Can a California landlord deduct from the deposit for repainting?

Sometimes, but most repainting is normal wear and tear and not deductible. The general California rule: a paint job lasts about 3 to 5 years before needing refresh in normal occupancy. If the tenant occupied the unit for that period or longer, repainting at move-out is the landlord's expense (preparing for next tenant), not the tenant's. Deductible repainting includes: nail-hole filling beyond what is reasonable for hanging photos, large patches of crayon or marker, smoke staining requiring extra primer, custom colors the tenant added without permission that need re-coverage. The landlord must provide an itemized invoice or written estimate showing what was painted and why it exceeded normal wear. Charging the full cost of repainting to the tenant when the unit was occupied 2+ years is one of the most-litigated deduction issues in California small claims court, and tenants frequently win. Up to twice the wrongfully withheld amount if the court finds bad faith. Attorney fees also recoverable.

Source: Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5(h)(1)