San Bernardino County Sheriff's Civil Fees: What families should expect to pay
Civil paperwork and enforcement actions come with real costs—and knowing them upfront helps you budget. Here's what families typically pay through the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Civil Enforcement Unit, based on the fee schedule effective January 1, 2024.
If your loved one is dealing with a civil case - being served, facing eviction, or having wages withheld - these are the fees you'll need to plan for. Serving a Summons and Complaint (or Summons and Petition) costs $50.00. Processing an Earnings Withholding Order runs $45.00. Eviction service totals $180.00, broken into two parts: posting plus a Notice of Restoration. Some actions cost significantly more - Levy and Sale of Real Property is $2,000.00 - while smaller add-ons like notary work are $15.00.
- ✓ Serve a Summons and Complaint / Summons and Petition - $50.00
- ✓ Eviction service - $180.00 total ($105.00 posting + $75.00 Notice of Restoration)
- ✓ Earnings Withholding Order - $45.00
- ✓ Levy and Sale of Real Property - $2,000.00
- ✓ Keeper service - 8 hours $300.00; 12 hours $475.00; 24 hours $825.00; 48 hours $1,575.00 (additional cost may apply for after-hours service)
- ✓ Notary fee - $15.00
- ✓ $15.00 statutory assessment (Gov’t Code 26746) - collected from the judgment debtor on each disbursement of money paid to a judgment creditor (excludes child support actions handled by the Department of Child Support Services)
That $180.00 eviction fee isn't a single flat charge. It's actually two line items combined: $105.00 for posting and $75.00 for a Notice of Restoration. When you're tracking costs or checking an invoice against the official schedule, knowing this breakdown helps you spot errors.
Tip: If someone tells you "eviction is $180," ask whether that covers posting, the Notice of Restoration, or both. The schedule breaks these into separate charges.
Keeper services are priced by duration: 8 hours costs $300.00, 12 hours is $475.00, 24 hours runs $825.00, and 48 hours totals $1,575.00. These fees include both the levying officer fee and the keeper fee. One thing to watch: additional costs may apply for after-hours service. The length of time matters, and so does the time of day.
Note: After-hours keeper service can cost extra. If the work would happen nights or weekends, get a price estimate that accounts for that.
Two smaller charges catch families off guard. The Civil Enforcement Unit's notary fee is $15.00. There's also a $15.00 assessment under Government Code section 26746, collected from the judgment debtor on each disbursement paid to a judgment creditor under a writ. (This assessment doesn't apply to child support actions handled by the Department of Child Support Services.)
Before paying anything, confirm the current total with the Civil Enforcement Unit - especially if after-hours time or statutory assessments might apply. Send civil correspondence to: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, 157 W. 5th Street, 3rd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415. Phone: (909) 387-5700. The email listed on the schedule appears as "civildocs@s."
- ✓ Call (909) 387-5700 or use the email shown on the schedule (“civildocs@s”) to reach the Civil Enforcement Unit
- ✓ Ask whether the amount you were quoted includes any assessments and whether after-hours service changes the total
- ✓ Request a written estimate or itemization so you can match charges to the fee schedule
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