AB 2801 Photo Requirements: California Move-Out Checklist
Check AB 2801 landlord photo duties and separate 2025 effective dates.
Keep honest move-out records; DepositPacket export is paid and does not guarantee refunds.
AB 2801 Photo Requirements: California Move-Out Checklist
Check AB 2801 landlord photo duties and separate 2025 effective dates.
Keep honest move-out records; DepositPacket export is paid and does not guarantee refunds.
AB 2801 added landlord photo duties with two different dates.
Photos before and after deductible repairs or cleaning apply from April 1, 2025.
Before-tenancy photos apply to tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Tenants can keep their own records, but an app does not replace the landlord's duties or guarantee a refund.
Disclosure: TaoApex develops DepositPacket.
Key Takeaways
- 1This is a first-party documentation review, not legal advice or a court-outcome study.
- 2AB 2801 added landlord photo duties with two different dates.
- 3The California Senate's AB 2801 summary, printed page 194 distinguishes the two dates.
Quick answer
AB 2801 added landlord photo duties with two different dates.
Photos before and after deductible repairs or cleaning apply from April 1, 2025.
Before-tenancy photos apply to tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Tenants can keep their own records, but an app does not replace the landlord's duties or guarantee a refund.
Disclosure:
TaoApex develops DepositPacket. This is a first-party documentation review, not legal advice or a court-outcome study.
Check the current law and seek qualified advice for a disputed deduction.
Who takes the required photos, and when?
The California Senate's AB 2801 summary, printed page 194 distinguishes the two dates.
The statutory duties discussed here are the landlord's, not a requirement that a tenant buy or use an app.
| Stage | Date in the cited summary | Practical point to check |
|---|---|---|
| Before the tenancy | Tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025 | Ask for the applicable before-tenancy record |
| Before deductible repairs or cleaning | From April 1, 2025 | Check the condition before the work |
| After those repairs or cleaning | From April 1, 2025 | Check the record of the completed work |
An older tenancy is not automatically exempt from the later repair-photo duties. The relevant conditions and dates still need checking.
DRE's new-laws guide also explains that AB 2801 changed deposit requirements.
A room-by-room record you can keep yourself
For each room, take a wide view and clear close-ups of relevant conditions.
Repeat a move-in angle when you have one. Include existing damage and changes honestly.
A large number of photos does not by itself prove a disputed claim.
- Walls and ceilings: visible marks, patches, stains and existing damage.
- Floors and carpet: wear, stains and the surrounding area.
- Doors and windows: frames, glass, screens and visible condition.
- Kitchen: counters, cabinets, sink and appliance interiors where relevant.
- Bathroom: tub, shower, sink, toilet area and visible water damage.
- Included outside areas: patio, garage or assigned areas covered by the tenancy.
Keep the original files in a location you control. Metadata may be changed or removed by editing and sharing tools.
Do not assume a timestamp proves when a condition arose.
Record the room, item, capture date and any related communication separately.
Compare photos with the accounting
The California Attorney General's deposit guidance explains permitted deductions and the general 21-day accounting rule. Unfinished work can involve a good-faith estimate procedure.
The legal conditions matter; missing photos alone do not establish the final outcome of a case.
Collect the accounting, receipts, correspondence and photos you actually hold. Ask for missing documentation in writing.
Do not describe the landlord's repair photos as an enclosed attachment if you never received them.
For the related timeline, read California security-deposit accounting. Use the dispute-letter guide to organize an objection based on real records, not invented facts.
What DepositPacket can help organize
The DepositPacket product page describes photos, deduction items and documentation export. Recording is free; packet export requires a paid subscription.
Check the current purchase terms before choosing an export plan.
A PDF and original-file packet can keep your material together.
It does not guarantee a refund, compliant service or success in court. Inspect the exported files and retain your originals.
The app is a documentation tool, not a legal representative.
Frequently asked questions
Does AB 2801 require tenants to take photos?
The duties described in the cited summary are the landlord's.
Tenants can keep their own records, but those records do not replace required landlord documentation or guarantee a dispute outcome.
Do the photo rules apply to an older tenancy?
The before-tenancy stage applies to tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Repair and cleaning photo duties apply from April 1, 2025 under the relevant conditions.
Do not combine the two dates into a blanket exemption.
Is DepositPacket export free, and can it guarantee a refund?
Recording is free, but packet export requires a paid subscription. The tool organizes records.
It does not guarantee a refund, legal compliance or a court result.
References
- California Senate Judiciary, AB 2801 summary, printed page 194: https://sjud.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2025-01/2023-24-sjud-legislative-summaries-final-pdf.pdf
- California DRE, New Laws for 2025: https://www.dre.ca.gov/publications/ResourceGuidebook/gb03a_newlaws.html
- California Attorney General, Security Deposits: https://www.oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/Know-Your-Rights-Security-Deposits-English.pdf
- DepositPacket product documentation: https://taoapex.com/en/products/depositpacket-ca/
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