Landlord
California rental application fees: 2026 rules and limits
California landlords (and agents assisting property owners with their rentals) can charge a rental application screening fee, but Civil Code section 1950.6 sets the limits. For 2026, the maximum is $65.86 per applicant in California. You can only charge when a unit is available, and only up to your actual screening costs. Since AB 2493 took effect in 2025, you must either approve the first qualified applicant or refund the fee to anyone you do not select. You also owe applicants an itemized receipt and a copy of any credit report you pull. RentSpree lets you collect California applications and screen within that cap from one dashboard, free for landlords and agents to set up.
