Fee rank is not wait rank
New York lists the highest state filing-fee ceiling at $500 among 10 covered states and also the recorded wait (14 days). Wait rank is still a separate board: North Carolina records 10 days on a $150 ceiling.
- $45 to $500
- listed fee min to max
- 14d
- longest wait · New York
- 10
- covered states
Figures come from the same process rows as the table and charts below. Fee ceilings and waiting periods are separate schedule fields.
Start with the range, then open your state record.
This is a comparison of 10 covered states, not a nationwide legal rule. Fees, timing, and forms can vary within a state, so the linked state record is the place to begin verifying a filing.
Covered states
10
state court records
Filing-fee range
$45 to $500
across this dataset
Recorded waiting period
3 to 14 days
where the source records one
Eviction listed fee ceiling
Listed fee ceilings, same rows as the table
Waiting-period coverage
10 of 10 records include a waiting period
| State | Filing fee | Waiting period | Source timing note | Open record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $240 to $450 | 3 days | Uncontested: 3-5 weeks. Contested: 2-3 months. | State record |
| Florida | $185 to $400 | 3 days | Uncontested: 2-3 weeks. Contested: 4-8 weeks. | State record |
| Georgia | $60 to $175 | 7 days | Hearing within 7-14 days. Writ issues shortly after judgment. | State record |
| Illinois | $215 to $400 | 5 days | Chicago: 2-4 months. Downstate: 3-6 weeks. | State record |
| Michigan | $45 to $150 | 7 days | Hearing within 10-21 days. Possession order after judgment. | State record |
| New York | $45 to $500 | 14 days | NYC: 3-12 months due to backlog. Upstate: 1-3 months. | State record |
| North Carolina | $96 to $150 | 10 days | 3-4 weeks end-to-end for uncontested summary ejectment | State record |
| Ohio | $100 to $200 | 3 days | 3-6 weeks end-to-end for uncontested | State record |
| Pennsylvania | $75 to $175 | 10 days | Hearing within 7-15 days after service. Writ issued 10 days after judgment. | State record |
| Texas | $46 to $200 | 3 days | Fast track: 3-4 weeks. Contested: 1-2 months. | State record |
Source basis: linked state court and legal-aid records in each state page, last verified 2026-03. Figures are a starting point, not legal advice.
Read the table as a starting point, not a complete rulebook
PlainCivil currently compares 10 covered-state eviction records. Listed filing-fee ceilings run $45 to $500. The table keeps the fee, the notice period, and the timing note as distinct columns because the dearest listed ceiling is not automatically the longest wait.
Open the state record for the jurisdiction you need. It provides the specific court and source links used for the row, which is more useful than treating a national summary as a local instruction.
What each field does and does not show
The filing-fee field is a published court-schedule value, not the full cost of a housing case. It may not include service, copies, a motion, or other local charges. A value shown as free applies only to the filing-fee field in the source record; readers should use the linked court source to check the current schedule and any local additions.
The waiting-period field is not a universal notice rule or a promise about when a case will end. PlainCivil records a comparable state-level period only when the source publishes one. A blank field means that the reviewed record did not provide a comparable value. It does not mean that a notice, response period, court date, or local deadline does not apply.
The timeline note gives the source record's context for a process. It cannot account for a specific tenancy, the condition of a property, service of papers, a response, or a court calendar. Keeping these fields separate is intentional: it helps readers compare published records without turning a national table into individualized instructions.
These fields support a first comparison only. They do not replace the current court record, local rules, or notices that apply to a particular case.
What to verify with the court
- The reason and notice required. The facts of a tenancy and the applicable local rule can change the notice or filing path.
- The current forms and filing location. Use the linked court source to confirm where to file and which forms are current.
- Deadlines and available help. A recorded timeline is not a promise. Court calendars, service, responses, and local rules can affect the schedule.
Compare state records with the same limits
Each eviction record includes a compact state comparator. Select another covered state to see its published fee, recorded waiting period, and timeline note, then open the linked record to review its court source. The tool is useful for seeing how two catalogued schedules differ. It does not determine which rule governs a tenancy or which filing path is available, so it should not replace the court's current instructions or qualified local help.
When individual guidance matters
Housing loss, safety, disability, or immigration concerns can make a general guide inadequate. Consider contacting a licensed attorney, legal-aid organization, or court self-help service for advice about a specific case.
What to do with this comparison
Use these 10 covered-state eviction records to frame the questions for your own court, not to predict how a case will resolve.
- New York lists the highest eviction filing-fee ceiling in this comparison, $500. Check your own state's record before assuming a fee. New York record
- New York records the longest listed waiting period, 14 days. Notice and filing rules can differ from the recorded wait, so treat this as a starting range. New York record
- The reason for the filing and the notice required both depend on local rules the fee schedule does not capture. Confirm both with the court before filing. How we verify records
Every figure comes from the same process rows as the table and hero KPIs above. This is a starting comparison, not legal advice.
Source: State court and legal-aid sources linked from each covered state record. Scope: 10 currently covered states. See methodology for collection and verification. As of 2026-09-01.