Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
Anaheim draws heavy foot and car traffic, and City streets, sidewalks, trees, and vehicles can all be part of an injury claim. We have written about a City tree that fell on a car in Anaheim. This guide covers the filing step, based on the City’s File a Claim page.
Is it a City of Anaheim claim?
OCTA buses and stops go to OCTA (see how to file a claim against OCTA). Freeways such as the I-5 and SR-91 generally go to Caltrans (see our Caltrans claim guide). County facilities go to the County (see our County of Orange claim guide). When more than one may be involved, a timely claim to each can be required.
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.
How to file with the City Clerk
The City says that under Anaheim Municipal Code section 1.12.060, certain claims against the City must be filed with the Office of the City Clerk. To file, download the form, complete all required fields, and personally deliver or mail the original form, with any supporting documents, to:
Office of the City Clerk, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 217, Anaheim, CA 92805.
You may also contact the City Clerk and ask for a form to be mailed to you. City Clerk: (714) 765-5166.
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
The City says the City Clerk will process the claim and forward it to the Risk Management Division, and that Risk Management will review it and contact you within two weeks of filing. For questions about a filed claim, Risk Management’s number is (714) 765-5193.
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.
Missed the six-month window? Government Code section 911.4 allows a written application for leave to present a late claim within a reasonable time, not more than one year after accrual, with the proposed claim attached. Relief is not automatic. See our guide on a missed six-month government claim 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
Where do I file a claim against the City of Anaheim?
With the Office of the City Clerk. The City says to download the form, complete all required fields, and personally deliver or mail the original to 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 217, Anaheim, CA 92805.
Can the City mail me a claim form?
Yes. The City says you may contact the Office of the City Clerk and ask for a form to be mailed to you. The City Clerk’s number is (714) 765-5166.
What happens after I file an Anaheim claim?
The City Clerk processes the claim and forwards it to the Risk Management Division, which the City says will contact you within two weeks of filing. Risk Management can be reached at (714) 765-5193.
What is the deadline for an injury claim against Anaheim?
Government Code section 911.2 requires claims for death or injury to a person or personal property to be presented no later than six months after accrual. Most other claims have one year.
Does a claim against Anaheim cover an OCTA bus or a freeway crash?
No. OCTA and Caltrans are separate public entities with their own claim processes, and the County of Orange is separate from the City.