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California Residential Lease Agreement

A residential lease agreement in California sets the rent, the term, and each party's responsibilities in writing. California caps security deposits at 1 month's rent (since July 1, 2024) and requires the deposit back within 21 days after move-out (Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5).

This template walks you through every clause a California lease should cover: parties, property, rent and due date, security deposit, maintenance, and house rules. Download the finished lease in Word and PDF.

Create your California residential lease agreementRead the full Residential Lease Agreement guide

California security deposit rules

California security deposit rules at a glance
Security deposit cap1 month's rent (since July 1, 2024)
Deposit return deadline21 days
StatuteCal. Civ. Code 1950.5

Verify before you rely on it

Landlord-tenant statutes change, and cities or counties can add stricter local rules. Confirm the current California requirement in the statute cited above (or with your local court's self-help resources) before signing your lease.

How this template works in California

Answer guided questions about the parties, the property, the rent, and the deposit, and the lease writes itself in front of you. Select California as the property's state and the agreement is captioned accordingly.

The form, the live preview, and the full guide live on the main Residential Lease Agreement page.

Residential Lease Agreement in other states