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§ 415.45.Service In Action For Unlawful Detainer of Real Property

Title 5. Jurisdiction and Service of Process · Chapter 4. Service of Summons · Article 3. Manner of Service of Summons · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 28, 2026

This section prints two full, separately-dated versions in the official compilation (a pending-amendment straddle); both are shown below.

In one sentenceSection 415.45 lets a court order service by posting on the premises in an unlawful detainer action when reasonable diligence shows the defendant cannot be served any other way besides publication, with service deemed complete on the 10th day after posting and mailing.

Full Text of § 415.45

Text sizeEffective Until 1/1/2027 — jump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Operative 1/1/2027 — jump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

§ 415.45. Service In Action For Unlawful Detainer of Real Property — Effective Until 1/1/2027
(a) A summons in an action for unlawful detainer of real property may be served by posting if upon affidavit it appears to the satisfaction of the court in which the action is pending that the party to be served cannot with reasonable diligence be served in any manner specified in this article other than publication and that:
(1) A cause of action exists against the party upon whom service is to be made or they are a necessary or proper party to the action; or
(2) The party to be served has or claims an interest in real property in this state that is subject to the jurisdiction of the court or the relief demanded in the action consists wholly or in part in excluding such party from any interest in such property.
(b) The court shall order the summons to be posted on the premises in a manner most likely to give actual notice to the party to be served and direct that a copy of the summons and of the complaint be forthwith mailed by certified mail to such party at the party's last known address.
(c) Service of summons in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after posting and mailing.
(d) Notwithstanding an order for posting of the summons, a summons may be served in any other manner authorized by this article, except publication, in which event such service shall supersede any posted summons.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
§ 415.45. Service In Action For Unlawful Detainer of Real Property — Operative 1/1/2027
(a) A summons in an action for unlawful detainer of real property may be served by posting if upon affidavit it appears to the satisfaction of the court in which the action is pending that the party to be served cannot with reasonable diligence be served in any manner specified in this article other than publication and if either of the following conditions exists:
(1) A cause of action exists against the party upon whom service is to be made or they are a necessary or proper party to the action.
(2) The party to be served has or claims an interest in real property in this state that is subject to the jurisdiction of the court or the relief demanded in the action consists wholly or in part in excluding such party from any interest in such property.
(b) The court shall order the summons to be posted on the premises in a manner most likely to give actual notice to the party to be served and direct that a copy of the summons and of the complaint be forthwith mailed by certified mail to such party at the party's last known address.
(c) Service of summons in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after posting and mailing.
(d)
(1) For purposes of this section, a party shows reasonable diligence by attempting personal delivery of the summons and complaint, in good faith, on at least three occasions on three different days at three different times.
(2) Except with respect to actions for unlawful detainer of "commercial real property," as defined under subdivision (d) of Section 1161.1 or "program participants," as defined under paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 6205.5 of the Government Code, at least one of the attempts shall be made at the dwelling place or usual place of abode of the person to be served, provided that the dwelling place or usual place of abode is known or could be determined with reasonable effort.
(e) Notwithstanding an order for posting of the summons, a summons may be served in any other manner authorized by this article, except publication, in which event such service shall supersede any posted summons.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.
End

Plain-English Summary

Section 415.45 provides a posting option unique to unlawful detainer actions involving real property. On a showing by affidavit that satisfies the court that the party to be served cannot with reasonable diligence be served in any manner specified in this article other than publication, and that either a cause of action exists against that party (or they are a necessary or proper party), or they have or claim an interest in California real property subject to the court’s jurisdiction or the relief sought, the court may order the summons posted.

Subdivision (b) requires the court to order the summons posted on the premises in a manner most likely to give the party actual notice, and to direct that a copy of the summons and complaint be mailed by certified mail to the party’s last known address. Service in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after both the posting and the mailing occur. Subdivision (d) allows service to be completed in any other authorized manner even after a posting order issues, except publication — and if that happens, the later service supersedes the posted summons. This version of the section remains in effect only until January 1, 2027, when it is scheduled to be repealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can a California landlord serve an unlawful detainer summons by posting it on the property?

Section 415.45(a) allows posting when an affidavit satisfies the court that the party cannot with reasonable diligence be served in any manner other than publication, and either a cause of action exists against them or they have or claim an interest in the property.

Is posting alone enough, or does the summons also have to be mailed?

Both are required. Subdivision (b) requires the court to order posting on the premises and to direct that a copy of the summons and complaint also be mailed by certified mail to the party’s last known address.

When is service by posting considered complete?

Subdivision (c) deems service complete on the 10th day after both the posting and the mailing have occurred.

Is § 415.45 permanent law?

No. Subdivision (e) states this section remains in effect only until January 1, 2027, and is repealed as of that date, so it should be checked against any successor provision after that date.

Amendment History

Effective Until 1/1/2027

Amended by Stats 2025 ch 563 (AB 747),s 6, eff. 1/1/2026. Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 625.

Operative 1/1/2027

Added by Stats 2025 ch 563 (AB 747),s 7, eff. 1/1/2026.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the California Legislative Information. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source
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