Know your rights as a renter in California. This guide covers security deposits, landlord entry, rent increases, eviction protections, and more under California law.
Legal basis: California landlord-tenant law — California Civil Code
1 month's rent (2 months only for a natural-person or family-LLC landlord with ≤2 properties/≤4 units, and never for a service member)
Return Deadline
21 days
Interest on deposits not required
Separate escrow account not required
Deposit & Fee Details
Penalties, interest & late-fee rules under California law
Security deposit protections
If your deposit is wrongfully or late returned
Tenant may sue for up to twice the deposit amount in bad faith cases, plus actual damages.
Interest on your deposit is not required
Some local jurisdictions (e.g., San Francisco, Los Angeles, West Hollywood) require interest payments.
Late-fee rules
Grace period
No mandatory grace period
Must be in the lease
Yes — a late fee is only enforceable if it is written into your lease
Governing statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1671
Landlord Entry Rights
Your privacy protections
Required Notice Period
Reasonable notice
written, during normal business hours; 24 hours is presumed reasonable (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1))
In California, this notice is not a fixed minimum: 24 hours is only presumed reasonable.
Exceptions: Landlords may enter without notice in cases of emergency (fire, flooding, etc.) or if you've abandoned the property.
More California Tenant Protections
How much notice is required to raise rent in California?
30-90 days notice; 5% + CPI cap
•30 days for increases up to 10%, 90 days for increases over 10%, counting other increases in the past 12 months (Civ. Code § 827(b))
•Statewide cap for covered units: 5% + local CPI, max 10% in any 12 months (AB 1482), in no more than two steps, until January 1, 2030 (Civ. Code § 1947.12)
•Exemptions include housing built within the last 15 years, a house or condo not owned by a corporation or REIT when you were given written notice of the exemption, and an owner-occupied duplex (Civ. Code § 1947.12(d))
How long does a landlord have to make repairs in California?
Reasonable time (30 days presumed)
•Landlord must keep the home fit to live in and repair problems that make it untenantable (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1941, 1941.1)
•After written or oral notice, the landlord has a reasonable time; waiting 30 days is presumed reasonable, and emergencies can justify less (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942(b))
•Repair and deduct up to one month's rent, no more than twice in 12 months, or move out and stop owing rent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942(a))
•If an inspector cites the unit and it's not fixed in 35 days, the landlord can't collect rent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.4)
•Leases signed or renewed from 2026 must include a working stove and refrigerator, with some exceptions (Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.1)
Legal basis: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1941, 1941.1, 1942
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant in California?
180 days protected
•Cannot retaliate for legal rights
•180-day protection period
•Covers tenant organizing
Legal basis: CA Civil Code §1942.5
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in California?
Rent liability ends 14 days after notice
•A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse or a violent crime (you, a household member or an immediate family member) may end the lease
•Give written notice within 180 days of the protective order, police report or act, with documentation (protective order, police report, qualified-third-party statement or other reasonable proof)
•You owe rent for no more than 14 days after the notice, and the deposit cannot be kept because you left early
•The landlord must change the locks within 24 hours of a written request when the abuser does not live there (Civil Code §1941.5)
Legal basis: CA Civil Code §1946.7
Can a landlord lock you out or shut off utilities in California?
Self-help illegal
•Cannot lock you out
•Cannot shut off utilities
•Sheriff required
•Up to $100/day penalty
Legal basis: CA Civil Code §789.3
Did You Know?
Important facts about California rental law
1
As of July 2024, California limits security deposits to 1 month's rent (AB 12).
2
California landlords must return deposits within 21 days of move-out.
3
California's rent cap limits most annual increases to 5% + local inflation (max 10%).
4
California landlords must give reasonable written notice before entering your unit — 24 hours is presumed reasonable.
In California, the security deposit limit is 1 month's rent (2 months only for a natural-person or family-LLC landlord with ≤2 properties/≤4 units, and never for a service member).
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in California?
California landlords must return security deposits within 21 days after you move out.
How much notice must a landlord give before entering in California?
In California, landlords must give reasonable notice before entering your rental unit (written, during normal business hours; 24 hours is presumed reasonable (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1))).
How much can a landlord charge for a late fee in California?
Late fees in California: No statutory cap — a late fee in a home lease is only valid if actual losses from late rent would be very hard to calculate and the amount is a fair estimate of them. No mandatory grace period.
How much notice is required to raise rent in California?
30-90 days notice; 5% + CPI cap. 30 days for increases up to 10%, 90 days for increases over 10%, counting other increases in the past 12 months (Civ. Code § 827(b)). Statewide cap for covered units: 5% + local CPI, max 10% in any 12 months (AB 1482), in no more than two steps, until January 1, 2030 (Civ. Code § 1947.12). Exemptions include housing built within the last 15 years, a house or condo not owned by a corporation or REIT when you were given written notice of the exemption, and an owner-occupied duplex (Civ. Code § 1947.12(d)). Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b); Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12.
How long does a landlord have to make repairs in California?
Reasonable time (30 days presumed). Landlord must keep the home fit to live in and repair problems that make it untenantable (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1941, 1941.1). After written or oral notice, the landlord has a reasonable time; waiting 30 days is presumed reasonable, and emergencies can justify less (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942(b)). Repair and deduct up to one month's rent, no more than twice in 12 months, or move out and stop owing rent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942(a)). If an inspector cites the unit and it's not fixed in 35 days, the landlord can't collect rent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.4). Leases signed or renewed from 2026 must include a working stove and refrigerator, with some exceptions (Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.1). Source: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1941, 1941.1, 1942.
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant in California?
180 days protected. Cannot retaliate for legal rights. 180-day protection period. Covers tenant organizing. Source: CA Civil Code §1942.5.
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in California?
Rent liability ends 14 days after notice. A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse or a violent crime (you, a household member or an immediate family member) may end the lease. Give written notice within 180 days of the protective order, police report or act, with documentation (protective order, police report, qualified-third-party statement or other reasonable proof). You owe rent for no more than 14 days after the notice, and the deposit cannot be kept because you left early. The landlord must change the locks within 24 hours of a written request when the abuser does not live there (Civil Code §1941.5). Source: CA Civil Code §1946.7.
Can a landlord lock you out or shut off utilities in California?
Self-help illegal. Cannot lock you out. Cannot shut off utilities. Sheriff required. Up to $100/day penalty. Source: CA Civil Code §789.3.
What are my rights as a tenant in California?
California tenants have rights including security deposit protections, notice requirements for landlord entry, habitability standards, and protections against retaliation. Use Honestkey to analyze your specific lease against California law.
More for California renters
Common tenant-rights questions
Plain-language answers that apply in California and beyond