§ 1250.010.Superior Court Jurisdiction
Title 7. Eminent Domain Law · Chapter 5. Commencement of Proceeding · Article 1. Jurisdiction and Venue · Enacted 1975 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
Full Text of § 1250.010
Plain-English Summary
Section 1250.010 answers a basic question before any condemnation case can proceed: which court hears it. The answer is the superior court, for essentially every eminent domain proceeding in the state.
The statute carves out two narrow exceptions. One involves § 1230.060, a general provision elsewhere in this part's front matter. The other is Chapter 12 (commencing with § 1273.010), the article covering arbitration of compensation in acquisitions of property for public use — a specialized track the parties can choose in place of full superior court litigation.
For nearly every condemning agency and every property owner, though, this section means what it says: file in superior court. The sections that follow work out the details of venue within that court system (§§ 1250.020 through 1250.040), how the case gets started (§ 1250.110), and who needs to be named (§§ 1250.210 through 1250.250).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which court handles eminent domain cases in California?
The superior court. Section 1250.010 requires that eminent domain proceedings be commenced and prosecuted there, apart from two narrow exceptions.
What are the exceptions to superior court jurisdiction?
Does this section address venue within the superior court system?
No. Section 1250.010 only establishes that the superior court has jurisdiction; §§ 1250.020 through 1250.040 set the rules for which county is the proper venue.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1275.