San Bernardino County, California: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court: Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino - Small Claims in San Bernardino, plus branch courts (Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Victorville, Barstow, Joshua Tree, Needles). Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Fee: $30/$50/$75 tiered by claim amount, statewide schedule. Limit: $12,500. Return: 21 calendar days. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,623. Enter your dates and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino - Small Claims
City	San Bernardino, plus branch courts (Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Victorville, Barstow, Joshua Tree, Needles)
Statewide filing fee	$30/$50/$75 tiered by claim amount, statewide schedule
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$12,500 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	21 calendar days after tenant vacates the premises.
Time limit to sue	4 years
Deposit statute	Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $12,500 (statewide).

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Details of the return rules

California statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	21 days	tenant vacates the premises

California return rule: 21 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino - Small Claims. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of San Bernardino County.
The California business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. California Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the California filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: certified mail by clerk; constable or sheriff; private process server.

Service fee: Service of Claim by Certified Mail $15.00 (San Francisco local schedule; statewide clerk-mail fee is commonly $15 - confirm county)..

Procedure source (high confidence): $30 if you're suing for up to $1,500 $50 if you're suing for over $1,500 and up to $5,000 $75 if you're suing for over $5,000 and up to $12,500 If you've filed more than 12 small claims cases in the past 12 months, your fee is $100.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in San Bernardino County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,335	$2,670	$4,005	Fits under the $12,500 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,623	$3,246	$4,869	Fits under the $12,500 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,934	$3,868	$5,802	Fits under the $12,500 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$2,321	$4,642	$6,963	Fits under the $12,500 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does San Bernardino County compare with other California counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,623: rank 25 of 58 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 38.5% of households rent in San Bernardino County.

San Bernardino County two-bedroom rent $1,623, rank 25 of 58 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Riverside County	$1,722
Sacramento County	$1,691
San Bernardino County	$1,623
El Dorado County	$1,600
Nevada County	$1,509
San Joaquin County	$1,485

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 58 of 58 listed counties. Census source.

Places in San Bernardino County

Adelanto
Apple Valley
Barstow
Big Bear Lake
Chino
Chino Hills
Colton
Fontana
Grand Terrace
Hesperia
Highland
Loma Linda
Montclair
Needles
Ontario
Rancho Cucamonga
Redlands
Rialto
San Bernardino
Twentynine Palms
Upland
Victorville
Yucaipa
Yucca Valley

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Inland Counties Legal Services: free housing help to fight evictions, foreclosures, and unfair termination from programs such as Section 8, plus tenant-landlord advice and unlawful detainer clinics
California Indian Legal Services: free or low-cost legal services to Native individuals and tribes in every California county, including housing-discrimination complaints; the Eastern Sierra Legal Assistance Program also provides free civil legal assistance in Alpine, Mono, and Inyo Counties
California Rural Legal Assistance: free civil legal services for low-income rural residents, including eviction defense, lockouts, utility shut-offs, substandard housing, rent-deposit refunds, farmworker housing, and housing discrimination
Tenants Together: statewide tenants' rights hotline providing counseling and information about tenants' rights (not legal advice); text HELPLINE to 650-600-7821 for protection information

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in San Bernardino County?

Statewide filing fee: $30/$50/$75 tiered by claim amount, statewide schedule.

Where do I file a deposit claim in San Bernardino County?

Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino - Small Claims is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.