(a) Timing of conference The court must hold an initial case management conference within 30 days of the filing of the petition or complaint. (Sub (a) amended effective January 1, 2025.)
Rule 3.2226.Initial case management conference
Division 22. Petitions Under the California Environmental Quality Act · Chapter 2. California Environmental Quality Act Proceedings Involving Streamlined CEQA Projects · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.2226 requires the court to hold an initial case management conference within thirty days of filing, sets notice and joint-statement obligations for the parties, and lists fifteen scheduling and case-management subjects — from service and the record to briefing and settlement — the court should address there.
Full Text of Rule 3.2226
(b) Notice Petitioner must provide notice of the case management conference to respondent, real party in interest, and any responsible agency or party to the action who has been served before the case management conference, within one court day of receiving notice from the court or at time of service of the petition or complaint, whichever is later.
(c) Subjects for consideration At the conference, the court should consider the following subjects:
(1) Whether all parties named in the petition or complaint have been served;
(2) Whether a list of responsible agencies has been provided, and notice provided to each;
(3) Whether all responsive pleadings have been filed, and if not, when they must be filed, and whether any hearing is required to address them;
(4) Whether severance, bifurcation, or consolidation with other actions is desirable, and if so, a relevant briefing schedule;
(5) Whether to appoint a liaison or lead counsel, and either a briefing schedule on this issue or the actual appointment of counsel;
(6) The scope, timing, and cost of the record of proceedings, including whether the record has been certified and served on all parties, whether there are any issues with it, and whether the court wants to receive a paper copy;
(7) Whether the parties anticipate any motions before the hearing on the merits concerning discovery, injunctions, or other matters, and if so, a briefing schedule for these motions;
(8) What issues the parties intend to raise in their briefs on the merits, and whether any limitation of issues to be briefed and argued is appropriate;
(9) Whether a schedule for briefs on the merits different from the schedule provided in these rules is appropriate;
(10) Whether the submission of joint briefs on the merits is appropriate, and the page limitations on all briefs, whether aggregate per side or per brief;
(11) When the hearing on the merits of the petition will be held, and the amount of time appropriate for it;
(12) The potential for settlement, and whether a schedule for settlement conferences or alternative dispute resolution should be set;
(13) Any stipulations between the parties;
(14) Whether a further case management conference should be set; and
(15) Any other matters that the court finds appropriate. (Sub (c) amended effective January 1, 2025.)
(d) Joint case management conference statements At least three court days before the case management conference, petitioner and all parties that have been served with the petition must serve and file a joint case management conference statement that addresses the issues identified in (c) and any other pertinent issues.
(e) Preparation for the conference At the conference, lead counsel for each party and each self-represented party must appear in person or remotely, must be familiar with the case, and must be prepared to discuss and commit to the party’s position on the issues listed in (c). (Subd (e) amended effective January 21, 2022.)
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.2226 puts the case management conference at the center of the streamlined CEQA schedule, and puts it there fast — the court must convene it within thirty days of the petition being filed. Petitioner carries the job of spreading the word, notifying every respondent, real party, and responsible agency served so far within one court day of learning the conference date, or at the time of serving the petition if that comes later.
The rule lists fifteen subjects the conference should cover, and reading through them shows how much of the case gets mapped out at this single early meeting: whether everyone has been served and the responsible-agency list circulated, whether pleadings are on track, whether cases should be combined or split apart, who will act as lead or liaison counsel, the state of the administrative record, anticipated motions, what issues the merits briefs will argue, page limits, when the merits hearing will happen, and the prospects for settlement. Nothing on the list requires a ruling at the conference itself, but it gives the court a single checkpoint to catch problems before the compressed briefing schedule takes over.
The parties do the groundwork beforehand. At least three court days ahead of the conference, petitioner and everyone served must file a joint statement addressing those subjects, and lead counsel — or a self-represented party — has to show up ready to discuss and commit to a position on each one, in person or remotely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after filing must a streamlined CEQA case have its first case management conference?
Within thirty days of the petition or complaint being filed, under Rule 3.2226(a).
What has to be filed before the case management conference?
A joint case management conference statement addressing the subjects in Rule 3.2226(c), filed at least three court days before the conference under Rule 3.2226(d).
Who has to attend the streamlined CEQA case management conference?
Lead counsel for each represented party and each self-represented party, appearing in person or remotely and prepared to discuss the case, under Rule 3.2226(e).
What topics does the court cover at this conference?
Rule 3.2226(c) lists fifteen, including service status, the administrative record, anticipated motions, the merits briefing schedule, page limits, the hearing date, and settlement prospects.
Amendment History
Rule 3.2226 amended effective January 1, 2025; adopted July 1, 2014; previously amended effective January 21, 2022.
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: CEQA case management conference deadlinejoint case management statement CEQA CaliforniaCRC rule 3.2226