Security deposit return deadline in California

In California, a landlord has 21 days to return your security deposit.

Work out your California deadline

Your move-out day — when the keys went back.

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Not legal advice. This is general information, not legal advice, and it is calculated only from the dates you entered. Whether a penalty applies is for a court to decide, not this site — and your landlord may dispute the dates or the reason for any deduction. Deadlines and penalties change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify with the cited statute or consult a licensed attorney in your state before you rely on any of this.

What California law requires

  • 21 days to return the deposit, counted from the day you handed back the property.

    Itemized statement and refund share ONE 21-day clock, not two. Starts when tenant has vacated the premises (not forwarding address).

    1950.5(h)(1)

Do you have to give a forwarding address?

Not required for deadline or damages — if tenant gives no address, landlord just mails to the vacated unit (1950.5(h)(6)).

What to do next

  1. Write it down. Put the date you handed back the property in one place. Every deadline on this page is counted from one of those.
  2. Ask in writing. Email is fine and it timestamps itself. Say what you are asking for, cite the subsection above, and give a date by which you expect a reply.
  3. Keep the receipt. If you post a letter, pay for tracking. It costs a few dollars and it is the difference between "I sent it" and proof that you did. You do not need to buy a service to do this — the post office will.

There is a longer walkthrough, including what an itemised statement should contain and when small claims is worth it, in what to do if your landlord won't return your deposit.