Butte County Small Claims Court

Court Information

Court name

Butte County Superior Court -- Small Claims Division (North Butte County Courthouse)

Address

1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928

Phone

(530) 532-7009

Hours

Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm

Official website

https://www.butte.courts.ca.gov/small-claims

Typical hearing wait

7 weeks

Filing Fees

Max claim: $12,500 · Required forms: SC-100, SC-104

Claim amount	Filing fee
$1 – $1,500	$30
$1,501 – $5,000	$50
$5,001 – $12,500	$75

Fee waiver available if you qualify (form FW-001).

How to File

Small claims cases in Butte County are filed at the North Butte County Courthouse, 1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928 (Civil Division), which handles all small claims matters for the entire county. The court's self-help resources include a free Law Help Interactive online tool to prepare your SC-100 claim form. Bring the completed SC-100 plus the filing fee, or a fee-waiver request (form FW-001), when you file.

Serving the Defendant

Serve the defendant at least 15 days before the hearing (20 days if the defendant lives outside Butte County). Service can be made by the sheriff, a registered process server, or any adult who is not a party to the case. File the proof of service (SC-104) with the court before the hearing.

Allowed methods: Personal service, Substituted service, Certified mail
Deadline: Serve at least 15 days before the hearing date.

Hearing Tips

Butte County Superior Court provides no-cost interpreters for all court proceedings; submit a Request for Interpreter (Form SS01) to the clerk's office in advance, or ask orally for a telephone interpreter at the counter or by phone.
Remote appearances for small claims trials are available through the court's CourtCall video platform, but require judicial approval in advance and a request filed at least 10 court days before the hearing -- confirm eligibility with the clerk before counting on a remote appearance.
SHARP, the court's Self-Help Center, offers same-day walk-in help with small claims forms at both the Chico and Oroville courthouses (Mon-Thu 8:30am-4:00pm, Fri 8:30am-1:00pm); call (530) 532-7015.
You may consult a lawyer for advice before your hearing, but attorneys are not permitted to represent parties at the small claims hearing itself.

✓ Interpreters available ✓ Phone appearance allowed

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