Most California landlords can charge a security deposit of up to one month’s rent. A small landlord who qualifies can charge up to two. You also collect the first month’s rent at move-in, and that is not part of the deposit.
That is the whole rule in three sentences. The rest of this post turns it into numbers.
The formula
Maximum deposit = monthly rent x 1, or x 2 if you qualify for the small-landlord exception and the tenant is not a service member.
| Monthly rent | One-month cap | Two-month cap (small landlord) |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| $2,200 | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| $2,850 | $2,850 | $5,700 |
| $3,600 | $3,600 | $7,200 |
The cap comes from Civil Code § 1950.5(c), as rewritten by AB 12 for security collected from July 1, 2024. It does not change for a furnished unit. Who qualifies for two months, and the service member exception, are covered in the AB 12 cap explained. The security deposit calculator does the arithmetic for your rent.
What a tenant can owe on move-in day
Take a $2,200 apartment and a landlord who does not qualify for two months.
| Item | Amount | Counts toward the cap? |
|---|---|---|
| First month’s rent | $2,200 | No |
| Security deposit | $2,200 | Yes |
| Application screening fee | Actual cost, within the § 1950.6 limit | No |
| Total | $4,400 plus the screening fee |
The screening fee is limited to your actual out-of-pocket cost of screening, and to $30 per applicant adjusted for inflation since 1998 (§ 1950.6(b)). It is charged per applicant, before move-in, and it is not refundable as part of the deposit.
The charges that shrink the deposit
The cap is on security “however denominated.” Under § 1950.5(b) that covers any payment, fee, deposit, or charge imposed at the start of the tenancy, including an advance payment of rent. The Department of Real Estate’s tenant guide gives the same examples landlords trip on:
- Last month’s rent collected at signing. It counts.
- A pet deposit. It counts. See pet deposits and pet rent in California.
- Key, mailbox, or remote deposits. They count.
- A cleaning fee or move-in fee. It counts, and the lease cannot call it nonrefundable (§ 1950.5(n)).
So on that $2,200 unit, a landlord who also wants last month’s rent up front has nothing left for a separate security deposit. The $2,200 is all security, whatever the lease calls it, and it comes back at move-out under the same rules.
One exception runs the other way. The cap does not stop a tenant from paying at least six months’ rent in advance on a lease of six months or longer (§ 1950.5(c)(2)).
Does the city change the number?
Deposits are state law. Civil Code § 1950.5 applies to every residential rental in the state, and none of the city rules below changes how much you can collect. What some cities add is interest on the deposit while you hold it:
| City | Local deposit rule | Current rate |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Interest on deposits held over one year (Admin. Code ch. 49) | 4.2% for March 2026 to February 2027 |
| Los Angeles | Interest on Rent Stabilization Ordinance units, deposits held at least one year | 3.03% for 2026 |
| Berkeley | Interest on units covered by the Rent Ordinance | 0.9% for 2025 |
| Pasadena | Interest on deposits held at least one year (City Charter § 1806(f)) | 0.12% for 2026 |
Who is covered and when each payment is due is in which California cities require security deposit interest. If your city is not listed, check its rent or housing department before you assume either way.
Charging less than the cap
The cap is a ceiling. A lot of small owners price below it on purpose: a full two-month deposit can slow down leasing, and a well-screened tenant with good references is the better protection. Whatever you charge, write each amount on the lease as its own line, and keep the receipt. Deposit tracking holds the amount, what it was called, and the date on the tenancy record, which is where you will look first if the total is ever questioned.
When the tenancy ends, Civil Code 1950.5 in plain English covers what you can deduct and the 21-day deadline.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and local ordinances vary. Confirm current requirements with your city, county, or an attorney before you act.