California security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in California
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When did you move out?
This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.
Statute-verified in 50 U.S. jurisdictions and counting — everywhere else, a specialist prepares your case by hand until verification clears.
California security deposit return timeline
Deadline to return
21 days
Statute
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (deadline at § 1950.5(h)(1); photos at (g); penalty at § 1950.5(m))
No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated, the landlord must furnish an itemized statement of the basis for and amount of any deductions AND return any remaining portion (§ 1950.5(h)(1)). Both obligations share the same 21-day clock. NARROW EXCEPTION: if a repair cannot reasonably be completed within 21 days, or third-party invoices are not yet in the landlord's possession, the landlord may deduct a good-faith estimate and provide it with the itemized statement, then furnish actual documentation within 14 calendar days of completing the repair or receiving the documents (§ 1950.5(h)(3)). Where a deduction is for repairs or cleaning, the itemized statement must be accompanied by the photographs required under subdivision (g) plus a written explanation of cost (§ 1950.5(h)(2)(D)). Photo rules phased in under AB 2801: move-out photos before repairs/cleaning and again after, required from April 1 2025; move-in photos for tenancies beginning on or after July 1 2025. If the landlord received the deposit or rent electronically, the remainder must be returned electronically to an account the tenant designates in writing, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing (§ 1950.5(h)(1)(A)(ii), added by AB 414).
What can a landlord legally deduct in California?
Allowed
- ✓Unpaid rent (tenant's default in the payment of rent)
- ✓Repair of damages to the premises caused by the tenant or the tenant's guest or licensee, exclusive of ordinary wear and tear
- ✓Cleaning necessary to return the unit to the same level of cleanliness it was in at the inception of the tenancy
- ✓Restoring, replacing or returning personal property or appurtenances, exclusive of ordinary wear and tear, if the rental agreement authorizes it
Not allowed
- ✗Ordinary wear and tear and its cumulative effects, whether it preexisted or arose during the tenancy
- ✗Damage or defective conditions that preexisted the tenancy
- ✗Professional carpet cleaning or other professional cleaning services, unless reasonably necessary to return the premises to its condition at inception exclusive of ordinary wear and tear
- ✗Repairs or cleanings not identified in the initial-inspection itemized statement, where an initial inspection was conducted and tenant possessions did not obstruct it
- ✗Any amount at all where the landlord, in bad faith, fails to comply with subdivision (h) (§ 1950.5(h)(7))
What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in California?
Bad-faith claim or retention may subject the landlord to statutory damages of UP TO TWICE the amount of the security, in addition to actual damages (§ 1950.5(m)). The court may award bad-faith damages whenever the facts warrant, even if not specifically requested. Separately, § 1950.5(h)(7) provides the landlord is not entitled to claim ANY amount if it in bad faith fails to comply with subdivision (h). The landlord bears the burden of proof as to reasonableness (§ 1950.5(m)). Claims may be brought in small claims court (§ 1950.5(o)). CITATION WARNING: many secondary sources still cite (g) for the deadline and (l) for bad faith; the current lettering is (h)(1) and (m).
How TenantNex helps
- 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
- 2. We generate a demand letter citing Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (deadline at § 1950.5(h)(1); photos at (g); penalty at § 1950.5(m)) and your exact deadline.
- 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
- 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.
$39 per case — founding price, one flat fee, no subscription.
California tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (deadline at § 1950.5(h)(1); photos at (g); penalty at § 1950.5(m)) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-04.
Every fact on this page is verified against California's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in California.
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FREE · 30 secondsYour money is due back
21 days
California law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.
If they wrongfully withhold
up to 2× your deposit
Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (deadline at § 1950.5(h)(1); photos at (g); penalty at § 1950.5(m)) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-04
Your 21 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 2× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.
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Used by renters in 4 states — 15 people in the past two weeks found out exactly what they're owed this way.
We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.
Pay once. We handle the rest.
One case, one price — the letter, the certified mailing, the tracking, and the follow-up. No subscription, no recurring anything.
| Option | Price | Effort | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | — | All of it | You chase |
| TenantNex | $39 | Done for you | We chase |
| Small-claims services | $149–448 | — | — |
| Hire an attorney | $300–2,000+ | — | — |
An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.
Recover
We run your claim until you are paid — or you are ready to file.
- Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
- Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
- Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
- Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
- Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
- Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
- Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
- Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days
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What TenantNex is — and isn't
TenantNex is not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.