How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in California?

The shortest window is 2 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.

When does the clock start on the day the deposit became overdue in California?

Not on the day it happened. The day the deposit became overdue is 21 days after the day you moved out, and the window is counted from that later day, under Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h).

How long do you have on a property damage claim in California?

3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §338(c)(1).

How much can you claim in small claims court in California?

An individual can claim up to $12,500. A business can claim up to $6,250. A public agency can claim up to $6,250. That comes from Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.221, Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.220.

How long you have in California

Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.

How long you have in California
Kind of claim	Agreement	Window	Counted from	Rule
Unpaid Invoice	In writing	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §337
Unpaid Loan	In writing	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §337
Contractor Dispute	In writing	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §337
Auto Repair	In writing	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §337
Other	In writing	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §337
Unpaid Invoice	Spoken or by conduct	2 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339
Unpaid Loan	Spoken or by conduct	2 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339
Contractor Dispute	Spoken or by conduct	2 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339
Auto Repair	Spoken or by conduct	2 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339
Other	Spoken or by conduct	2 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339
Security Deposit	In writing	4 years	the day the deposit became overdue	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §337
Security Deposit	Spoken or by conduct	2 years	the day the deposit became overdue	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339
Property Damage	Either	3 years	the day the damage happened	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §338(c)(1)
Sale of Goods	Either	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	Cal. Com. Code §2725

A clock that starts later

The the day the deposit became overdue is not the day it happened. It is 21 days after the day you moved out, and the window is counted from that later day.

Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h) · A landlord has 21 days after you move out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions.

Worked example

If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 4 years runs out on 2030-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.

More about California

Common questions

How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in California?: The shortest window is 2 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
When does the clock start on the day the deposit became overdue in California?: Not on the day it happened. The day the deposit became overdue is 21 days after the day you moved out, and the window is counted from that later day, under Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h).
How long do you have on a property damage claim in California?: 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §338(c)(1).
How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in California?: 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under Cal. Com. Code §2725.
How much can you claim in small claims court in California?: An individual can claim up to $12,500. A business can claim up to $6,250. A public agency can claim up to $6,250. That comes from Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.221, Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §116.220.

Verify with your court

Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open California's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.

Open the court's small claims page

Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2026-01-01.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §337 · effective 2019-01-01 · A claim based on a written agreement must be filed within four years of the breach.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §339 · effective 1997-01-01 · A claim based on a spoken agreement must be filed within two years of the breach.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §338(c)(1) · effective 2024-09-16 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within three years of the damage.
Cal. Com. Code §2725 · effective 1968-01-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach, whether the agreement was written or spoken.
Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h) · effective 2026-01-01 · A landlord has 21 days after you move out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions.

FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.