How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in California?

In California, a landlord must return the deposit, with an itemized statement for any deductions, within 21 days of move-out.

What is the small claims limit for a deposit dispute in California?

Small claims court in California handles disputes up to $12,500 (individuals).

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California security deposit law

⚠️ Not legal advice. DepositShield is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. This information is not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current — laws change and vary by city and situation. Verify it with an official source and consult a licensed attorney or your local tenants’ rights organization before relying on it or acting. Using DepositShield does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Return deadline

21 days

Small claims limit

$12,500 (individuals)

What you need to know

• Deposit must be returned within 21 days of move-out, with an itemized statement for any deductions.
• Deductions over $125 require copies of receipts or invoices.
• You are entitled to a pre-move-out inspection so you can fix issues before they become deductions.
• Bad-faith withholding exposes the landlord to up to twice the deposit on top of the amount owed.

Itemization: Itemized statement required; receipts required for deductions over $125.

Interest: No statewide interest requirement (some cities, e.g. San Francisco, require it).

Deposit cap: Capped at 1 month’s rent (since July 2024, AB 12), furnished or not.

If they wrongfully withhold: Bad-faith retention: up to 2x the deposit in statutory damages, plus actual damages.

Statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5

What’s at stake for you?

Deadlines and penalties are state law — check yours, then lock in the evidence.

Your state

Your security deposit ($)

💰 At stake: your $1,500 deposit.

⏱ Deadline: California landlords must act within 21 days of move-out.

⚖️ Your leverage: wrongful withholding could cost your landlord up to $3,000 (Bad-faith retention: up to 2x the deposit in statutory damages, plus actual damages.)

🏛 If it comes to it: small claims in California handles up to $12,500 (individuals) — no lawyer needed.

None of this matters without evidence.

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⚠️ Estimates for general information only — not legal advice and not guaranteed to be accurate. State laws change; verify current law before relying on this. Actual outcomes depend on the facts, your local law, and the courts.

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DepositShield is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. This information is not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current — laws change and vary by city and situation. Verify it with an official source and consult a licensed attorney or your local tenants’ rights organization before relying on it or acting. Using DepositShield does not create an attorney-client relationship.