Court's official home page: locations, hours, filing information, and public notices.
Visit the Court website →Where to File
The Court's administrative orders assigning each community to a filing courthouse.
Visit the Court website →Public Portal Case Search
Search civil and unlawful detainer case records online.
Visit the Court website →Self-Help Information
Self-Help Center locations, workshops, and assistance with eviction cases.
Visit the Court website →Before You File Your Response
These guides explain the deadlines, the filing mechanics, and the defenses available to California tenants in an unlawful detainer proceeding.
How Long Do I Have to Respond?
Your deadline depends entirely on how the Summons was served, whether personally, by substituted service, by posting, or by mail. Each starts the clock differently.
Read the guide →How Do I Respond?
The Court will accept an Answer, a Motion to Quash, a Motion to Strike, or a Demurrer. Each carries a filing fee that may be waived.
Read the guide →How to Stop an Eviction
Six lawful options are available after a Summons is served, from challenging improper service to negotiating a stipulation.
Read the guide →Affirmative Defenses
Twenty-one defenses are available to California tenants. A defective notice, a habitability failure, or a retaliatory motive may defeat the eviction entirely.
Read the guide →Recent Changes to the Law
AB 2347 response deadlines, the 2026 habitability and deposit statutes, and the SPARE Act service-of-process reforms.
Read the guide →All County Resources
Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego county guidance in one place.
Read the guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Which courthouse handles my eviction case in Riverside County?
Riverside County eviction cases are filed at one of five courthouses, Corona, Moreno Valley, Menifee, Palm Springs, or Blythe, based on where the rental property is located. The assigned courthouse is listed on the first page of your Summons, and you must file your response there.
Did the August 1, 2026 boundary changes move my existing eviction case?
No. The changes apply only to cases filed on or after August 1, 2026. Existing cases remain at the Menifee Justice Center or the Banning Justice Center, although post-disposition filings in Banning cases now follow the new boundaries. New cases from Lake Elsinore and Wildomar are filed at the Corona Courthouse, and new cases from Banning, Beaumont, Cherry Valley, Cabazon, Whitewater, Calimesa, Idyllwild, and Mountain Center are filed at the Moreno Valley Courthouse.
Does the Riverside Historic Courthouse hear eviction cases?
Generally, no. As of August 1, 2026, the Historic Courthouse in Riverside receives unlimited civil cases from Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Homeland, Murrieta, Wildomar, and Winchester. Most eviction cases are limited civil cases and are filed at the Corona, Moreno Valley, Menifee, Palm Springs, or Blythe courthouse. An eviction case would be filed at the Historic Courthouse only if it is an unlimited civil case, such as one in which the landlord seeks more than $35,000.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction summons in Riverside County?
Generally 10 court days if the Summons was handed to you personally, or 10 court days plus 10 calendar days if it was left with another adult or posted and mailed under a court order. Court days exclude weekends and court holidays. Call (657) 510-6534 as soon as you are served.
How can I look up my eviction case online in Riverside County?
Use the Riverside Superior Court Public Portal. Eviction cases are confidential for the first 60 days after filing; during that period a party may view the case by providing at least one plaintiff's name, one defendant's name, and the property address.
Does AB 1482 protect me from eviction in Riverside County?
If your unit qualifies, your landlord needs just cause to terminate your tenancy after 12 months and must observe the state's rent-increase cap. In 2026, most units built before 2011 are covered unless an exemption applies.
Serving Tenants Throughout Riverside County
Tenant Eviction Defense is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving tenants throughout Riverside County, including:
Updated September 26, 2026.
Eviction Defense & Tenant's Rights
Rapid Response Phone Number
(657) 510-6534
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All calls are confidential.