California Rental Application
Fill out a California rental application below and download a print-ready PDF — identity, rental history, employment, references and screening consent. Free, no signup.
California application-fee rule · as of July 2026
Capped: CPI-adjusted (≈$66 in 2026)
Civ. Code §1950.6 — Base $30 (1997) adjusted annually by CPI, and never more than actual out-of-pocket cost. The statute publishes the mechanism, not the yearly figure.
Source: California Legislative Information ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
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Rental Application
State of California
Date: __________. Applicant __________ (phone __________ , email __________ ) applies to rent __________ , desired move-in __________ .
Residence history. Current address: __________ . Current landlord: __________ . Other occupants: __________ .
Employment & income. Employer: __________ . Gross monthly income: $______. Reference: __________ .
Authorization. Applicant certifies the information above is true and authorizes the landlord or agent to verify it and to obtain consumer reports (credit and background) for tenant-screening purposes, as permitted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the laws of the State of California.
Generated with SealFormsReflects California fee rules · verified July 2026
Know your California rules
Application-fee rules come from state law, not the form: in California, capped: cpi-adjusted (≈$66 in 2026) (Civ. Code §1950.6). Cities can add their own caps. Check the currentCalifornia screening rules before charging or paying a fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in California?
California caps application fees at CPI-adjusted (≈$66 in 2026) under Civ. Code §1950.6. Base $30 (1997) adjusted annually by CPI, and never more than actual out-of-pocket cost. The statute publishes the mechanism, not the yearly figure. Source: California Legislative Information.
What does a rental application include?
Identity and contact details, the property applied for, current address and landlord, employment and gross income, references, other occupants — and the applicant's signed consent to run background and credit checks, which federal law (FCRA) requires before screening.
Is the application a lease?
No. The application only collects information for screening. If approved, landlord and tenant then sign a lease — see our California lease agreement template, which reflects California's deposit and notice rules.
What can't a landlord ask?
Federal fair-housing law bars questions about race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status and disability, and several states add protections (source of income, criminal-history limits). Stick to screening-relevant facts: identity, housing history, income and references.
How does California compare? See application-fee limits in all 50 states, every rule cited to statute.
Rental application in other states
More California legal forms
Different state? See rental applications by state →