Security Deposit Rules
Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it. Our California security deposit interest page covers whether interest is owed.
Notice Requirements
Landlord entry, month-to-month termination, and rent increase notice periods are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Check the lease for its notice terms, and confirm the current legal minimums in the statute or with a local tenant resource before relying on them.
Rent Control
Rent control rules depend on state and local law, and they change. Check the current rules with your state or local housing agency, or a local tenant resource, before relying on them.
Habitability & Repair Requirements
California landlords are required to maintain rental units in habitable condition.
Market Conditions & Lease-Risk Notes for California
San Francisco's office market has seen record vacancies post-pandemic, with Class A rents dropping to $60–80/sqft from pandemic highs. LA commercial retail remains strong in prime corridors. Residential markets in coastal cities are landlord-dominated despite regulation — 1–2% vacancy in SF and LA means almost no negotiating room. Sacramento and the Inland Empire are more tenant-favorable.
Tenant protections vary by state. State and local laws may establish requirements that apply regardless of what a lease says. Review the lease alongside current applicable law before signing. Some housing, such as single-family homes and newer construction, may fall outside certain rules, so check which apply.
Owner move-in eviction notices, which are worth checking against current California sources. Restoration clauses in commercial leases requiring full strip-out to original condition — routine in Bay Area office leases and potentially costing $50–150/sqft.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the security deposit limit in California?
- As of July 1, 2024, California limits residential security deposits to 1 month's rent for nearly all units, furnished or unfurnished (AB 12, amending Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5; the old 2-month-unfurnished / 3-month-furnished limits were eliminated). A small landlord — a natural person, or an LLC owned entirely by natural persons, who rents two or fewer properties totaling no more than four units — may charge up to 2 months, but never more than 1 month to a service-member tenant. (Verified November 7, 2026.)
- How much notice must a California landlord give before entering?
- Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it.
- Does California have rent control?
- Rent control rules depend on state and local law, and they change. Check the current rules with your state or local housing agency, or a local tenant resource, before relying on them.
- What is just cause eviction in California?
- Eviction notices often need to state a cause, so check the current rules for the details.
- How long does a California landlord have to return a security deposit?
- Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it.
Cities in California
Find city-specific lease guides for major markets in California: