Are Rental Application Fees Legal in California?
What California lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
actual cost, ≤ ~$66 — A landlord may only charge the actual out-of-pocket cost of screening, up to a CPI-adjusted maximum ($65.86 for 2026). Under AB 2493 (effective Jan 1, 2025) the landlord must either process applications first-come-first-served against disclosed written screening criteria or refund the fee to every applicant not selected, must refund the fee if no screening report is actually obtained or your application is never considered, and must send you a copy of your credit report within 7 days of obtaining it. The unused portion must be refunded, and the landlord must give you an itemized receipt.
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup, and in California that overage is refundable or unlawful.
| Cap type | Actual cost (with $ ceiling) |
|---|---|
| The legal line | actual cost, ≤ ~$66 |
| Refund rights | Any amount above actual cost must be refunded; the full fee must be refunded if the landlord never obtained a screening report or never considered your application, and landlords not using first-come-first-served written criteria must refund every applicant not selected (AB 2493). |
| Receipt required | Yes |
| Reusable screening report | Not specified |
| Statute | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6 |
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How California compares
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Laws verified as of July 12, 2026. Informational only, not legal advice — verify Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6 and current screening costs before acting.