In any action, the court may on notice modify or dissolve an injunction or temporary restraining order upon a showing that there has been a material change in the facts upon which the injunction or temporary restraining order was granted, that the law upon which the injunction or temporary restraining order was granted has changed, or that the ends of justice would be served by the modification or dissolution of the injunction or temporary restraining order.
§ 533.Material Change In Facts Upon Which Order Granted
Title 7. Other Provisional Remedies In Civil Actions · Chapter 3. Injunction · Enacted 1995 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 533 lets a court, on notice, modify or dissolve an existing injunction or temporary restraining order when the facts underlying it have materially changed, the law upon which it was granted has changed, or the ends of justice would be served by the modification or dissolution.
Full Text of § 533
Plain-English Summary
Section 533 gives courts a general, ongoing power to revisit an injunction or temporary restraining order as a case develops. On notice, a court can modify or dissolve either one whenever the facts that supported it have materially changed, the law it relied on has changed, or modifying or dissolving it would otherwise serve the interests of justice.
That third ground — the interests of justice — gives courts real flexibility beyond the narrower fact-based and law-based triggers, letting them respond to circumstances that don't fit neatly into either category but still make continuing the order as originally written unfair or unnecessary.
This section functions as the general-purpose companion to the narrower, subject-specific dissolution and modification provisions found elsewhere in this chapter, such as § 532's rules for injunctions granted without notice and for irrigation-related water disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions
On what grounds can a court modify or dissolve an existing injunction?
Section 533 allows it on notice when there has been a material change in the facts the injunction was based on, a change in the governing law, or when the ends of justice would be served by modifying or dissolving it.
Does the party seeking modification have to prove a change in the law or facts?
Not necessarily. The third ground under § 533 — that the ends of justice would be served — doesn't require showing a factual or legal change at all.
Is notice required for this kind of motion?
Yes, § 533 requires the motion to be made on notice.
Amendment History
Repealed and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 796, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1996.
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
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