The California Eminent Domain Handbook

Do I have to accept the government's offer, or can I try to get a higher price?

A property owner is not required to accept the condemning agency's offer. Instead, the property owner may make a counter-offer, or may assert a higher value for his or her property once the eminent domain action is filed in court.

Property owners, tenants and business owners often receive higher, and in some cases, much higher compensation than the amount of the condemning agency's offer by asserting a claim for greater compensation in the eminent domain proceeding. This is, of course, not always the case and an experienced eminent domain attorney should be contacted to evaluate each case on its own merits.