When any county, city, district, or other public agency or entity, or any officer thereof in his official capacity, is a party, costs shall be awarded against it on the same basis as against any other party and, when awarded, must be paid out of the treasury thereof.
§ 1029.Costs When County, City, Public Agency Or Entity Party
Title 14. Of Miscellaneous Provisions · Chapter 6. Of Costs · Last amended 1945 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1029 extends the same rule that applies to the State to local governments, requiring costs to be awarded against a county, city, district, or other public agency or entity on the same basis as any other party, paid out of its own treasury.
Full Text of § 1029
Plain-English Summary
This section is § 1028's counterpart for local and regional government. When a county, city, district, or other public agency or entity, or an officer of one sued in an official capacity, is a party to a case, costs are awarded against it just as they would be against a private litigant.
Payment comes out of the treasury of the governmental body itself, mirroring how § 1028 ties a State cost award to the responsible agency's own budget. Neither statute lets a government defendant escape the ordinary cost-recovery framework because of its public character.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are local governments treated differently from private parties when it comes to costs?
No. Section 1029 requires costs to be awarded against a county, city, district, or other public agency on the same basis as against any other party.
Where does a local government pay a cost award from?
Out of its own treasury.
Does this section cover a public officer sued in an official capacity?
Yes, it applies when an officer of a covered public entity is a party in that official capacity.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats. 1945, Ch. 217.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: ccp 1029 public entity costs californiacounty city costs lawsuit california