Your landlord generally has 21 days in California to return your security deposit or send a written itemized statement of deductions. DepositsBack.app helps you take the next step: a state-specific security deposit notice sent by USPS Certified Mail, with tracking that stays attached to your case. This page summarizes general information from Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 and official state sources.
If your landlord kept some of your deposit — or all of it — a certified notice asks for it back on paper, with a record attached. Enter your original deposit amount below to check your state’s timeline.
The general deadline is 21 days. Landlords must return security deposits within 21 days after a tenant moves out.
You may still be able to send a notice. We show general state information and official sources so you can review your situation and decide your next step.
The Complete Case Bundle includes your notices, USPS Certified Mail history, case summary, evidence checklist, attorney handoff sheet, and official state resources — all in one downloadable ZIP.
If the 21-day deadline passes without a return of your deposit or an itemized statement of deductions, your records — DepositsBack.app notice, USPS Certified Mail delivery confirmation, and any response uploaded to your case — document the timeline. You can review your situation alongside Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 and official state resources, and decide whether to consult a California attorney or proceed with self-help next steps.