California Legal Codes and Statutes

§ 1166

Current Version

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 563, Sec. 19. (AB 747) Effective January 1, 2026. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Sec. 20 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 563.

(a)The complaint shall:
(1)Be verified and include the typed or printed name of the person verifying the complaint.
(2)Set forth the facts on which the plaintiff seeks to recover.
(3)Describe the premises with reasonable certainty.
(4)If the action is based on paragraph (2) of Section 1161, state the amount of rent in default.
(5)State specifically the method used to serve the defendant with the notice or notices of termination upon which the complaint is based. This requirement may be satisfied by using

and completing all items relating to service of the notice or notices in an appropriate Judicial Council form complaint, or by attaching a proof of service of the notice or notices of termination served on the defendant.

(b)The complaint may set forth any circumstances of fraud, force, or violence that may have accompanied the alleged forcible entry or forcible or unlawful detainer, and claim damages therefor.
(c)In an action regarding residential real property based on Section 1161a, the plaintiff shall state in the caption of the complaint “Action based on Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161a.”
(d)(1) In an action regarding residential property, the plaintiff shall attach to the complaint the following:

(A) A copy of the

notice or notices of termination served on the defendant upon which the complaint is based.

(B) A copy of any written lease or rental agreement regarding the premises. Any addenda or attachments to the lease or written agreement that form the basis of the complaint shall also be attached. The documents required by this subparagraph are not required to be attached if the complaint alleges any of the following:

(i)The lease or rental agreement is oral.

(ii) A written lease or rental agreement regarding the premises is not in the possession of the landlord or any agent or employee of the landlord.

(iii) An action based solely on subdivision (2) of Section 1161.

(2)If the plaintiff fails to

attach the documents required by this subdivision, the court shall grant leave to amend the complaint for a five-day period in order to include the required attachments.

(e)Upon filing the complaint, a summons shall be issued thereon.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
Future Version

Repealed (in Sec. 19) and added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 563, Sec. 20. (AB 747) Effective January 1, 2026. Operative January 1, 2027, by its own provisions.

(a)The complaint shall:
(1)Be verified and include the typed or printed name of the person verifying the complaint.
(2)Set forth the facts on which the plaintiff seeks to recover.
(3)Describe the premises with reasonable certainty.
(4)If the action is based on paragraph (2) of Section 1161, state the amount of rent in default.
(5)State specifically the method used to serve the defendant with the notice or notices of termination upon which the complaint is based, and the date, time, and

location of effected service of the termination notice. This requirement may be satisfied by using and completing all items relating to service of the notice or notices in an appropriate Judicial Council form complaint, or by attaching a proof of service of the notice or notices of termination served on the defendant.

(b)The complaint may set forth any circumstances of fraud, force, or violence that may have accompanied the alleged forcible entry or forcible or unlawful detainer, and claim damages therefor.
(c)In an action regarding residential real property based on Section 1161a, the plaintiff shall state in the caption of the complaint “Action based on Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161a.”
(d)(1) In an action regarding residential property, the plaintiff shall attach to the complaint the

following:

(A) A copy of the notice or notices of termination served on the defendant upon which the complaint is based.

(B) A copy of any written lease or rental agreement regarding the premises. Any addenda or attachments to the lease or written agreement that form the basis of the complaint shall also be attached. The documents required by this subparagraph are not required to be attached if the complaint alleges any of the following:

(i)The lease or rental agreement is oral.

(ii) A written lease or rental agreement regarding the premises is not in the possession of the landlord or any agent or employee of the landlord.

(iii) An action based solely on subdivision (2) of Section

1161.

(2)If the plaintiff fails to attach the documents required by this subdivision, the court shall grant leave to amend the complaint for a five-day period in order to include the required attachments.
(e)Upon filing the complaint, a summons shall be issued thereon.
(f)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.

Cite this section

Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1166 (2026)
https://ca.codecond.com/codes/ccp/part-3-of-special-proceedings-of-a-civil-nature/title-3-of-summary-proceedings/chapter-4-summary-proceedings-for-obtaining-possession-of-real-property-in-certain-cases/section-1166

Other sections in Chapter 4 - Summary Proceedings for Obtaining Possession of Real Property in Certain Cases

§ 1159§ 1160§ 1161§ 1161.1§ 1161.2§ 1161.3§ 1161.4§ 1161.5§ 1161a§ 1161b…§ 1174.21§ 1174.25§ 1174.27§ 1174.3§ 1174.5§ 1176§ 1177§ 1178§ 1179§ 1179a

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