The law in plain English
Return deadline
Under Cal. Civ. Code Sections 1940.5(g), 1950.5, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 21 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.
Required notice
The landlord generally must send an itemized statement and any remaining refund within 21 days after move-out, even if the full deposit is being kept.
This dispute type
Once the California deadline passes, the dispute stops being only about the deductions and becomes a deadline-compliance problem too. A landlord may still argue damage existed, but Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1940.5(g), 1950.5 sets the clock for returning the balance and explaining any amount withheld.
Penalty leverage
If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: Up to 2x the deposit in statutory damages for bad faith retention, plus actual damages