California Evictions – Sheriff Lockout Stage – an Overview

The sheriff lockout stage is the final step in the eviction process, commencing after you have won at trial and the judge has granted possession back to you. Remember, this step is only necessary if the tenant still hasn’t moved out even after they have had their day in court and lost.

After the court grants you the writ of possession, you must take it to the sheriff’s office and fill out other forms that let the sheriff know of any danger existing at the property such as guns, gang activity, dogs or anything else that would make the lockout difficult or dangerous for the officers.

The sheriff then posts a 5 day notice on the property to give the tenant one last shot of leaving without law enforcement involvement.

The sheriff will typically give you a small time frame for when they will show up to the property to perform the lockout such as 9 to 11 am. Here are some tips you should consider on the day the California eviction sheriff lockout is performed.

• Meet the sheriff on time! They request you be there 30 minutes in advance of the scheduled appointed time. We suggest you clear your schedule to make sure everything goes according to plan and you get your property back.
• Take a locksmith with you in case the tenant has changed the locks. If this is the case, the locksmith can properly open the door and let the sheriff in. The sheriff will not break in or let you break into the property.
• The sheriff typically enters the rental property and secures the perimeter, making sure there is nobody hiding. Step back and let the sheriffs do their job at a safe distance.
• The sheriff will escort anyone on the property out and let you know when it’s safe to enter your property. At this point, the locks can be changed.

Have additional questions about sheriff lockout? You can let us know in the comments or call for a free consultation.

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