Utility deposits, refunds and security deposits

Updated November 8, 2026

Deposits a utility or landlord held, and refunds or rebates a utility owed, are reported when they cannot be returned.

How it ends up with the state

Closing a location, moving to a new suite, or switching providers, with the final refund mailed to the closed address.

When the holder cannot reach the owner for the period set by law, it reports the property to the California State Controller, along with the owner's name and last known address. The Controller then holds it until the owner claims it.

The Controller's categories

What helps prove the claim

A bill or lease for the location, showing the business at that address. On top of that, every business claim needs the signer's photo ID, proof of authority to act for the business and proof of its FEIN. See the document checklist.

How we help

We search every name and address your business has used, match the records, assemble the papers and file. Our fee is 10% of what the state pays, after it pays.

Source: California State Controller unclaimed property file, records of $500 and up, dated November 4, 2026. Open records only (no claim pending or paid), owner address in California, owner = name + ZIP code, business-type names only, government names removed, owners whose records total $10,000 or more. RecoverOwed computation; classifying owners by name pattern is approximate. No individual owner is named on this site. Amounts here count only this kind of property for owners whose total across all kinds is $10,000 or more.