A civil action is prosecuted by one party against another for the declaration, enforcement or protection of a right, or the redress or prevention of a wrong.
§ 30.Civil actions
Preliminary Provisions · Last amended 1933 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 30 defines a civil action as one party prosecuting another for the declaration, enforcement, or protection of a right, or the redress or prevention of a wrong.
Full Text of § 30
Plain-English Summary
Section 30 restates the “action” definition from Section 22, narrowed to the civil side. A civil action is one party going to court against another to declare, enforce, or protect a right, or to redress or prevent a wrong.
Unlike Section 22’s broader definition, this one leaves out punishing a public offense — that’s the criminal side, covered by Section 31.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a “civil action” under the California Code of Civil Procedure?
Section 30 defines it as one party prosecuting another for the declaration, enforcement, or protection of a right, or the redress or prevention of a wrong.
How does “civil action” differ from the broader definition of “action” in Section 22?
Section 30 leaves out punishing a public offense, which Section 22’s definition of “action” includes for the criminal side.
Amendment History
Enacted 1872. Amended Stats 1933 ch 742 § 3.
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: definition of civil action CaliforniaCCP section 30