Vacaville, CA Rental Property Rules: Security Deposit Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing Statute
- Cal. Civ. Code Section 1950.5 (as amended by AB 12, Stats. 2023, Ch. 727)
- General Deposit Cap
- 1 month's rent (effective July 1, 2024)
- Small-Landlord Exception
- Up to 2 months' rent for landlords with =/<2 properties / =/<4 units (non-service-member tenants)
- Furnished vs. Unfurnished
- Same one-month cap under AB 12 (prior 2/3-month framework superseded)
- Return Deadline
- 21 calendar days after vacating
- Itemization Threshold
- Receipts/estimates required for deductions =/> $125
- Non-Refundable Deposits
- Prohibited under Section 1950.5(e)
- Tenant Remedies
- Deposit + up to 2x statutory damages + attorney fees (Section 1950.5(l))
Summary
Vacaville does not impose a local security-deposit ordinance. Security deposits at Vacaville rental properties are governed by California Civil Code Section 1950.5, as amended by Assembly Bill 12 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 727), which capped most residential security deposits at the equivalent of one month's rent effective July 1, 2024 (with a limited two-month cap retained for certain small landlords who own no more than two residential properties with no more than four units, where the prospective tenant is not a service member). Section 1950.5 also requires deposits to be itemized and returned, with any deductions, within 21 calendar days of vacating, prohibits non-refundable deposits, and entitles a wrongfully-deprived tenant to recover the deposit, statutory damages of up to twice the deposit amount, and attorney fees in small-claims or civil action.
1950.5. ... (c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), (3), or (5), a landlord shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to one month's rent, in addition to any rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy. ... (5) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a landlord shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to two months' rent ... if the landlord meets both of the following requirements: (i) The landlord is a natural person or a limited liability company in which all members are natural persons. (ii) The landlord owns no more than two residential rental properties that collectively include no more than four dwelling units offered for rent.
Full Breakdown
5 is the operative security-deposit statute at Vacaville addresses. Assembly Bill 12 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 5(c) to limit the security deposit a landlord may demand or receive on most residential tenancies to an amount equivalent to one month's rent, regardless of whether the dwelling is furnished or unfurnished. C. Section 3911. 5(b) include compensation for default in rent, repair of damages caused by the tenant or the tenant's guests (excluding ordinary wear and tear), cleaning to return the unit to its condition at inception, and (if specified in the lease) restoration of personal property.
5(g) requires the landlord, no later than 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates, to furnish an itemized statement and return any remaining portion of the security by personal delivery or first-class mail; for deductions totaling $125 or more, the landlord must include receipts or estimates for the work. 5(l) entitles a tenant whose deposit has been wrongfully withheld to recover the deposit, statutory damages of up to twice the security amount, and attorney fees in small-claims or civil action. 5(f) entitle the tenant to a joint inspection within the final two weeks of tenancy with an opportunity to cure identified deductible items.
Violations & Fines
Wrongful withholding of a security deposit is enforced primarily through Solano County Small Claims Court for amounts up to $12,500 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. Sections 116.110 et seq.) or through limited civil action in Solano County Superior Court for larger amounts. Section 1950.5(l) authorizes the court to award the deposit, statutory damages up to twice the deposit, and attorney fees where statutorily permitted. Collecting more than the AB 12 cap exposes the landlord to immediate refund of the excess plus the same statutory-damages exposure. Failure to provide the itemized statement and refund within 21 days creates a presumption against the landlord in any subsequent action. Lease provisions characterizing any portion of the deposit as non-refundable are void under Section 1950.5(e) and unenforceable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much security deposit can a Vacaville landlord charge?
When must a Vacaville landlord return the security deposit?
Can my Vacaville landlord call part of the deposit non-refundable?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vacaville
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Security Deposit Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Solano County handle security deposit rules.