How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in California?
In California, a landlord has 21 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. This is Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5.
| What | California |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return | 21 days |
| Itemized statement required | Yes |
| Interest payable to the tenant | Not required by statute |
Source
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5
Read the statute in the California Codes (California Legislative Information): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora computes the deadline this rule sets from the tenancy’s own dates, shows it on the deposit statement, and reminds the landlord before it falls due — so the answer above is not reference material sitting beside the product, it is the rule the product enforces.
Guides on this rule
- Move-In Condition Reports: The States That Require One — Washington, Massachusetts and Virginia require a written record of a rental’s condition at move-in, with deadlines and penalties that protect the deposit.
- Security Deposits Explained: Rules and Getting It Back — How security deposits work: typical amounts and state caps, what a deposit may cover, return deadlines, and how renters get the full deposit back.
- What Happens to Tenants When a Rental Property Is Sold or Foreclosed — The federal 90-day foreclosure notice, when a lease survives a foreclosure, and how California, New York and Texas move a security deposit to a new owner.
Compare this rule in every state
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The same question in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho