Code of Civil Procedure section 415.21


(a)

Notwithstanding any other law, any person shall be granted access to a gated community or a covered multifamily dwelling for a reasonable period of time for the sole purpose of performing lawful service of process or service of a subpoena upon displaying a current driver’s license or other identification, and one of the following:

(1)

A badge or other confirmation that the individual is acting in the individual’s capacity as a representative of a county sheriff or marshal, or as an investigator employed by an office of the Attorney General, a county counsel, a city attorney, a district attorney, or a public defender.

(2)

Evidence of current registration as a process server pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 22350) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code or of licensure as a private investigator pursuant to Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 7512) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code.

(b)

This section shall only apply to a gated community or a covered multifamily dwelling that is staffed at the time service of process is attempted by a guard or other security personnel assigned to control access to the community or dwelling.

(c)

For purposes of this section, “covered multifamily dwelling” means either of the following:

(1)

An apartment building, including a timeshare apartment building not considered a place of public accommodation or transient lodging, with three or more dwelling units.

(2)

A condominium, including a timeshare condominium not considered a place of public accommodation or transient lodging, with four or more dwelling units.

Source: Section 415.21, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=415.­21.­ (updated Jan. 1, 2020; accessed Jun. 30, 2025).

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Verified:
Jun. 30, 2025

§ 415.21's source at ca​.gov