Online community service in California: the short answer
Yes. Californians can complete community service coursework online anywhere from San Diego to the Oregon border with The Foundation of Change, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You set the pace, and you finish with a certificate and activity report that carry a verification code a court or probation officer can check.
Begin your California community service hours today
Start today from anywhere in California: enroll for the hours you need, from $28.99, and work through 100% online, self-paced coursework at up to 8 hours a day. Your court-ready certificate and activity report each come with a verification code. Begin online community service now.
What California law says about community service
California organizes its trial courts as superior courts across all 58 counties. California has 39 million residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023) and 5.4 million+ court filings a year (Judicial Council of California).
Under California Penal Code § 1203.1, courts may order community service as a condition of probation for misdemeanor and certain felony offenses. In practice, the hours and any deadline appear in your sentencing paperwork.
References: California Courts; California Codes - Justia
Where to ask about your community service hours in California
Logistics such as the exact hour count, the due date, and where to file your certificate are handled by the court that ordered the hours. Contact details for courts across California:
Los Angeles County Superior Court, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 830-0803. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
San Francisco County Superior Court, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 551-4000. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
San Diego County Superior Court, 1100 Union St., San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 746-6200. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Sacramento County Superior Court, 500 G Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 874-5522. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Santa Clara County Superior Court, 191 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95113, (408) 882-2900. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Orange County Superior Court, 700 Civic Center Dr. West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, (657) 622-6878. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Alameda County Superior Court, 1225 Fallon St., Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 891-6000. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Riverside County Superior Court, 4050 Main St., Riverside, CA 92501, (951) 777-3147. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Hours vary by courthouse, as listed above. The California court directory has all 58 California courts on our site.
Community service in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other California cities
For city-level information, start with the page for your area:
Online community service in Los Angeles, where the Los Angeles County Superior Court is located.
Online community service in San Francisco, where the San Francisco County Superior Court is located.
Online community service in San Diego, where the San Diego County Superior Court is located.
Online community service in Sacramento, where the Sacramento County Superior Court is located.
Online community service in San Jose, where the Santa Clara County Superior Court is located.
Courthouses in our California directory span thirteen regions: Bay Area, Sierra, Gold Country, Sacramento Valley, North Coast, San Joaquin Valley, Desert, Eastern Sierra, Northeast, Southern California, Central Coast, Inland Empire, and Northern California.
Why California residents do community service online
Traffic and housing costs make travel to a service site especially burdensome in California. A Los Angeles resident assigned to a placement across the county can spend hours commuting each way. Online coursework removes that time and cost.
The state's range of lives calls for flexibility too: farmworkers in Fresno and the Central Valley, students at UC campuses, and professionals in San Francisco and Silicon Valley all need hours that fit around existing schedules.
Community service for California Proposition 47 cases
Community service is a standard sentencing option in California for misdemeanors, infractions and Proposition 47 reclassified offenses. Proposition 47 reclassified many felonies as misdemeanors, which increased the number of people eligible for community service-based sentences.
Inside the online community service coursework
The coursework is self-paced: you read short modules, write reflections and answer assessment questions on a phone, tablet or computer, and your progress saves automatically. Because we are a nonprofit, the program is built around rehabilitation, not rapid processing.
Once your hours are done, two documents are ready in your dashboard: a certificate of completion and an activity report, each with a unique verification code.
Every hour on your record comes from a timed session on our servers. Step away for 10 minutes, open a second tab, or minimize the window, and the clock stops until you are back.
Written reflections are part of each module. You type them yourself, because pasting is turned off, and a screening step flags answers that are not a real attempt. The finished documents carry a unique verification code.
Accessible online community service and Spanish support
Built-in Spanish language support, no physical labor and no travel: the program is designed so that language, disability or transportation is not a barrier. Reflections are judged on genuine engagement rather than grammar.
Community service hours in states bordering California
For a court in another state, use that state's page: Arizona community service, Nevada community service, and Oregon community service.
Complete your community service hours in California online
Start today and work at your own pace. For example, a 50-hour program is $134.99 and needs at least seven days at the 8-hour daily maximum. Begin your community service hours online; the California online community service page has more state details. If the fee is a hardship, see if the Second Chance Fund can cover it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online community service accepted in California?
Many courts, probation departments and schools accept online community service, and each sets its own rules, so check with yours. We provide a letter of introduction and a verification code to make that easy.
How do California probation officers verify my certificate?
Officers can instantly verify your progress using the unique code on your certificate. Entering it on our verification page shows the status, the hours completed and the completion date.
Can I use this for California Prop 47 community service?
Proposition 47 reclassified many offenses to misdemeanors, and courts often order community service for these cases. Our nonprofit program documents the hours you complete with a certificate and a dated activity report, both carrying a verification code.
How do I get community service hours online in California?
Go to the enrollment page, enter the number of hours you need, and pay one program fee, from $28.99. You can begin the coursework immediately and work up to 8 hours a day.
Can I do the coursework on my phone?
Yes. It works on a phone, tablet or computer, and progress saves automatically, so you can switch devices between sessions.
Sources
- California CourtsAccessed May 2026
- California Codes - JustiaAccessed May 2026