(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the proceeding shall be commenced in the county in which the property sought to be taken is located.
§ 1250.020.Venue
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
In one sentenceSection 1250.020 sets venue for an eminent domain proceeding in the county where the property sought to be taken is located, or lets the plaintiff pick among counties when the property spans more than one.
Full Text of § 1250.020
(b) When property sought to be taken is situated in more than one county, the plaintiff may commence the proceeding in any one of such counties.
Plain-English Summary
Venue for a condemnation case follows the land. Section 1250.020 requires the plaintiff to file in the county where the property sought to be taken sits.
Public projects do not always respect county lines. When the targeted property stretches across more than one county, subdivision (b) gives the plaintiff a choice: file in any one of the counties where a piece of the property is located.
Once that choice is made, § 1250.030 locks it in as the proper county for trial, unless the court later grants a change of venue under § 1250.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where must an eminent domain lawsuit be filed?
In the county where the property sought to be taken is located, under § 1250.020(a).
What if the property crosses county lines?
The plaintiff may commence the proceeding in any one of the counties where part of the property is situated.
Does filing in one of several counties lock in venue permanently?
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1275.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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