California Room Rental Agreement

Rent out a room in your home or apartment: private room, shared areas, house rules, utilities split, deposit and notice terms that follow your state's law.

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California rules that this document follows

Security deposit limit1 month's rent; 2 months if landlord is a natural person/LLC owning no more than 2 properties with 4 or fewer units total (AB 12, eff. 7/1/2024)Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)
Deposit return deadline21 days after move-outSource: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(g)
Interest on depositNot requiredSource: No state requirement; some cities (e.g., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berkeley) require interest by ordinance
Late feesMust be a reasonable estimate of landlord's actual damages; no statutory percentage capSource: Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th Supp. 7
Landlord entry notice24 hoursSource: Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(a) (written notice; 24 hours presumed reasonable)
Notice to end month-to-monthLandlord 60 days / Tenant 30 daysSource: Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1 (landlord 30 days if all tenants resided < 1 year; 60 days otherwise); Civ. Code § 1946

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

How to use this Room Rental Agreement in California

Describe the room and the shared areas precisely, set utilities as a fixed charge to avoid monthly arguments, and put guest, quiet-hour and cleaning rules in writing. Give the renter a copy and a receipt for the deposit.

If you are a tenant subletting a room, confirm your lease allows it and get your landlord's written consent first.

Frequently asked questions

Do landlord-tenant laws apply when I rent a room in my own home in California?

In most states yes, including deposit rules and eviction procedures, although some states exempt owner-occupied homes from certain rules (for example, parts of fair-housing law under the 'Mrs. Murphy' exemption). This agreement follows California's general residential rules to be safe.

Can I remove a roommate without going to court?

No. Once a person is a paying occupant, self-help removal is illegal. Serve the California notice and, if needed, file an eviction case.

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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.