How long does a contested California eviction take, from filing to lockout?

Depends heavily on whether anyone actually fights it. Left unanswered, a case can move from the initial filing to an actual lockout in as little as 30 to 45 days, faster than most people expect.

Once you answer and the case gets contested, the timeline stretches out meaningfully, typically two to three months, since either side now has the right to request an actual trial. Add a jury demand into the mix and it can run longer still.