The court should issue its decision and final order, writ, or judgment within 30 days of the completion of the hearing in the action. The court must include a written statement of the factual and legal basis for its decision. Code of Civil Procedure section 632 does not apply to actions governed by the rules in this division.
Rule 3.2228.Judgment
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 3.2228 directs the court to issue its decision, order, writ, or judgment within thirty days after the merits hearing ends, with a written statement of its factual and legal basis, and takes the case outside the statement-of-decision procedure that Code of Civil Procedure section 632 otherwise provides.
Full Text of Rule 3.2228
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.2228 is short, but it sets two expectations that matter a great deal to the parties waiting on a ruling. First, a timeline: the court should rule within thirty days of the hearing wrapping up, whether the outcome takes the form of a decision, a final order, a writ, or a judgment. Second, a substantive requirement — the ruling has to come with a written statement explaining the factual and legal grounds behind it, not just a bottom-line result.
That second piece is worth pausing on, because it displaces the normal California civil procedure for statements of decision. Code of Civil Procedure section 632, which lets a party request a statement of decision only after asking for one following a hearing lasting more than one day, does not apply in these cases. The written explanation is built into the rule itself, automatic rather than something a party has to request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly must a court rule after the merits hearing in a streamlined CEQA case?
Within thirty days of the hearing’s completion, under Rule 3.2228.
Does the court have to explain its reasoning in a streamlined CEQA judgment?
Yes. Rule 3.2228 requires a written statement of the factual and legal basis for the decision as a matter of course.
Does a party need to request a statement of decision under Code of Civil Procedure section 632?
No. Rule 3.2228 makes section 632’s statement-of-decision procedure inapplicable, because the written explanation is already required automatically.
Amendment History
Rule 3.2228 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: CEQA judgment deadline Californiawritten statement of decision CEQA ruleCRC rule 3.2228