California security deposit rules
California limits security deposits to 1 month's rent (2 months if the landlord is a natural person or an LLC owned entirely by natural persons that owns no more than 2 residential properties totaling 4 or fewer units; service members may never be charged more than 1 month). The deposit must be returned 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates (itemized statement plus any refund). No interest is owed on the deposit under state law.
What the law requires
1 month's rent (2 months if the landlord is a natural person or an LLC owned entirely by natural persons that owns no more than 2 residential properties totaling 4 or fewer units; service members may never be charged more than 1 month). Returned 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates (itemized statement plus any refund). AB 12 (2023) lowered the cap from 2 months (unfurnished) / 3 months (furnished) to 1 month for tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2024. AB 2801 (2024) added photo-documentation duties for deductions (after-move-out photos from April 1, 2025; move-in photos for tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025) and bars deductions for routine cleaning absent damage. Statute text read on the public.law mirror (current through Jan 1, 2026) because leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and law.justia.com returned Cloudflare 403 to the fetcher; FindLaw copy (current Jan 1, 2026) cross-checked and matched.
- Deductions: unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, itemised in writing. Cleaning and repainting after ordinary use are normal wear in most states.
- Deadline: the 21-day clock usually starts when the tenant moves out and, in many states, when a forwarding address is provided. Missing it typically forfeits the landlord’s right to keep any of the deposit and can add statutory damages.
- Interest: none required under state law. Cities in some no-interest states have their own ordinances, so check the municipal code where you rent.
Move-out checklist
- Give written notice of the move-out date and a forwarding address; many deadlines only start when the landlord has the address.
- Photograph every room after cleaning, with a timestamp. Request a joint inspection where the state allows one.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand citing Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c), (h). Small-claims court handles deposit disputes in every state and most cap the claim well above a typical deposit.
Related California rules
- Late fees: No statutory dollar or percentage cap and no statutory grace period. A late-fee clause in a residential lease is a liquidated-damages provision that is void unless it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix actual damages, so the fee must be a reasonable pre-estimate of the landlord's actual costs (Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004)). Late fee calculator.
- Notice to end a tenancy: Landlord: 30 days if the tenant has resided in the unit less than 1 year, 60 days if 1 year or more (30 days also allowed when selling to an owner-occupant under § 1946.1(d)). Tenant: 30 days (at least as long as the rental period). Where § 1946.2 just-cause applies, the landlord must also state a just cause. Notice calculator.
- All rules on one page: California landlord and tenant law.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in California?
1 month's rent (2 months if the landlord is a natural person or an LLC owned entirely by natural persons that owns no more than 2 residential properties totaling 4 or fewer units; service members may never be charged more than 1 month). AB 12 (2023) lowered the cap from 2 months (unfurnished) / 3 months (furnished) to 1 month for tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2024. AB 2801 (2024) added photo-documentation duties for deductions (after-move-out photos from April 1, 2025; move-in photos for tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025) and bars deductions for routine cleaning absent damage. Statute text read on the public.law mirror (current through Jan 1, 2026) because leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and law.justia.com returned Cloudflare 403 to the fetcher; FindLaw copy (current Jan 1, 2026) cross-checked and matched.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in California?
21 calendar days after the tenant vacates (itemized statement plus any refund). The statute is Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c), (h).
Does a California landlord have to pay interest on the security deposit?
No. California law does not require interest on residential security deposits.