Free California Move-In/Move-Out Checklist

A California Move-In/Move-Out Checklist is the comprehensive condition documentation a landlord and tenant create at move-in and again at move-out. The document records the state of every room, fixture, and appliance — walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, smoke and CO detectors, HVAC equipment, and exterior areas. California Civil Code section 1950.5 frames the security deposit return decision around the property’s condition at move-out compared to the condition at move-in. Without a signed, contemporaneously-completed checklist, the landlord typically cannot prove that damage existed at move-out but was not present at move-in — and California courts resolve evidentiary gaps in the tenant’s favor. The pre-move-out inspection right under Civ Code § 1950.5(f) gives the tenant the opportunity to remedy noted conditions before vacating, with the landlord required to provide an itemized statement of expected deductions during that inspection. The form on this page handles the mechanical documentation; the rest of this guide walks through the legal framework, photo best practices, and inspection standard.

▶ Watch: California Move-In/Move-Out Checklist — Civ Code § 1950.5 explained

What this checklist does

A California Move-In/Move-Out Checklist is the comprehensive document a landlord and tenant create at the start of the tenancy and again at the end to record the property’s condition. It is the universal best practice in California residential rentals — not statutorily required as a specific form, but practically essential because California Civil Code § 1950.5 frames the security deposit return decision around the property’s condition at move-out compared to its condition at move-in.

The document accomplishes three distinct things at the same time. First, it creates the contemporaneous baseline of property condition. The room-by-room inspection — walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, fixtures, appliances, exterior areas — captures the state of the unit at a specific point in time, signed by both parties, and supported by photographs. Without this baseline, the landlord at move-out has no way to prove that damage existed when the tenant left but not when they arrived.

Second, the checklist protects both parties. The tenant gets a record that pre-existing conditions cannot be charged against the security deposit. The landlord gets a record that move-out damage is documented against a known baseline. When the document is completed contemporaneously, signed by both parties, and supported by parallel photographs, it is the strongest evidence either party can produce in any later dispute.

Third, the document drives the security deposit return decision. California Civil Code § 1950.5(g) requires the landlord to return the deposit (less any allowable deductions) within 21 calendar days of the tenant vacating. The deductions must be itemized and supported by receipts or estimates for items costing $125 or more. The move-in/move-out checklist is the foundational evidence for any deduction — it is what proves that damage existed at move-out and not at move-in. Without it, the deductions are exposed as bad-faith retention under § 1950.5(l), which authorizes damages of up to twice the deposit amount.

The form on this page produces a comprehensive checklist suitable for both move-in and move-out walkthroughs. The fillable design lets the landlord and tenant work through each room together, document the condition with a four-level rating, add specific notes for any condition other than “good,” and produce a printable PDF for both parties’ files.

California legal framework — Civ Code § 1950.5

The California security deposit framework lives in Civil Code § 1950.5 — a single statute that governs everything from the maximum deposit amount to the timing and itemization of the return. The move-in/move-out checklist is not specifically required by § 1950.5, but the statute’s documentation and itemization requirements rest entirely on the condition baseline that the checklist establishes.

§ 1950.5(c) — deposit limits. California limits the security deposit a landlord may charge to one month’s rent (effective July 1, 2024 under AB 12). For deposits collected before that date, the prior caps still apply (two months for unfurnished, three months for furnished). The deposit limit is a hard cap; any amount collected over the limit is recoverable by the tenant.

§ 1950.5(g)(1) — 21-day return. The landlord must return the security deposit (less any allowable deductions) within 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates the unit. The clock runs from the date possession is surrendered, not from the lease end date or from the date the tenant gives notice. Missing the 21-day window — or returning the deposit without the required itemization — exposes the landlord to bad-faith retention damages under § 1950.5(l).

§ 1950.5(g)(2) — itemization plus receipts. The return must be accompanied by an itemized statement of any deductions. For any deduction of $125 or more, the landlord must include copies of receipts (for completed work) or estimates (for work not yet completed at the time of the return). The itemized statement must specifically describe the deduction, the amount, and the underlying property condition. Generic descriptions (“cleaning”) without specifics (“oven cleaning per attached invoice — $150”) fail the itemization requirement.

§ 1950.5(f) — pre-move-out inspection right. The tenant has a statutory right to request a pre-move-out inspection within a reasonable time before the lease ends. During the inspection, the landlord must give the tenant an itemized statement of the repairs and cleanings that, if not corrected, will be deducted from the deposit. The tenant then has the opportunity to remedy the noted conditions before vacating and avoid the deduction. This right is independent of the move-in checklist and operates alongside it. (Section 4 covers this in detail.)

§ 1950.5(l) — bad-faith retention damages. If the landlord, in bad faith, retains any portion of the deposit, the tenant can recover (in addition to the deposit) up to twice the deposit amount as statutory damages, plus actual damages. “Bad faith” in this context typically means deductions that are unsupported, exaggerated, or for normal wear and tear. The move-in/move-out checklist is the landlord’s primary defense in bad-faith retention claims — without it, deductions are presumptively unsupported.

Habitability baseline — § 1941 et seq. Independent of the deposit framework, every California residential rental must meet the habitability standards in Civil Code §§ 1941, 1941.1, and 1941.3. Conditions noted at move-in that fall below the habitability standard create a separate landlord obligation to repair, regardless of what the checklist documents. The checklist captures the condition; § 1941 controls whether that condition is acceptable for habitation.

Anti-retaliation framework — § 1942.5. A landlord cannot use the security deposit return as leverage to retaliate against a tenant for exercising rights under California landlord-tenant law (habitability complaints, code-enforcement contacts, tenant union activity). A move-out deposit decision that follows protected tenant conduct — and is supported by an inflated or undocumented checklist — invites a § 1942.5 retaliation claim with statutory damages and attorney’s fees.

When and how to use the checklist

The checklist is used at three distinct points in the tenancy: move-in, pre-move-out inspection (if requested), and move-out. Each use has its own procedure, evidentiary purpose, and best-practice protocol.

Move-in walkthrough

The move-in walkthrough should happen on or near the date of key handover, with both the landlord (or authorized agent) and the tenant physically present. The tenant’s contemporaneous review of the document is what makes it admissible and persuasive in any later dispute. A walkthrough completed by the landlord alone, without the tenant present, is much weaker evidence — the tenant can credibly testify they never saw or agreed to the documented condition.

Walk every room together. The landlord describes what the document says about each item; the tenant agrees, disagrees, or notes additional conditions. Take photographs as you go — every room from at least two angles, plus close-ups of any noted condition. Both parties sign and date the completed document. The landlord retains the original; the tenant gets a copy immediately. If the tenant cannot be present, schedule the walkthrough for a time when they can be — do not proceed without them.

Pre-move-out inspection (if tenant requests)

Civil Code § 1950.5(f) gives the tenant the statutory right to request a pre-move-out inspection within a reasonable time before the lease ends. The landlord cannot waive this right or charge for the inspection. (Section 4 covers the procedural details.) The pre-move-out inspection uses the same checklist format — the landlord walks the unit with the tenant, identifies any conditions that are likely to result in security-deposit deductions, and provides the tenant with an itemized statement of those expected deductions. The tenant then has the opportunity to remedy the noted conditions before vacating.

Move-out walkthrough

The move-out walkthrough should happen on or near the date the tenant vacates, again with both parties physically present. The landlord uses the same comprehensive checklist (or the move-out comparison column on the original move-in document) to record the condition of every room and item. The comparison to the move-in baseline is what supports any security-deposit deduction. Damage that did not exist at move-in is the foundation for a deduction; pre-existing conditions or normal wear are not.

Take parallel photographs from the same angles used at move-in. The side-by-side comparison is what makes the deduction case at trial. Both parties sign and date the completed move-out document. The tenant gets a copy. The landlord retains the original with the move-in document, the move-in photographs, the move-out photographs, and any receipts or estimates for repair work — this evidence package is what supports the itemized statement under § 1950.5(g)(2).

Document retention

Retain the completed move-in checklist, move-out checklist, all photographs, and all receipts and estimates for at least four years from the move-out date. California’s general statute of limitations for security deposit claims is three years (under Code of Civil Procedure § 338(a) for statutory liabilities); four years gives a comfortable margin for any dispute that surfaces near the limitations cutoff. For deposit disputes that proceed to small claims court, the documentation is the entire case.

Pre-move-out inspection right under § 1950.5(f)

California Civil Code § 1950.5(f)(1) gives the tenant a statutory right to request a pre-move-out inspection within a reasonable time before the lease ends. This is a tenant-protective provision separate from the move-in/move-out checklist itself — it operates as a procedural safeguard that gives the tenant an opportunity to remedy noted conditions before vacating, and therefore avoid the deduction.

What triggers the right

The right is triggered by the tenant’s request. The landlord is not required to offer the inspection unprompted — but if the tenant requests it, the landlord must comply. The request can be oral or written, though written is the better practice for the tenant’s records. The request must be made within a reasonable time before the tenancy ends; “reasonable time” is generally interpreted as at least two weeks before vacate, but the statute does not set a precise deadline.

What the landlord must do

Once the tenant requests the inspection, the landlord must schedule it at a mutually convenient time. The inspection itself involves a walkthrough of the unit during which the landlord identifies any conditions that, if not corrected by the tenant before vacating, will result in deductions from the security deposit. The landlord must give the tenant an itemized statement of these expected deductions during or immediately after the inspection.

The itemized statement must be specific. “Carpet cleaning needed in living room” is sufficient; “general cleaning” is not. The landlord cannot use the pre-move-out inspection statement to identify novel conditions that were not actually present at the inspection — that would expose the deduction at move-out as bad-faith retention.

What the tenant can do with the statement

After receiving the itemized statement, the tenant has until vacate to remedy any of the noted conditions. The tenant can clean, repair, or replace damaged items themselves — or hire third parties to do the work. Any condition that is satisfactorily remedied before vacate cannot be deducted from the deposit at move-out, regardless of what the move-in/move-out checklist later documents.

What the landlord cannot do

The landlord cannot refuse to conduct a pre-move-out inspection that the tenant has properly requested. The landlord cannot charge a fee for the inspection. The landlord cannot use the inspection as a pretext to enter the unit for purposes other than identifying potential deduction items. The landlord cannot, at move-out, deduct for a condition that was not noted on the pre-move-out itemized statement (unless the condition arose between the pre-move-out inspection and the actual move-out).

Limited exceptions

Civil Code § 1950.5(f)(2) sets out limited circumstances in which the pre-move-out inspection requirement does not apply: where the tenancy is being terminated for nonpayment, breach of contract, or other tenant fault, or where the tenant has not given the landlord proper notice of intent to vacate. Even in these cases, the better practice is to offer the inspection if the tenant requests it — it documents the condition for the landlord’s defense and removes any ambiguity about whether the tenant had a chance to remedy.

Why this matters for the move-in/move-out checklist

The pre-move-out inspection is the procedural bridge between the move-in baseline and the move-out comparison. A diligent landlord uses the move-in checklist to establish the baseline, conducts the pre-move-out inspection to identify conditions and give the tenant a chance to remedy, and uses the move-out checklist to document the actual condition at vacate. This three-step procedure produces the strongest possible record for any deposit deduction and is the cleanest defense against bad-faith retention claims.

Standard rooms and items to inspect

A comprehensive walkthrough covers every room of the unit plus common items that span multiple rooms. The standard room-by-room inventory below is the universal best practice for California rentals; specific properties may have additional rooms (a den, an office, a wine cellar) that should be inspected with the same protocol.

Living room and dining room

Walls: condition, paint, holes, marks, scuffs. Floors: hardwood, carpet, tile — condition, stains, scratches, gaps. Ceiling: condition, water stains, cracks. Windows: glass intact, screens present, latches functional. Doors: latches, hinges, paint, condition. Light fixtures: functional, bulbs present. Outlets and switches: functional, covers present. Closets (if any): shelving, doors, condition.

Kitchen

Cabinets and drawers: doors, hinges, hardware, interior condition. Countertops: condition, stains, chips, burns. Sink and faucet: condition, drainage, leaks, stopper. Stove and oven: burner condition, oven interior, control knobs, broiler. Refrigerator: exterior, interior, shelving, ice maker, drawers. Microwave: exterior, interior, controls, turntable. Dishwasher: interior, racks, controls, drainage. Floor: condition, stains, gaps, sealant. Walls and ceiling: condition, grease accumulation, paint. Garbage disposal: functional, no jams.

Bathrooms

Each bathroom should be inspected separately. Sink and faucet: condition, drainage, leaks, fixtures. Toilet: base, tank, seat, flush mechanism, leaks. Tub and/or shower: condition, caulking, tile, drainage, fixtures, glass doors or curtain rod. Mirror and medicine cabinet: condition, mounting. Floor: condition, water damage, sealant. Walls and ceiling: condition, mold, water stains, ventilation. Towel bars and accessories: mounted, condition. Exhaust fan: functional, clean.

Bedrooms

Each bedroom should be inspected separately. Walls: condition, paint, holes, marks. Floors: carpet, hardwood, condition, stains. Ceiling: condition, fixtures. Windows: glass, screens, latches, treatments (if landlord-provided). Closets: shelving, rods, doors, interior. Light fixtures: functional. Outlets and switches: functional, covers. Door: condition, latches, hinges.

Hallways and stairs

Walls: condition, paint. Floors: carpet, hardwood, condition. Stairs (if any): treads, risers, handrails, balusters. Light fixtures: functional. Smoke detectors: mounted, batteries, functional.

Common safety items

These items span the whole unit and should be inspected separately. Smoke detectors: count, location, functional, batteries (California law requires working smoke detectors in every sleeping area and outside each separate sleeping area). Carbon monoxide detectors: count, location, functional (required in any unit with a fuel-burning appliance, attached garage, or fireplace). HVAC system: heating functional, cooling functional, thermostat operational, filter condition. Water heater: functional, no leaks, age, seismic strapping (required in California). Electrical panel: location, breakers labeled, no obvious issues. Door locks and keys: all locks functional, keys provided to tenant, locks rekeyed since last tenant.

Exterior areas

For units with exterior space included in the rental: Patio or balcony: condition, railings, surface. Yard or lawn: condition, fencing, gates. Garage or carport: condition, doors, opener, lighting. Driveway: condition, parking spaces. Mailbox: location, key. Storage areas: condition, locks, keys.

Photo documentation best practices

Photographs are the second half of the documentation package. The signed checklist establishes what each party agreed about the condition; the photographs prove it. In any California security-deposit dispute, the side with parallel move-in and move-out photographs almost always prevails. The side without photographs is in a much weaker position — even with a signed checklist.

What to photograph at move-in

Take at least two wide shots of every room from different corners — enough to capture all four walls and both the floor and ceiling. Take close-up shots of any noted condition: scuffs, marks, scratches, stains. Photograph all appliances inside and out — the interior of the refrigerator, the inside of the oven, the underside of cabinets. Photograph the inside of every closet, every cabinet, every drawer, and every bathroom fixture. Photograph the smoke and CO detector locations. Photograph the water heater. Photograph any exterior areas included in the rental.

What to include in every photograph

Every photograph should be date-stamped. Most modern phones and cameras embed this in the metadata; leaving the metadata intact is the simplest verification. For belt-and-suspenders documentation, include a small calendar or newspaper in some photographs to provide visual confirmation of the date. Avoid framing photographs in a way that misrepresents the condition; honest documentation supports the landlord’s case at trial, while staged or distorted photographs invite credibility challenges.

Storage and backup

Store the photographs immediately to two locations: a local file system on the property-management computer and a cloud backup (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.). Photographs lost between move-in and move-out cannot be regenerated. The cloud backup ensures that local hardware failure does not destroy the evidence package. Name the photo files or folders consistently — “PROPERTY_ADDRESS_MOVE-IN_2026-MM-DD_ROOM_NAME” is a common scheme.

What to photograph at move-out

Take parallel photographs from the same angles used at move-in. The side-by-side comparison is what makes the deduction case at trial — a judge can see the difference between the two sets of photographs in seconds. Photograph any new damage in close-up. Photograph cleaning conditions (residue, food, hair). If specific items are damaged or missing — appliances, fixtures, accessories — photograph the damage and the missing item’s expected location.

What not to photograph

Avoid photographing the tenant’s personal property, identification, mail, prescription bottles, or personal effects unless those items are specifically relevant to a noted condition. The condition documentation should be about the property — not about the tenant. Photographs that include personal property invite invasion-of-privacy claims and are typically excluded as evidence under California’s privacy framework.

Video documentation

Some landlords supplement photographs with video walkthroughs at move-in and move-out. Video is admissible and can be persuasive, particularly for documenting the overall condition of large rooms or showing the operation of appliances. Video does not replace photographs — the still images are easier to use in side-by-side comparison and easier to attach to the itemized statement. Use video as a supplement, not a substitute.

Required information for the document

California does not statutorily prescribe the contents of a move-in/move-out checklist, but settled California practice and the evidentiary requirements of § 1950.5 establish a minimum set of elements the document must contain to function as the security-deposit baseline.

Specificity is the differentiator. A checklist that rates every room “good” with no notes is functionally equivalent to no checklist at all. The value comes from the specific notes — exactly what was scratched, exactly what was stained, exactly what was missing. Two pages of specific notes is much stronger evidence than ten pages of “good / good / good.”

Both parties must sign. A document signed only by the landlord is the landlord’s record of what the landlord saw. A document signed by both parties is a contemporaneous joint acknowledgment of condition — and that is what California courts treat as authoritative in deposit disputes.

Provide the tenant with a copy immediately. Hand the tenant a copy at the time of signing. Email a digital copy to the tenant’s email address on the lease. Document delivery in the property file. Tenants who later dispute the condition documented at move-in have a much weaker position when they received and acknowledged a copy of the document at the time of move-in.

Photographs are part of the package. Photographs taken contemporaneously with the walkthrough are referenced in the document by photograph number. The complete evidence package is the signed document plus the photograph collection — neither is sufficient on its own.

Common mistakes that weaken the document

Conducting the walkthrough without the tenant present

The most common mistake. A walkthrough completed by the landlord alone is the landlord’s record of what the landlord saw — not a joint acknowledgment of condition. The tenant can credibly testify they never saw or agreed to the documented condition. Always conduct the walkthrough with the tenant physically present.

Vague notes that don’t support a deduction

“Wall messed up.” “Carpet bad.” “General cleaning needed.” These descriptions cannot support a § 1950.5(g)(2) itemization. Specific descriptions can: “Two 4-inch scuff marks on south living-room wall, 36 inches from floor.” “Pet stain approximately 8 inches in diameter on bedroom carpet, 24 inches from west wall.” “Oven interior heavy grease accumulation requiring degreaser cleaning.” Specific descriptions are also admissible photographs.

Not photographing the condition

A signed checklist without contemporaneous photographs is significantly weaker evidence than a signed checklist with photographs. The tenant can dispute the description; the photograph speaks for itself. If the landlord chooses not to take photographs, the deduction case rests entirely on the document and any third-party testimony — and in close cases, courts resolve evidentiary gaps in the tenant’s favor.

Missing rooms or items from the inspection

A move-in checklist that documents the kitchen but not the bathrooms creates an evidentiary gap. The landlord cannot, at move-out, deduct for damage to a room that was not inspected at move-in — there is no baseline for comparison. A comprehensive checklist that covers every room and every standard item closes this gap.

Confusing wear and tear with damage

California treats normal wear and tear differently from damage. Normal wear is the deterioration that occurs in normal residential use — minor scuffs, fading paint, small nail holes from picture hanging, light traffic-pattern wear in carpet. Damage is anything beyond normal wear: large holes, broken fixtures, pet stains, water damage, significant cleaning needs. Deductions for normal wear are unsupported and expose the landlord to bad-faith retention damages under § 1950.5(l). The checklist should document conditions specifically enough that the wear-versus-damage distinction can be made by reference to the document plus photographs.

Failing to honor the pre-move-out inspection request

Civil Code § 1950.5(f)(1) gives the tenant the statutory right to a pre-move-out inspection. Refusing or ignoring the request is itself a violation of the statute and creates a presumption of bad faith for any later deduction. Honor the request promptly. (Section 4 covers the procedural details.)

Using the move-in document for move-out without comparison

The move-in document records the baseline; the move-out document records the comparison. Some landlords short-circuit this by using a single document for both — recording move-out conditions in the same column as move-in, or simply re-using the move-in document as the move-out document. This produces a confused record. Either use a separate move-out document, or use the comparison column on the move-in document with clear move-in / move-out columns. Whichever format is used, the move-out conditions must be distinguishable from the move-in conditions.

Not providing the tenant with a copy

The tenant’s inability to produce a copy of the move-in document at trial weakens the landlord’s position. Provide the tenant with a copy at the time of signing — either a hard copy of the document or an email-attached digital copy. Document delivery in the property file. The cleanest practice is both.

Using the document only at move-in or only at move-out

The document’s evidentiary value comes from the move-in/move-out comparison. A move-in document without a move-out document leaves the comparison incomplete. A move-out document without a move-in baseline cannot support a deduction. Both walkthroughs must be conducted and documented; one without the other significantly weakens the case.

Not retaining the documents long enough

California’s general statute of limitations for security-deposit claims is three years. Some claims (statutory liability under § 1950.5(l), for example) may have different timelines depending on the theory. Retain the move-in document, move-out document, all photographs, and all receipts and estimates for at least four years from the move-out date. Cloud-backup makes this trivial; physical document retention should follow the same window.

Tenant rights and remedies

California tenants have several rights connected to the move-in/move-out process and the security deposit return decision. Understanding these helps landlords appreciate the procedural framework and the consequences of departing from it.

Right to a pre-move-out inspection — § 1950.5(f)(1)

The tenant can request a pre-move-out inspection within a reasonable time before the lease ends. The landlord must conduct the inspection, identify any conditions that will result in deductions, and give the tenant an itemized statement. The tenant then has the opportunity to remedy the noted conditions before vacating. Section 4 covers this in detail.

Right to a copy of the move-in/move-out documents

While not statutorily required, the tenant has a practical right to a copy of any document they sign. Refusing to provide a copy invites credibility challenges at trial — a tenant who can show they were denied a copy of the document is much more sympathetic than one who held the copy and let it go missing.

Right to security deposit return within 21 days — § 1950.5(g)(1)

The landlord must return the security deposit (less allowable deductions) within 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates. The clock runs from the date of vacate, not from the date of lease end. Late return — or return without the required itemization — is an independent violation.

Right to itemized statement and receipts — § 1950.5(g)(2)

The return must include an itemized statement of any deductions. For deductions of $125 or more, the landlord must include receipts (for completed work) or estimates (for work not yet completed). The itemization must be specific and supported.

Bad-faith retention damages — § 1950.5(l)

If the landlord retains any portion of the deposit in bad faith, the tenant can recover up to twice the deposit amount as statutory damages, plus actual damages. “Bad faith” includes deductions that are unsupported, exaggerated, taken for normal wear, or otherwise unjustified. The move-in/move-out documentation is the landlord’s primary defense against bad-faith retention claims.

Small claims jurisdiction

Most California security-deposit disputes proceed in small claims court, where the maximum recovery is $12,500 for individuals and $6,250 for entities. Small claims is intentionally informal, and the documentation packet (move-in/move-out checklist, photographs, receipts) is typically the entire case. Hearings often last 15 minutes. The party with better documentation almost always wins.

Attorney’s fees

California security-deposit disputes do not typically award attorney’s fees by statute, but attorney’s fees clauses in the lease are bilateral and recoverable by the prevailing party (Civ Code § 1717). For deposit disputes that escalate to standard civil court — relatively rare — the fee exposure on a defective deduction can substantially exceed the deposit amount.

Anti-retaliation framework — § 1942.5

If the deposit deduction is part of a pattern of retaliation against the tenant for exercising landlord-tenant rights (habitability complaints, code-enforcement contacts, tenant union activity), the tenant has additional remedies under § 1942.5 — actual damages, statutory damages, attorney’s fees, and injunctive relief.

Bottom line for landlords. The cost of doing the move-in/move-out documentation correctly is small (an hour at move-in, an hour at move-out, and consistent photo discipline). The cost of doing it badly is potentially substantial: bad-faith retention damages up to twice the deposit amount, plus attorney’s fees if the lease has a fees clause, plus reputational exposure that makes future tenant relationships harder. The form on this page handles the mechanics; the analysis above is the legal context.

California statute reference table

California statute citations are to the California Civil Code as currently codified. The deposit framework was substantially updated by AB 12 (effective July 1, 2024), which reduced the maximum deposit to one month’s rent. The pre-move-out inspection right was added by AB 2330 (2003).

Frequently asked questions

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This form and the accompanying guidance are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. California landlord-tenant law has technical requirements that can change with legislation and case law. Civil Code § 1950.5 (security deposit framework), § 1950.5(f) (pre-move-out inspection right), and the wear-versus-damage distinction depend on facts and case-specific circumstances that this general guidance cannot fully address. Always verify current requirements with the California Civil Code or a qualified California landlord-tenant attorney before relying on this checklist in any contested deposit-deduction situation. Review California security deposit laws.