🏦 Security Deposit Rules by State
Maximum deposit amounts, return deadlines, and late fee caps for all 50 states + DC.
| State ▼ | Return Deadline ▼ | Maximum Deposit ▼ | Late Fee Cap ▼ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 14 days | 2 months rent (no limit if rent >$2,000/mo) | No state cap - must be reasonable | Must return within 14 days with itemized statement. Interest not required. |
| Arizona | 14 days | 1.5 months rent | No state cap | Must return within 14 days with itemized statement of deductions. Failure to comply may result in landlord liability for twice the deposit. |
| Hawaii | 14 days | 1 month rent (plus 1 additional month if tenant has pet) per HRS §521-44(b) | 8% of monthly rent | Must return within 14 days with itemized statement. Interest not required. |
| New York | 14 days | 1 month rent | Lesser of $50 or 5% of monthly rent | HSTPA (2019) capped at 1 month regardless of unit type. Must return within 14 days with itemized deductions or forfeit right to retain. No pet depo... |
| Nebraska | 14 days | 1 month rent + 0.25 month pet deposit (§ 76-1416(1)) | No statutory cap | 14-day return with written itemization. No separate account required. No interest required. Willful failure to return = tenant recovers 1 month ren... |
| South Dakota | 14 (return or written explanation of deductions) days | 1 month rent (higher if special circumstances pose danger to maintenance - § 43-32-6.1) | No statutory cap | 14-day return with explanation of deductions. If tenant requests, landlord must provide written itemized accounting within 45 days of request. 1 mo... |
| Vermont | 14 days | No statutory cap statewide (Burlington: 1 month max; Barre: interest required) | No statutory cap | 14-day return with itemized deductions. No statewide cap (but Burlington caps at 1 month). Barre requires interest on deposits. Deductions: unpaid ... |
| Florida | 15 (no claim) or 30 (with claim) days | No statutory limit | No state cap | If landlord intends to claim deposit, must send notice within 30 days by certified mail. Tenant has 15 days to object. If no claim, return within 1... |
| Delaware | 20 days | 1 month rent (no pet deposit allowed separately) | 5% of monthly rent | Must return within 20 days. Failure to return results in double deposit penalty. |
| Rhode Island | 20 days | 1 month rent (§ 34-18-19); cannot require both security deposit AND last month's rent | No statutory cap | 20-day return by mail to tenant's forwarding address with itemized deductions. 1 month max - cannot require both security AND last month rent (anti... |
| California | 21 days | 1 month rent (regardless of furnished/unfurnished) - eff. July 1, 2024 per AB 12 | No state cap, but must be reasonable estimate of damages | Must return within 21 days with itemized statement. AB 12 (eff. 2025) lowered max deposit to 1 month for most landlords. Landlords with 1-2 propert... |
| Idaho | 21 (or 30 if lease specifies) days | No statutory limit | No state cap | Must return within 21 days (or 30 if stated in lease) with itemized list. |
| Washington | 21 days | No state limit | Less than $20 or 20% of monthly rent, whichever is greater | No statutory cap on deposit amount. Return within 21 days with itemized deductions and full statement. Written move-in checklist required documenti... |
| Minnesota | 21 days | No statutory cap | No statutory cap; must be reasonable | 21-day return with itemized deductions and receipts. Interest: landlord must pay 1% simple interest per year on deposits held 6+ months (Minn. Stat... |
| Wisconsin | 21 (ATCP 134.06) days | No statutory cap | No statutory cap | 21-day return with itemized statement. No cap statewide. Cannot deduct for routine cleaning or normal wear/tear. Failure to return within 21 days =... |
| North Carolina | 30 days | 2 weeks rent (week-to-week), 1.5 months rent (month-to-month), 2 months rent (longer than month-to-month) | No state cap - must be reasonable and in lease | Must be held in trust account. Itemized damage list required within 30 days. Interim inspection notice allowed. |
| South Carolina | 30 days | No statutory limit | No state cap | Landlord must return deposit within 30 days with itemized list of deductions. Must be held in separate account. |
| Georgia | 30 days | No statutory limit | No state cap | Must provide move-in inspection list. Must return within 30 days with itemized deductions. Applies to properties with 10+ units or if landlord uses... |
| Tennessee | 30 days | No statutory limit | No state cap - 10% is common industry standard | Must return within 30 days with itemized list. No cap on amount. Must notify tenant of any deductions. |
| Kentucky | 30 days | No statutory limit | No state cap | Must hold in separate account (KRS §383.580(1)). If tenant leaves owing rent & doesn't demand return: landlord may claim after 30 days. If refund d... |
| Colorado | 30 (up to 60 if lease specifies) days | No statutory limit | $50 or 5% of monthly rent (whichever is greater) | Must return within 30 days (60 if stated in lease) with itemized statement. Failure results in treble damages. |
| Connecticut | 30 days | 2 months rent | No state cap | Must be held in escrow and return within 30 days with itemized statement. Interest must be paid to tenant annually. |
| Texas | 30 days | No statutory limit | No state cap for most rentals | Must return within 30 days with itemized list sent to forwarding address. Failure to comply: landlord liable for 3x deposit wrongfully withheld plu... |
| New Jersey | 30 days | 1.5 months rent | 5% of monthly rent | Max 1.5 months rent (all deposits combined including pet deposits). Must be in interest-bearing account at NJ bank. Annual interest must be paid to... |
| Ohio | 30 days | No state limit | No state cap | No cap on security deposit amount. Must return within 30 days with itemized list of deductions. No requirement for interest-bearing account. Tenant... |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days | 2 months rent (first year); 1 month rent (subsequent years) | No state cap | First year: max 2 months rent. Second year+: max 1 month rent. After 5 years: cannot increase deposit. Deposits over $100 must be in escrow at stat... |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | 1 month rent | No state cap but restricted | EXTREMELY strict: Max 1 month rent. Must be held in separate interest-bearing MA bank account. Must provide receipt + Statement of Condition within... |
| Michigan | 30 days | 1.5 months rent | No state cap | Max 1.5 months rent. Must return within 30 days with itemized deductions. Must be held in regulated financial institution. Landlord must provide te... |
| Louisiana | 30 days | No state limit | No state cap | No statutory cap on deposit amount. Return within 30 days (1 month) with itemized deductions (RS 9:3251). Penalty for willful failure: $300 or 2x a... |
| Nevada | 30 days | 3 months rent (NRS 118A.242) | No statutory cap; must be reasonable | 30-day return with itemized deductions. Surety bond alternative allowed if all parties agree. Penalty for wrongful withholding: actual damages plus... |
| Missouri | 30 days | 2 months rent (RSMo § 535.300) | No statutory cap | 30-day return with itemized deductions. Must hold in federally-insured financial institution. No interest required. Tenant has right to be present ... |
| Iowa | 30 days | 2 months rent (§ 562A.12(1)) | Yes - statutory caps: rent ≤$700: max $12/day or $60/month; rent >$700: max $20/day or $100/month | 30-day return with itemized statement. Must hold in separate trust account at federally insured institution - cannot commingle. Landlord keeps inte... |
| Kansas | 30 (14 if landlord withholds any portion) days | 1 month rent (unfurnished); 1.5 months (furnished); +0.5 month pet deposit (§ 58-2550(a)) | No statutory cap | 30 days return if no deductions; 14 days if deductions with itemized statement. No interest required. Failure to return on time = forfeiture of rig... |
| Maine | 30 (lease tenancy); 21 (tenancy at will) days | 2 months rent (3 months for mobile home parks) (14 MRSA § 6032) | No statutory cap; must be reasonable | 30-day return for lease; 21 days for tenancy-at-will. Itemized deductions required. Must hold in separate account not commingled. Failure to return... |
| Montana | 30 (10 if landlord withholds for damages) days | No statutory cap (typically 1-2 months) | No statutory cap | 30-day return; 10 days if withholding for damages with itemized statement. Must give 24-hour written notice before cleaning inspection so tenant ca... |
| New Hampshire | 30 days | 1 month rent or $100 (whichever greater) for multi-unit; no limit for single-family homes (RSA 540-A:6) | No statutory cap | 30-day return with itemized deductions. Must hold in trust - remains tenant's money. Cannot commingle with personal funds (separate account allowed... |
| New Mexico | 30 days | No statutory cap (typically 1 month; interest required on amounts exceeding 1 month for leases over 1 year) | Yes - 10% of monthly rent (§ 47-8-15(D)) | 30-day return with itemized deductions. Must hold in separate interest-bearing account. Interest on deposits exceeding 1 month's rent for leases ov... |
| North Dakota | 30 days | 1 month rent; up to 2 months or $2500 (whichever greater) with pets (§ 47-16-07.1) | No statutory cap | 30-day return after tenant surrenders premises. Must hold in interest-bearing or checking account. Interest paid to tenant if occupancy 9+ months. ... |
| Utah | 30 days | No statutory cap | No statutory cap | 30-day return with itemized deductions. No interest required. No separate account required. Lease must state if any portion is nonrefundable. NEW 2... |
| Wyoming | 30 (or 15 days after tenant provides new address, whichever is later; 60 days if deductions) days | No statutory cap | No statutory cap | 30-day return (or 15 days after new address provided, whichever later). 60 days if deductions. No interest required. Lease must disclose if any por... |
| Oregon | 31 days | No statutory cap | Reasonable; flat fee or daily (max 6% of flat fee) or 5% of rent every 5 days | 31-day return with itemized deductions. Failure to return = 2x deposit liability. No interest requirement. Move-in/move-out condition report recomm... |
| Illinois | 30-45 days | No state limit | No state cap - must be reasonable | State law: 30 days if 5+ units (no deductions) or 45 days (with itemized deductions). No state deposit cap. Chicago RLTO: 30 days return, requires ... |
| Virginia | 45 days | 2 months rent | Yes - cannot exceed the lesser of 10% of periodic rent or 10% of remaining balance due (§55.1-1204(E)) | Return within 45 days with itemized deductions. Cannot exceed 2 months rent. Must hold in escrow. Move-in inspection report recommended. |
| Mississippi | 45 days | No statutory limit | No state cap | Return within 45 days with itemized deductions. |
| Maryland | 45 days | 2 months rent | 5% of monthly rent | Max 2 months rent (Renters' Rights Act may reduce to 1 month for some cases). Must be held in escrow account at federally insured institution withi... |
| Indiana | 45 days | No statutory cap (but typical 1-2 months) | No statutory cap; must be reasonable | 45-day return with itemized deductions (IC § 32-31-3-12). Receipts required for deductions over $126. Failure to return within 45 days = tenant can... |
| Oklahoma | 45 days | No statutory cap | No statutory cap | 45-day return with itemized deductions. Must hold in federally insured escrow account within state. No interest required. Failure to return = tenan... |
| Washington DC | 45 days | 1 month rent (14 DCMR § 308.2). Cannot collect deposit for units occupied on or before July 17, 1985. | 5% of full monthly rent (§ 42-3505.31(a)) | 1 month max. Must deposit in interest-bearing escrow account in DC within 30 days of receipt. Interest paid to tenant annually (landlord must discl... |
| Alabama | 60 days | 1 month rent | No state cap | Return within 60 days (35 if landlord sends itemized list). Cannot exceed 1 month rent. |
| West Virginia | 60 days | No statutory limit | No state cap | Return within 60 days with itemized list. No statutory cap on amount. |
| Arkansas | 60 days | 2 months rent | No state cap | Must return within 60 days with itemized list. Landlord forfeits right to withhold if no list provided. |
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