For California renters: your fee rights

California law limits what a landlord can collect before and during your tenancy. Here is what to check.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026 against California Civil Code 1950.5 and 1950.6 and the sources below · How we check facts

Before you apply

• An application screening fee cannot be more than the actual cost of screening, and no more than about $65.86 in 2026.
• The landlord must either review applications in order and approve the first qualified applicant, or refund applicants who are not chosen.
• You should get an itemized receipt, and a copy of your credit report if one was pulled.

At move-in

• The deposit is limited to one month's rent, or two months for some small landlords, never for service members.
• Any move-in, admin, cleaning or one-time pet fee counts as part of the deposit. It must be refundable.

While you rent

• No fee for paying by check, and no fee for being served a notice.
• A returned check costs at most $25, or $35 for later ones.
• Late fees must be in the lease and reasonable.

Getting your deposit back

The landlord has 21 days after you move out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement with receipts, and photos for any repairs or cleaning charged. A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith can owe up to twice the deposit on top of what was wrongly kept.

If you were charged something that is not allowed

1. Keep the lease, receipts and the listing.
2. Ask the landlord in writing to refund it, and keep a copy.
3. If that fails, small claims court handles deposit disputes up to its limit, or contact local legal aid or a tenant rights group.

Frequently asked questions

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