(a) Responsive pleadings and motions Respondent and any real party in interest must serve and file any answer to the petition; any motion challenging the sufficiency of the petition, including any motion to dismiss the petition; any other response to the petition; any motion to change venue; or any motion to intervene within 10 days after service of petition or complaint on that party or within the time ordered by the court. Any such answer, motion, or other response from the same party must be filed concurrently.
Rule 3.2224.Response to petition
Division 22. Petitions Under the California Environmental Quality Act · Chapter 2. California Environmental Quality Act Proceedings Involving Streamlined CEQA Projects · Article 1. General Provisions · Adopted 2014 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.2224 gives a respondent or real party in interest ten days after service of a streamlined CEQA petition to file any answer, motion challenging its sufficiency, motion to change venue, or motion to intervene, all filed together, and gives the petitioner ten days to oppose any such motion.
Full Text of Rule 3.2224
(b) Opposition Any opposition or other response to a motion challenging the sufficiency of the petition or to change venue must be served and filed within 10 days after the motion is served.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.2224 compresses the response window that would otherwise run under general civil procedure. A respondent or real party in interest who has been served with a streamlined CEQA petition has ten days — or whatever different period the court orders — to serve and file every response it intends to make: an answer, a motion attacking the petition’s sufficiency (including a motion to dismiss), a motion to change venue, a motion to intervene, or any other response. The rule requires these all go in together rather than trickling in one at a time, which keeps the case management conference from being derailed by a late-arriving motion.
The clock then resets for whoever wants to oppose one of those motions. Opposition to a motion challenging the petition’s sufficiency or seeking a venue change is due ten days after the motion itself was served, matching the pace the rest of the schedule sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a respondent have to answer a streamlined CEQA petition?
Ten days after service of the petition, or a different period set by the court, under Rule 3.2224(a).
Can a respondent file a motion to dismiss and an answer separately, at different times?
No. Rule 3.2224(a) requires any answer, motion challenging the petition’s sufficiency, motion to change venue, or motion to intervene from the same party to be filed together.
How long does a party have to oppose a motion to dismiss a streamlined CEQA petition?
Ten days after the motion is served, per Rule 3.2224(b).
Amendment History
Rule 3.2224 adopted effective July 1, 2014.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: deadline to respond to CEQA petition Californiamotion to dismiss streamlined CEQA petitionCRC rule 3.2224