A California landlord has 21 calendar days from the day you move out to return your deposit with an itemised statement. This works out your date and checks whether the deposit you paid was even lawful.
How this tool was built: methodology and sources
Everything here comes from California Civil Code section 1950.5.
- The 21-day deadline is section 1950.5(h)(1): the landlord must act “no later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated the premises”, returning any remaining deposit and furnishing an itemised statement. The tool counts calendar days, not business days, because that is what the statute says.
- The deposit cap is section 1950.5(c)(1): generally no more than one month’s rent in addition to first month’s rent. Section 1950.5(c)(5) allows a qualifying small landlord up to two months’ rent — which is why the tool asks. That exception does not apply where the tenant is a service member.
- Lawful deductions are limited by section 1950.5(b) to unpaid rent, repair of tenant-caused damage excluding ordinary wear and tear, cleaning to return the unit to its original level of cleanliness, and restoring personal property where the agreement allows.
- Unlawful deductions — section 1950.5(e) bars charging for conditions that pre-existed the tenancy, for ordinary wear and tear, or for cleaning beyond the original standard.
What it deliberately does not do
It does not judge whether a specific deduction on your itemised statement was reasonable. That is a factual question about your unit, and no calculator can answer it. It also does not account for local ordinances, which in some cities add requirements on top of the state rule.
The cap check compares the deposit you paid against the statutory maximum. A deposit above the cap is not automatically recoverable in full by pressing a button — but it is a concrete, citable discrepancy to raise.
Statute text verified 25 August 2026. This is not legal advice. For the full picture see our guide to California security deposit law.