Security Deposit Guide Security Deposit Law

Note: These GUIDELINES apply mainly to lease terms of 1 year or more. Each state may have different laws. Generally, "Short Term" lease agreements do not apply. Short Term may be defined as a Seasonal Rental (Winter, Summer, Weekly etc), student housing (semester), dormitories, hotels or rooming houses.
One of most important things to do when you leave an apartment (or other rental) is to do a walk through with the owner or property manager. Take pictures when you leave and both agree to any damages or to the condition of the rental. BEFORE you move in, a walk through should be done (pictures) and note any damages and condition of the rental. The move-in list should be referred to when you leave. See our Normal Wear Tear Guide. TO GET BACK YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT - RETURN THE KEYS (avoid a fee); give the landlord your forwarding address (failure to do so may void any "time" rights you have). Use common sense and leave the rental at least "broom clean". If you do not have time to clean, hire a cleaning service. Ask the landlord if they have a cleaning service that they use or suggest.
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Click on the state name for detailed state information

Alabama	No statutory deadline
Alaska	14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice
Arizona	14 days
Arkansas	30 days
California	Under Civil Code Section 1950.5, the landlord can charge no more than 2 months' rent for an unfurnished apartment as a security deposit, and 3 months for a fully furnished unit. Within 21 days after you leave the unit, the landlord must refund your full deposit, except for limited deductions.
Colorado	Colorado law requires the landlord return the security deposit or an itemized statement of the deductions and balance, if any, to the tenant within 30 days after termination of the lease or the surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs last. This time period may be extended up to sixty days if specified in the lease. The landlord must either deliver or mail the full deposit or a statement of deductions and the balance of the deposit to the last known address of the tenant. If the landlord fails to provide a written statement of deductions and the balance of the deposit in full within the specified time, the landlord forfeits his right to withhold any portion of the security deposit
Connecticut	30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later. The landlord may be responsible for up to double the amount of the security deposit for failing to return the deposit.
Delaware	If the landlord is not entitled to all or any portion of the security deposit, the landlord shall remit the security deposit within 20 days of the expiration or termination of the rental agreement. Pet Deposit OK up to 1 month.
District of Columbia	45 days
Florida	15 to 45 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
Georgia	One month
Hawaii	14 days
Idaho	21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree
Illinois	30-45 days depending on whether deductions were made. Also depends on city (Chicago, Evanston etc). Single condo units are exempt. Evanston landlords must comply within 21 days to avoid penalties based on the improperly withheld amount. Oak Park tenants in units with four or more apartments also have special rights
Indiana	45 days
Iowa	30 days
Kansas	The security deposit can be one month's rent for an unfurnished apartment; 1 1/2 month's for furnished and an added 1/2 month's for pets. The landlord must return the deposit within 30 days or the remainder of the deposit and an itemized list of deductions. If he or she doesn't comply, tenants may sue for 1 1/2 times the security deposit in small claims court if the amount is less than $1,800.
Kentucky	30-60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions Many landlords require a deposit equal to one month's rent. The landlord must keep all tenant's deposit money together in a separate account used only for that purpose. Such account may be in any bank or other lending institution subject to regulation by the Commonwealth of Kentucky or by any agency of the United States government. In addition, each tenant must be informed as a part of the lease agreement of the account's location and number (KRS 383.580).
Louisiana	30 days - in Louisiana called the "Lessee's Deposit Law," that says a landowner must return your deposit within 30 days of the date you move out. If any part of a deposit is not returned, the landowner must send you a list of the things you are being charged for and the rest of the deposit. A deposit may be kept for unreasonable wear to the apartment. The act penalizes the willful failure of the landowner to obey the law by permitting the tenant the right to recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. Failure to remit within 30 days of a tenant's written demand for a refund shall be constitute willful failure. The judge may award costs and lawyer's fees to the side that wins if you take the landowner to Court. The law says you cannot give up, or waive, this right, even in a lease.
Maine	21 days (tenancy at will) or 30 days (written rental agreement)
Maryland	30-45 days depending on whether tenant has been evicted or has abandoned the premises
Massachusetts	30 days
Michigan	30 days
Minnesota	Three weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing address; five days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation
Mississippi	45 days
Missouri	Under Missouri law, a landlord can only require a maximum two months' rent as a security deposit. At the end of the lease, the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit with an itemized list of damages for which any portion of the deposit is kept. During that 30-day period, the landlord must notify the tenant of the time and date when the landlord plans to inspect the dwelling.
Montana	30 days
Nebraska	14 days
Nevada	30 days
New Hampshire	30 days
New Jersey	30 days; five days in case of fire, flood, condemnation or evacuation. Seasonal Rentals (under 125 days) not applicable.
New Mexico	30 days
New York	Reasonable time
North Carolina	30 days
North Dakota	30 days
Ohio	30 days
Oklahoma	30 days
Oregon	30 days
Pennsylvania	30 days
Rhode Island	20 days
South Carolina	30 days - Any deduction from the security/rental deposit must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice to the tenant together with the amount due, if any, within thirty days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession and demand by the tenant, whichever is later. The tenant shall provide the landlord in writing with a forwarding address or new address to which the written notice and amount due from the landlord may be sent. If the tenant fails to provide the landlord with the forwarding or new address, the tenant is not entitled to damages under this subsection provided the landlord (1) had no notice of the tenant's whereabouts and (2) mailed the written notice and amount due, if any, to the tenant's last known address.
South Dakota	Two weeks
Tennessee	No statutory deadline
Texas	30 days
Utah	30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later
Vermont	14 days
Virginia	30 days
Washington	The landlord has 14 days after a tenant moves out to return a deposit, or give a written explanation of why it (or any part of it) was not refunded. If a landlord does not comply, the full amount of the deposit must be refunded to the tenant, regardless of any claims by the landlord that the tenant is not entitled to a refund.
West Virginia	No statutory deadline
Wisconsin	No Interest required on deposit and no maximum a landlord may charge - except - see Madison Wisconsin. The landlord has 21 days after you move out to return the security deposit. Under state regulations, landlords must return either the full deposit or a detailed written list of deductions. (You may ask for receipts if not provided.) If the landlord fails to do so, you can sue the landlord for twice the amount of the deposit plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
Wyoming	No statutory deadline