LA move-in costs: deposits, fees and California rules
The California security deposit limit in 2026 is one month's rent for most landlords. On top of that you pay first month's rent and, at application, a screening fee, so plan for a bit more than two months' rent in cash before you move into a Los Angeles apartment.
How much cash do you need to move into an LA apartment?
Plan on first month's rent, a security deposit of up to one month's rent, and a screening fee. Using HUD's fiscal year 2026 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Los Angeles area, $2,085, that comes to about $4,239 for one applicant, before utility setup, moving costs, and furniture.
| Cost item | Amount or rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First month's rent | Due at or before move-in. The example here uses $2,085 | HUD FY 2026 Fair Market Rents |
| Security deposit | One month's rent for most landlords, furnished or unfurnished. Up to two months if the landlord meets the small landlord rules | California Attorney General, LA County Consumer and Business Affairs |
| Screening fee | Up to $68.96 for 2026, with an itemized list of costs. Not allowed if no unit is available | Berkeley Rent Board, citing Civil Code 1950.6 |
| Holding deposit | No set amount found. The terms depend on your receipt | LA County Consumer and Business Affairs |
| Deposit return | Within 21 days after you move out, with an itemized statement unless deductions total less than $125 | California Attorney General |
| Move-in photos | Landlord photographs the unit at the start of tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025 | Senate Judiciary Committee analysis of AB 2801, June 2024 |
| Utility setup | Set by each provider, so ask each one about fees and deposits | The utility provider |
HUD publishes Fair Market Rents as yearly rent estimates by area. They are a benchmark, not a median or an asking price, so swap in the rent of the unit you are looking at. The math here is $2,085 for first month's rent, $2,085 for the deposit, and $68.96 for the screening fee, which totals $4,238.96.
A landlord who qualifies for the small landlord exception can ask for up to two months' rent as the deposit. That would raise the same total to $6,323.96.
What is the California security deposit limit in 2026?
Per the California Attorney General, since July 1, 2024, most landlords cannot take more than one month's rent as a deposit, furnished or not. Small landlords can ask for two months: a natural person or an LLC of natural persons who owns no more than two rental properties with four units in total.
LA County's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, on a page last updated July 5, 2024, says the one-month limit applies whether a unit is furnished or unfurnished. Before that date the limit was two months for unfurnished units and three months for furnished ones.
The Attorney General's guide adds that service members may be entitled to lower deposits and that some cities require landlords to pay interest on deposits. Ask the landlord which local rules apply to the building.
Does last month's rent count toward the deposit limit?
It likely does. California's definition of security covers payments meant to ensure advance payment of rent, and last month's rent paid up front is one. The cap sits on top of the first month's rent you pay at move-in. Ask the landlord to put in writing what each payment is for.
The definition is described in the Senate Judiciary Committee's June 2024 analysis of AB 2801. The first month's rent point comes from an older text of the section, hosted by the Santa Clara Superior Court, which put the cap in addition to the rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy. That copy predates the 2024 change to one month, so confirm the current wording.
If a landlord asks for a deposit at the cap plus a separate last month's rent, ask how the two payments fit under the limit. A receipt that names each payment gives you a record if you dispute one later.
What is the rental application fee limit in California?
The Berkeley Rent Board, citing Civil Code 1950.6, lists the 2026 maximum tenant screening fee at $68.96. The landlord should give you an itemized list of the out-of-pocket costs and time behind it, and cannot charge it if no unit is actually available.
Because the cap comes from a state law, it applies in Los Angeles too. It is labeled by year, so confirm the figure is current before you pay.
Pay a screening fee only for a unit you have confirmed is real and available, and ask for the itemized receipt.
What is a holding deposit in California, and what should be in writing?
A holding deposit takes the unit off the market while you decide. LA County says paying one generally means you have agreed to rent the unit unless your receipt says otherwise, and that whether you get it back depends on what the receipt says. Tour the unit before you pay one.
LA County says the receipt should state the amount paid, what the money will be used for, and the conditions under which it will be returned. Ask for two more lines in writing:
- 1The amount paid and the date.
- 2What the money will be used for.
- 3The conditions under which it is returned, in full or in part.
- 4Whether it counts toward your first month's rent or your security deposit.
- 5The name of the person or company that received it.
The county's page, last changed December 1, 2013, also points to a free mediation program for holding deposit disputes.
Habita is an apartment scout service in Los Angeles: a local Scout tours the unit and sends you a report before you sign. A Habita Scout can tour a unit before you commit a holding deposit, so you pay for a place that has been seen. The guide on how to verify a rental listing is real covers the checks to run first.
When does a landlord have to return the security deposit?
Within 21 days after you move out, the landlord must send an itemized statement of any deductions and return the rest, according to the Attorney General. The statement is not required if deductions total less than $125. If the work takes longer, the landlord gives a good faith estimate and returns the rest within 14 days of finishing.
You can ask for an initial inspection before you leave. It must happen within the two weeks before you move out, you can be there, and the landlord must list the damage they plan to deduct so you can fix it first.
If a landlord keeps a deposit in bad faith, the same guide says a court can award your actual loss plus up to twice the amount of the deposit, and the landlord must prove the deductions were reasonable.
Do landlords have to photograph the unit at move-in and move-out?
Yes, under AB 2801. Per a June 2024 Senate Judiciary analysis, landlords must photograph a unit after getting it back and before deducting for repairs or cleaning, starting April 1, 2025. For tenancies that begin on or after July 1, 2025, they must also photograph it at or just before move-in.
Ask for the move-in photos on day one. Take your own as well, with the date visible, and send them to the landlord in writing. The analysis says the landlord must also provide the photographs to the tenant.
What should I do before I pay any of it?
See the unit first, get each payment named in writing, and keep every receipt. If you are renting from out of state, a Scout booked through Habita can tour the unit and report back before you pay a holding deposit.
To see how a tour works, read how it works. For the bigger picture, start with renting in LA sight unseen, then work through how to verify a rental listing is real and the questions to ask before signing a lease you haven't seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a security deposit in California, and can a landlord ask for more?
Usually not. Most California landlords are limited to one month's rent as a security deposit. Small landlords who are natural persons or LLCs of natural persons, and who own no more than two rental properties with four units in total, can ask for two months.
Is there a rental application fee limit in California?
A landlord can charge a screening fee, but it has a yearly maximum (listed at $68.96 for 2026), should come with an itemized list of costs, and cannot be charged if no unit is actually available.
Do I get a holding deposit back if I change my mind?
It depends on your receipt. LA County says the landlord can often keep some or all of it if you do not move in, so get the conditions for returning it in writing before you pay.
How fast do I get my deposit back after I move out?
Within 21 days of move-out, with an itemized statement of any deductions unless they total less than $125.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on my security deposit?
The Attorney General's guide says some cities require it, so check your city's rules. For a question about a specific building, contact the Los Angeles Housing Department or a tenant rights organization.