The bad-faith penalty (up to twice the deposit)
Yes. California law provides an extra penalty when a landlord keeps a tenant's security deposit in "bad faith" — meaning without a legitimate basis — which can make wrongful withholding costly for the landlord.
When a landlord acts in bad faith by refusing to return a deposit they are not entitled to keep, a court can award the tenant not only the amount wrongfully withheld but also an additional penalty on top of it, up to twice the amount of the deposit, in addition to any actual damages. This penalty exists to discourage landlords from unfairly holding onto tenants' money.
Whether a court finds bad faith depends on the facts — for example, a landlord who ignored the rules, invented charges, or kept the deposit with no justification is more exposed than one who made a good-faith mistake.
This potential penalty is part of what makes deposit claims worth pursuing. If you believe your landlord wrongfully or unfairly kept your deposit, a free, confidential review can help you understand whether bad-faith penalties may apply and what you could recover.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.