California Courthouse Security Line Wait Times & Hours (2026)
Short answer: Arrive at least 20 to 35 minutes before your scheduled courtroom call. Monday and Tuesday mornings have the longest magnetometer lines due to new jury panels checking in simultaneously. Updated 2026-11-06
Morning security checkpoint wait times in California range from 10 to 35 minutes during peak 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM docket call. The longest typical queue is at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center & Stanley Mosk Courthouse (Downtown LA) (~35 mins). California Superior Courts allow cell phones and laptops past security checkpoints across all 58 counties, but California Rule of Court 1.150 strictly forbids photographing or recording anywhere inside a courthouse without written judicial permission.
| County Courthouse | City | Security line wait times | Phone Lockers | Juror Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center & Stanley Mosk Courthouse (Downtown LA) |
Los Angeles | ~35 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| San Diego County San Diego Central Courthouse |
San Diego | ~25 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | $20/day |
| Orange County Central Justice Center (Santa Ana) |
Santa Ana | ~25 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Riverside County Riverside County Courthouse (Riverside) |
Riverside | ~25 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| San Bernardino County San Bernardino County Courthouse (San Bernardino) |
San Bernardino | ~25 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Santa Clara County Santa Clara County Courthouse (San Jose) |
San Jose | ~25 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Alameda County Alameda County Courthouse (Oakland) |
Oakland | ~25 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Sacramento County Sacramento County Courthouse (Sacramento) |
Sacramento | ~25 mins peak (arrive 35 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Contra Costa County Contra Costa County Courthouse (Martinez) |
Martinez | ~18 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Fresno County Fresno County Courthouse (Fresno) |
Fresno | ~18 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Kern County Kern County Courthouse (Bakersfield) |
Bakersfield | ~18 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Ventura County Ventura County Courthouse (Ventura) |
Ventura | ~18 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| San Francisco County San Francisco County Courthouse (San Francisco) |
San Francisco | ~18 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| San Joaquin County San Joaquin County Courthouse (Stockton) |
Stockton | ~18 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| San Mateo County San Mateo County Courthouse (Redwood City) |
Redwood City | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Stanislaus County Stanislaus County Courthouse (Modesto) |
Modesto | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Sonoma County Sonoma County Courthouse (Santa Rosa) |
Santa Rosa | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Tulare County Tulare County Courthouse (Visalia) |
Visalia | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Solano County Solano County Courthouse (Fairfield) |
Fairfield | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Monterey County Monterey County Courthouse (Salinas) |
Salinas | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara County Courthouse (Santa Barbara) |
Santa Barbara | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Placer County Placer County Courthouse (Roseville) |
Roseville | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Marin County Marin County Courthouse (San Rafael) |
San Rafael | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz County Courthouse (Santa Cruz) |
Santa Cruz | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Merced County Merced County Courthouse (Merced) |
Merced | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo County Courthouse (San Luis Obispo) |
San Luis Obispo | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Yolo County Yolo County Courthouse (Woodland) |
Woodland | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Butte County Butte County Courthouse (Oroville) |
Oroville | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| El Dorado County El Dorado County Courthouse (Placerville) |
Placerville | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Shasta County Shasta County Courthouse (Redding) |
Redding | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Imperial County Imperial County Courthouse (El Centro) |
El Centro | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Kings County Kings County Courthouse (Hanford) |
Hanford | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Madera County Madera County Courthouse (Madera) |
Madera | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Napa County Napa County Courthouse (Napa) |
Napa | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
| Humboldt County Humboldt County Courthouse (Eureka) |
Eureka | ~10 mins peak (arrive 20 mins early) | No lockers | Free Validated |
Skip the Security Line & Protect Your Record in CA
If you have a Traffic Ticket, Speeding/CDL Violation, DUI, Misdemeanor, or Family Court hearing in CA, a licensed local attorney can often appear in court on your behalf—saving you from missing work, risking a bench warrant, or taking points on your license.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I arrive for an 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM court date in California?
Arrive at least 20 to 35 minutes before your scheduled courtroom call. Monday and Tuesday mornings have the longest magnetometer lines due to new jury panels checking in simultaneously.
How is this courthouse policy data verified?
We verify every county against official Court Administrative Orders (.gov), Jury Commissioner instructions, and Sheriff Court Security directives. Last verified 2026-11-06.
More Courthouse Rules in California
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- Cell phones banned in California
- Phone lockers at entrance in California
- Uber & bus rider safe (no car) in California
- Jury duty parking & validation in California
- Juror phone & laptop rules in California
- Courtroom dress code in California
- Smartwatches & Apple Watch in California