Security Deposit Return Deadline Checker
Moved out and still waiting for your deposit? Check the deadline and whether the deductions follow California law.
A California landlord has 21 calendar days after you move out to return your security deposit, or send an itemized statement of deductions with whatever is left. Repair and cleaning deductions over $125 need receipts and photos. Keeping a deposit in bad faith can cost the landlord up to 2 times the deposit on top of what they kept (Civil Code 1950.5).
Security Deposit Return Checker
Deposit Return Status
How this is calculated
The deadline is 21 calendar days after you vacate. For example:
| Moved out | Deposit or statement due by |
|---|---|
| September 30, 2026 | October 21, 2026 |
| October 15, 2026 | November 5, 2026 |
| December 15, 2026 | January 5, 2027 |
What the statement must include (Civil Code 1950.5(h)): each deduction and the amount. For repairs and cleaning totalling more than $125: copies of bills, invoices or receipts (or, for the landlord's own work, a description, the time spent and the hourly rate) and photos of the unit after you left and after the work. You can waive the documents only in writing near the end of the tenancy, and even then you can ask for them within 14 days of getting the statement.
Photos: landlords must photograph the unit after a tenant moves out (since April 1, 2025) and before a new tenancy begins (for tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025).
How it's returned: by check or personal delivery, or electronically if you paid the deposit or rent electronically (unless you agreed to another method in writing).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in California?
21 calendar days after you move out. By then the landlord must return the deposit, or send an itemized statement of deductions with the rest of the deposit.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit?
Unpaid rent; repairs for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear caused by you or your guests; cleaning needed to return the unit to its move-in level of cleanliness; and, if the lease allows, replacing missing furniture or other property. Not normal wear and tear, damage that was there before you moved in, or professional cleaning that wasn't needed.
Does the landlord have to send receipts?
Yes, if repair and cleaning deductions total more than $125. The landlord must include copies of the bills, invoices or receipts (or the time spent and hourly rate for their own work) with the itemized statement, plus photos of the unit. If a repair can't be finished within 21 days, a good-faith estimate is allowed, with the documents sent within 14 days of completion.
What can I do if my landlord keeps my deposit?
Ask for it in writing first. If the landlord kept it in bad faith, a court can award up to 2 times the deposit as a penalty, on top of the amount wrongly kept. Deposit cases can be filed in small claims court, and the landlord has to prove the deductions were reasonable.
Can I get an inspection before I move out?
Yes. Once either side gives notice to end the tenancy, the landlord must tell you that you can request an initial inspection, held no earlier than two weeks before you move out with 48 hours' written notice. The landlord then lists what they plan to deduct for, so you can fix it yourself.
This tool provides an educational estimate only and is not legal advice. Whether a deduction is reasonable and whether a landlord acted in bad faith are decided by a court.