California Rental Application

A landlord's tenant application with lawful screening questions, fee disclosure and FCRA consent, adjusted to your state's rules.

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California rules that this document follows

Application fee limit$65.86 maximumSource: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6(b) ($30 base, CPI-adjusted annually; 2026 figure approx. $65.86 — verify current DCA figure); fee may not exceed landlord's actual out-of-pocket screening cost
Refund ruleFee may be charged only if the landlord screens in order received and rents to the first qualified applicant, accepts reusable reports, or refunds all fees to non-selected applicants within 7 days of selecting a tenant or 30 days of application (AB 2493, eff. 1/1/2025); unused portion always refundable; no fee if no unit is or will be availableSource: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6(b) ($30 base, CPI-adjusted annually; 2026 figure approx. $65.86 — verify current DCA figure); fee may not exceed landlord's actual out-of-pocket screening cost
Must give applicant a copy of screening reportYes
Criminal-history questionsBlanket bans on criminal history are unlawful; landlord may not consider arrests not leading to conviction, sealed/expunged/juvenile records, or infractions, and must conduct an individualized assessment of directly related convictions (FEHA regulations, eff. 1/1/2020). Local fair-chance ordinances (Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles County unincorporated) go further.Source: Cal. Code Regs. tit. 2, §§ 12264–12271
Source of income protectedYes — vouchers and other lawful income must be consideredSource: Cal. Gov. Code § 12955(p)(1) (includes Section 8 vouchers, SB 329, eff. 1/1/2020)
Additional protected classesgender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, source of income, genetic information, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, military or veteran status, medical condition, age
Holding depositHolding deposit must be applied to the security deposit or first month's rent when the tenancy begins; if applicant withdraws, landlord may retain only actual damages (lost rent/re-advertising); if landlord withdraws, full refund (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5; common law)

Rules current as of 2026-09-07. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Rental Application in California

Use one application per adult. Collect the Social Security number only on the signed paper copy, never by email. Apply the same written criteria to every applicant and keep denied applications for at least two years in case of a fair-housing inquiry.

Charge only a fee that California permits, give a receipt, and if you deny based on a consumer report send the FCRA adverse-action notice within a few days.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord charge an application fee in California?

Yes, up to $65.86 (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6(b) ($30 base, CPI-adjusted annually; 2026 figure approx. $65.86 — verify current DCA figure); fee may not exceed landlord's actual out-of-pocket screening cost).

What questions are illegal on a rental application?

You may not ask about race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability, nor about arrests without conviction. California adds: gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, source of income, genetic information, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, military or veteran status, medical condition, age. This form omits those questions automatically.

Do I have to give the applicant a copy of the screening report?

Yes — California requires it on request or with a denial, in addition to the federal FCRA adverse-action notice.

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Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.