For rent-stabilized units, West Hollywood requires annual deposit interest at the city-published rate — on top of California's § 1950.5 rules.
Both California law and West Hollywood's ordinance apply to you.
California Civil Code § 1950.5 applies in full: a 21-day return deadline, up to 2× for bad-faith withholding plus actual damages, the one-month cap (AB 12), and the AB 2801 photo-evidence rules. West Hollywood adds the interest layer on top for rent-stabilized units.
West Hollywood penalty
Treble (willful) + $1,000 route
City ordinance — separate remedy
West Hollywood’s general-remedies chapter reaches the deposit rules. Under WHMC § 17.68.010(c), a person who willfully demands, accepts, or retains any payment in violation of Title 17 is liable for three times the unlawful excess, with attorney’s fees and costs available to the tenant, and retention is a continuing violation until refunded. Under § 17.68.010(d), any Title 17 violation — including failure to pay the required deposit interest — separately supports actual damages or $1,000 (whichever is greater) plus potential punitive damages. State § 1950.5 remedies also remain fully available.
California penalty
up to 2× + actual damages
State law — still applies
A landlord who retains the deposit in bad faith is liable for statutory damages of up to twice the amount of the security deposit, in addition to the tenant’s actual damages, under § 1950.5(m).
These are two distinct remedies under two different laws — they are not the same claim, and one does not replace the other. The California return deadline of 21 days still applies.
Interest rate — published annually: West Hollywood publishes the deposit-interest rate each year (it has been 0% in some years); your letter references the current published rate rather than a hardcoded number.
Yes. California Civil Code § 1950.5 applies in full: a 21-day return deadline, up to 2× for bad-faith withholding plus actual damages, the one-month cap (AB 12), and the AB 2801 photo-evidence rules. West Hollywood adds the interest layer on top for rent-stabilized units.
Pay annual security-deposit interest on rent-stabilized units Use the rate published annually by the city (historically low — 0% in some years)
West Hollywood’s general-remedies chapter reaches the deposit rules. Under WHMC § 17.68.010(c), a person who willfully demands, accepts, or retains any payment in violation of Title 17 is liable for three times the unlawful excess, with attorney’s fees and costs available to the tenant, and retention is a continuing violation until refunded. Under § 17.68.010(d), any Title 17 violation — including failure to pay the required deposit interest — separately supports actual damages or $1,000 (whichever is greater) plus potential punitive damages. State § 1950.5 remedies also remain fully available. This is a separate remedy from the California state penalty, which also applies: A landlord who retains the deposit in bad faith is liable for statutory damages of up to twice the amount of the security deposit, in addition to the tenant’s actual damages, under § 1950.5(m).
West Hollywood Municipal Code, Rent Stabilization Ordinance. We verify these against the ordinance text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.
Sources & verification
The West Hollywood rules on this page were verified against the ordinance text itself:
Last verified against primary sources on .
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West Hollywood sits on top of California's statewide security deposit law. Read the full California rule →
Your letter cites the West Hollywood ordinance and the California statutes that apply to your situation.
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