Free Blank California Rental Application (2026)

Download an empty Rental Application template for California: the same statute-aware layout our generator uses, with blank lines to fill in by hand. No account, no email, no watermark.

Updated September 2026free, no account

Fill it online instead (free preview)

Answer a few questions — we apply the California rules, check your entries and build a clean PDF and Word.

Start

State:EN ES RU 中文 UZ

California rules that this document follows

Application fee limit	$65.86 maximum — $30 base adjusted annually by CPI; the 2026 figure used here is the last published DCA figure — confirm the current amount before charging. Fee may not exceed the landlord's actual out-of-pocket screening cost.Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6(b)
Refund rule	Fee 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)
Must give applicant a copy of screening report	Yes
Criminal-history questions	Prohibited before a conditional offer in: Oakland; Berkeley; San Francisco; Richmond; unincorporated Los Angeles County. Blanket 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 protected	Yes — 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 classes	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
Holding deposit	Holding 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)
Reusable screening reports	Landlord chooses whether to accept; if accepted, no fee may be chargedSource: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.1

Frequently asked questions

Is the blank template free?

Yes. The blank Rental Application is free to download as PDF or Word — no account, no watermark. The paid version is the completed document our generator builds from your answers.

Is it valid in California?

The template follows the California rules listed on this page (reviewed September 2026). A blank form becomes a binding document only once it is completed correctly and signed by the parties. Check the state facts below and consider an attorney for unusual situations.

Should I fill it by hand or online?

Online is safer: the generator applies California limits and notice periods, validates your entries and produces a clean PDF and Word file. Filling by hand works for simple cases — write clearly, initial every page and keep a signed copy for each party.

Related blank forms

Blank Rental Application in 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.