C.D. Cal. CM/ECF: 35 MB PDF Limit and Filing Rules

Every federal district court sets its own CM/ECF rules. PACER's FAQ says "each court sets a limit on the size of PDF files", and you should look up your court. For the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Local Rule 5-4.3.1 (in the June 1, 2026 edition of the Local Rules) says: documents must be PDFs published from the original word-processing file. PDF images created by scanning paper documents are prohibited, with limited exceptions for exhibits and certain records, which must then be text-searchable. Each PDF can be no more than 35 MB and contain no more than one document or part of one document. Larger files must be divided into sub-volumes.

This guide explains what that means in practice and how to prepare compliant files.

The rule, piece by piece

Main documents must be "born digital." Motions, briefs, declarations and other documents you write must be created in word-processing software and published to PDF from that file, so the court's electronic version can be searched. Printing and scanning your own brief is not allowed.

Scanning is an exception, not the norm. Exhibits attached to a document, and records in bankruptcy appeals, habeas corpus proceedings and administrative review cases (the rule gives Social Security appeals, ERISA and IDEA as examples), may be scanned and attached in text-searchable PDF form if you don't have a word-processing version.

Signature pages. Where the rules allow scanned signature pages, only those pages may be scanned. The rest of the document must still be published to PDF from the word-processing file.

Size and scope. Each PDF must be 35 MB or less, and each file must contain no more than one document or a portion of one document. Anything over 35 MB is split into sub-volumes. The court announced the 35 MB limit on August 2, 2019.

Redaction. Local Rule 5-4.3.2 makes the filer responsible for meeting the redaction requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 and Local Rule 5.2-1.

Step 1: Publish your document to PDF

Export straight from your word processor ("Save as PDF" or "Export to PDF"). Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs all have this option. If you only have the .docx file, the ConvertirDocs Online Word editor opens it, and you can save it as PDF from your browser's print dialog; check line breaks, captions and page counts against your original before filing.

Step 2: Make scanned exhibits searchable

If an exhibit only exists on paper (an old letter, a signed contract, a medical record), scan it cleanly and run it through OCR PDF with English selected. OCR adds an invisible text layer, so the page looks the same but the text can be searched, selected and copied. Accuracy depends on scan quality, so scan straight, well lit and sharp. OCR runs in your browser.

Step 3: Keep each file to one document and 35 MB or less

• One document per file. Each exhibit or record goes in its own PDF, according to how you attach them in CM/ECF.
• Split big exhibits into sub-volumes. For an administrative record or a long deposition over 35 MB, use Split PDF with page ranges, for example "1-400, 401-800, 801-1150". Each range becomes its own PDF. Split at logical breaks and label the parts clearly (for example, "Volume 1 of 3").
• Compress only when it's safe. Compress PDF recompresses only the photos inside a PDF and leaves text, including an OCR layer, selectable. It can help with scanned exhibits that are just over the limit. Always check that small print stays legible. The rule's own answer to oversized files is sub-volumes, not heavy compression.

Step 4: Check redactions

Personal identifiers covered by Rule 5.2 have to be redacted before filing. Drawing a black box in a PDF viewer is not enough if the text is still underneath. Use a tool that actually removes the text, such as a proper redaction tool. If you redact a scanned exhibit this way and the redacted pages lose their text layer, run OCR again so the exhibit stays text-searchable.

Common mistakes

• Scanning your own brief. The rule prohibits scanned images of documents you have in word-processing form.
• Non-searchable exhibits. A scan without OCR is only a picture of a page.
• Several exhibits in one PDF. The rule allows only one document, or a portion of one, per file.
• Files just over 35 MB. Split them instead of forcing them through with extreme compression.
• Visual-only redaction. Black boxes drawn over text that's still in the file.

A practical order of operations

For a motion with scanned exhibits, this order avoids redoing work:

1. Finish and publish the motion to PDF from your word processor.
2. Scan each paper exhibit separately and name it after its exhibit letter.
3. Redact the exhibits where Rule 5.2 requires it.
4. Run OCR on each exhibit (again, after redacting).
5. Check each file's size. Split anything over 35 MB into labeled sub-volumes.
6. Open every final file and search for a word you know is in it, to confirm OCR worked.

Other districts are different

Don't reuse these numbers for another court. Limits vary widely between districts. PACER recommends using its Court CM/ECF Lookup to find each court's limit, and checking that court's local rules and ECF manual.

Checklist

• Main documents published to PDF from the word-processing file.
• Scanned exhibits only where allowed, with OCR applied.
• One document (or sub-volume) per PDF, each 35 MB or less.
• Redactions that remove the text, not just cover it.
• Final files opened and checked before filing.