Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
The County of Orange is the public entity behind County roads in unincorporated areas, County parks, harbors, and beaches, and County vehicles, including Sheriff’s Department vehicles. If one of them caused your injury, the first legal step is usually a written government claim to the County. This guide explains what the County’s own claim form and pages say.
County, city, or OCTA?
Orange County has dozens of public entities. Most streets inside a city belong to that city; see our guides for the City of Tustin, City of Santa Ana, City of Anaheim, and City of Irvine. OCTA buses and stops go to OCTA (see how to file a claim against OCTA), and freeways and State highways generally go to Caltrans (see our Caltrans claim guide). When it is unclear, consider a timely claim to each entity that may be responsible.
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 County’s Claim for Money or Damages form says claims related to personal injury or damage to personal property must be presented within six months from the date of loss.
How to file with the County
The County provides a Claim for Money or Damages form, in Word and PDF, on the Clerk of the Board’s forms page. The form says completed and signed forms must be mailed or delivered to:
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, 6th Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
About online filing: the County runs an online claims portal, but both the portal and the forms page label it for Airport Fire claims. We could not confirm that it accepts general injury claims, so for an injury claim plan on mailing or hand-delivering the signed form. Keep proof of mailing, or ask for a date-stamped copy if you deliver it.
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.
Who handles the claim
According to CEO Risk Management, the County’s Liability Claims Management Program handles property damage, personal injury, and general liability claims, and is self-insured and self-administered.
After the County acts, or does not
Under Government Code section 945.4, you generally cannot sue the County 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.
Our dangerous road and sidewalk guide explains how public property liability works, and our Orange County pedestrian crash article covers related local issues.
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 County of Orange?
The County’s Claim for Money or Damages form says completed and signed forms must be mailed or delivered to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, 6th Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
Can I file a County of Orange injury claim online?
We did not confirm a general online option. The County’s online claim portal is labeled for Airport Fire claims. For an injury claim, plan to mail or hand-deliver the signed form to the Clerk of the Board.
What is the deadline for an injury claim against the County?
The County’s form says claims for personal injury or damage to personal property must be presented within six months from the date of loss, which matches Government Code section 911.2. Most other claims have one year.
Is a claim against the County the same as a claim against OCTA or a city?
No. OCTA, the City of Tustin, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine, and other cities are separate public entities with their own claim processes. A claim filed with the County does not protect your deadline against another agency.
Who handles County of Orange liability claims?
CEO Risk Management runs the County’s Liability Claims Management Program, which it describes as self-insured and self-administered.