California
California: statutes read at the official source for people acting for themselves, each with its citation and the date it was read.
Acting for yourself
No person shall practice law in California unless the person is an active licensee of the State Bar.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 6125 · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov · read 2026-08-19 · official source
Renting and landlord-tenant
security deposit, amount cap
Except as provided in paragraph (2), (3), or (5), a landlord shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to one month’s rent, in addition to any rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
security deposit, return deadline
No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated the premises, but not earlier than the time that either the landlord or the tenant provides a notice to terminate the tenancy under Section 1946 or 1946.1
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Not verified for California: month-to-month termination notice (Civ. Code § 1946/1946.1), nonpayment notice (Code Civ. Proc. § 1161) and the self-help/lockout ban (Civ. Code § 789.3) were not fetched in this pass, only § 1950.5 was read.
Small claims
The court that hears these in California is the Small claims court (a division of the superior court).
$12,500
$12,500 applies to an action brought by a natural person. The general small claims limit under s 116.220(a)(1) is $6,250, which is what applies to a plaintiff that is not a natural person (e.g. a corporation).
In addition to the jurisdiction conferred by Section 116.220, the small claims court has jurisdiction in an action brought by a natural person, if the amount of the demand does not exceed twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500), except as otherwise prohibited by subdivision (c) of Section 116.220 or subdivision (a) of Section 116.231.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.221 · read 2026-08-21 · official source
Lawyers in small claims
Except as permitted by this section, no attorney may take part in the conduct or defense of a small claims action.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.530(a) · read 2026-08-21 · official source
California publishes its own self-help pages
Not verified: Exceptions in s 116.530(b)-(c) (attorney appearing pro se, providing advice, testifying) were read but are not modelled field-by-field here.; s 116.231 (limit on the number of claims over $2,500 a plaintiff may file per year) not read.
How long you have to bring a claim
| Kind of claim | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| written contract | 4 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(a) · read 2026-08-21 |
| oral contract | 2 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 339(1) · read 2026-08-21 |
| personal injury | 2 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 · read 2026-08-21 |
| property damage | 3 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338(b), (c)(1) · read 2026-08-21 |
| debt collection on an account | 4 years | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 337(b) · read 2026-08-21 |
Limitation periods have exceptions: when the clock starts (accrual), tolling, discovery rules, and claims against government bodies often differ. These entries record the general period as the statute states it, on the date read. They are not a calculation of any particular deadline.
Not verified: Wage claims not read. California wage claims sit in the Labor Code, not the Code of Civil Procedure, and that code was not opened.
Court decisions from California
Green v. Superior Court
we have determined that the Hinson court properly recognized a common law implied warranty of habitability in residential leases in California, and we conclude that the breach of such warranty may be raised as a defense in an unlawful detainer action
California's Supreme Court adopted the implied warranty of habitability and allowed it as a defense in an eviction case.
10 Cal. 3d 616 (1974) · Supreme Court of California · read 2026-08-21 · official source
What this page is, and is not
Everything above was read at the source named next to it, on the date named next to it. Nothing is summarised from memory and nothing is carried over from a neighbouring state. Statutes are amended, so read the source before relying on it.
This is general legal information about California. It is not advice about your situation, and it is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.