Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
Santa Ana is the county seat and one of the largest cities in Orange County, a few miles from our Tustin office. If a City vehicle, a damaged sidewalk, a street defect, or another City operation injured you, California law usually requires a written claim before a lawsuit. Here is what the City’s claims page and its new claim form say.
Make sure it is a City of Santa Ana claim
OCTA buses and stops in Santa Ana go to OCTA (see how to file a claim against OCTA). County facilities and Sheriff’s vehicles go to the County (see our County of Orange claim guide). The I-5 and SR-55 freeways generally point to Caltrans (see our Caltrans claim guide).
The six-month deadline
Government Code section 911.2 says a claim for death or for injury to a person or to personal property must be presented no later than six months after the cause of action accrues. Most other claims get one year. Accrual is a legal question, so do not guess at the start date.
The City’s claim form says claims related to personal injury or damage to personal property must be presented within six months from the date of loss, and all other claims within one year.
How to file
The City asks claimants to download the form, complete all required fields, and personally deliver or mail the original form. The City says no electronic service will be accepted, and the original must carry a wet signature.
In person: City Clerk’s Office, City of Santa Ana, 20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92701. By mail: City Clerk’s Office, City of Santa Ana, P.O. Box 1988, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Questions: (714) 647-6520.
The City says its staff cannot give legal advice about a claim against the City and encourages claimants to consult an attorney of their choosing.
Government Code section 910 lists what every claim must show: the claimant’s name and address, the address for notices, the date, place, and other circumstances of the incident, a general description of the injury or loss, the name of any public employee who caused it if known, and the amount claimed or, for claims over $10,000, whether it would be a limited civil case.
What happens next
After receiving the original form, the City Clerk’s Office processes the claim and forwards it to the City’s third-party administrator, AdminSure. The City says AdminSure will review the claim and send a confirmation letter within two weeks of filing.
Under Government Code section 945.4, you generally cannot sue the City for money damages until a required claim has been presented and acted on, or deemed rejected. Section 912.4 generally gives the public entity 45 days to act. If it does not act, the claim is deemed rejected on the last day of that period.
After written notice of rejection, Government Code section 945.6 generally gives you six months from the date the notice is personally delivered or mailed to file suit. If no written notice is given, a two-year period from accrual can apply instead.
Late claims: the City says that if you file more than six months after the incident, but not more than one year, you must file an Application for Leave to Present a Late Claim. Government Code section 911.4 governs those applications, and approval is not automatic. See our guide on a missed six-month deadline.
Talk to us
If you were hurt in California and a city, county, transit agency, or the State may be involved, Win Attorneys handles government claims and personal injury matters statewide from our Tustin office. See our Tustin office page. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese.
Call us at (562) 296-5380, reach us through our contact page, or start online with our intake form. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.
Frequently asked questions
How do I file a claim against the City of Santa Ana?
Download the City’s claim form, complete all required fields, and deliver or mail the original with an original wet signature to the City Clerk’s Office. The City says no electronic service will be accepted.
What are the Santa Ana City Clerk addresses for claims?
In person: City Clerk’s Office, 20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92701. By mail: City Clerk’s Office, P.O. Box 1988, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Questions: (714) 647-6520.
What happens after I file?
The City Clerk’s Office processes the claim and forwards it to the City’s third-party administrator, AdminSure, which the City says will send a confirmation letter within two weeks of filing.
What is the deadline for an injury claim against Santa Ana?
The City’s form says claims related to personal injury or damage to personal property must be presented within six months from the date of loss, and all other claims within one year.
What if more than six months have passed?
The City says that if you file more than six months after the incident but not more than one year, you must file an Application for Leave to Present a Late Claim. Government Code section 911.4 governs late-claim applications, and relief is not automatic.