{"data":[{"jurisdiction":{"code":"CA","name":"California","slug":"california"},"topic":"security-deposits","key":"deposit-cap","label":"General deposit limit","valueKind":"money-multiple","value":"1 month’s rent","detail":"The general residential limit is one month’s rent in addition to first-month rent paid at or before initial occupancy.","qualifiers":["A qualifying natural-person small landlord with no more than two rental properties totaling no more than four units may collect up to two months’ rent.","The small-landlord exception does not apply to a prospective tenant who is a service member.","The current cap rules do not apply to security collected or demanded before July 1, 2024."],"source":{"title":"California Civil Code section 1950.5","authority":"California Legislative Information","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1950.5","locator":"§ 1950.5(c)(1), (5), (6)","excerpt":"“shall not demand or receive security … in excess of an amount equal to one month’s rent”"},"effectiveFrom":"2026-01-01","humanVerifiedAt":"2026-07-29","sourceCheckedAt":"2026-07-29","confidence":"high","version":1},{"jurisdiction":{"code":"CA","name":"California","slug":"california"},"topic":"security-deposits","key":"return-deadline","label":"Return and itemization deadline","valueKind":"duration","value":"21 calendar days","detail":"The statute sets a 21-calendar-day period after the tenant vacates for the itemized statement and any remaining security.","qualifiers":["The section contains detailed delivery, documentation, photograph, estimate, and multiple-tenant rules."],"source":{"title":"California Civil Code section 1950.5","authority":"California Legislative Information","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1950.5","locator":"§ 1950.5(h)(1)","excerpt":"“No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated”"},"effectiveFrom":"2026-01-01","humanVerifiedAt":"2026-07-29","sourceCheckedAt":"2026-07-29","confidence":"high","version":1}],"release":"2026-07-29.2","notice":"Only human-reviewed, published records are returned."}