Residential security deposit: itemized statement and refund of remainder no later than 21 calendar days after tenant vacates
21 days after date the tenant vacated the premises, under Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5(h)(1) (amended by Stats. 2025, ch. 340 (AB 414), eff. Jan. 1, 2026).
Rule text
(h) (1) No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated the premises, but not earlier than the time that either the landlord or the tenant provides a notice to terminate the tenancy under Section 1946 or 1946.1, Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or not earlier than 60 calendar days prior to the expiration of a fixed-term lease, the landlord shall furnish the tenant, a copy of an itemized statement indicating the basis for, and the amount of, any security received and the disposition of the security, and shall return any remaining portion of the security to the tenant
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Monday, November 30, 2026
- Trigger (Date the tenant vacated the premises): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 21 calendar days: Friday, November 27, 2026.
- That day is a Day after Thanksgiving, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, November 30, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)).
Rules applied
Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5(h)(1) (amended by Stats. 2025, ch. 340 (AB 414), eff. Jan. 1, 2026)
(h) (1) No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated the premises, but not earlier than the time that either the landlord or the tenant provides a notice to terminate the tenancy under Section 1946 or 1946.1, Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or not earlier than 60 calendar days prior to the expiration of a fixed-term lease, the landlord shall furnish the tenant, a copy of an itemized statement indicating the basis for, and the amount of, any security received and the disposition of the security, and shall return any remaining portion of the security to the tenantOfficial source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- Return by personal delivery or first-class mail, or electronically if the deposit/rent was paid electronically (AB 414, 1950.5(h)(1)(A)(ii)). If repairs cannot be completed or vendor documents are not in hand within 21 days, a good-faith estimate may be provided, with final itemization within 14 days (security_deposit_final_itemization_14_days). Photograph requirements in 1950.5(g). Whether CCP 12a extends a landlord's 21st day falling on a weekend is not settled by the text; landlords should comply by the unrolled date.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the tenant vacated the premises on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, April 5, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the tenant vacated the premises): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 21 calendar days: Monday, April 5, 2027.
Notes
Return by personal delivery or first-class mail, or electronically if the deposit/rent was paid electronically (AB 414, 1950.5(h)(1)(A)(ii)). If repairs cannot be completed or vendor documents are not in hand within 21 days, a good-faith estimate may be provided, with final itemization within 14 days (security_deposit_final_itemization_14_days). Photograph requirements in 1950.5(g). Whether CCP 12a extends a landlord's 21st day falling on a weekend is not settled by the text; landlords should comply by the unrolled date.
Related deadlines
- Security deposit: final itemization and documents within 14 calendar days after completing repair or receiving vendor documentation (good-faith estimate used) (14 days after)
- Security deposit: earliest date for the tenant-requested initial (pre-move-out) inspection (two weeks before termination) (14 days before)
- Change of terms of month-to-month tenancy (Civ. Code 827(a)): earliest effective date, not less than 30 days after notice (30 days after)
- Rent increase of 10% or less (Civ. Code 827(b)(2)): earliest effective date, at least 30 days after notice delivered (30 days after)
- Rent increase over 10% within 12 months (Civ. Code 827(b)(3)): earliest effective date, at least 90 days after notice delivered (90 days after)
- Tenant retaliation (Civ. Code 1942.5(a)): end of 180-day period during which landlord may not evict, raise rent, or decrease services (180 days after)
- Tenant victim of abuse or crime (Civ. Code 1946.7): last day to give 14-day notice to terminate (180 days after order, report, or act) (180 days after)
- Tenant victim termination (Civ. Code 1946.7(e)): rent owed for no more than 14 calendar days after notice is given (14 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.