Summary State Law

SECURITY DEPOSIT STATE LAW SUMMARY CHART

The following chart is a summary of SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW BY STATE

See our guide on RETURN OF SECURITY DEPOSIT – with LETTER to LANDLORD

STATE LAW Days to Return Deposit
- Subject to Change -
AlabamaNo statutory deadline
Alaska14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice
Arizona14 days
Arkansas30 days
CaliforniaLandlord 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.
ColoradoRequires 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.
Connecticut30 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.
DelawareIf the landlord is not entitled to all or any portion of the security deposit, the landlord must remit the security deposit within 20 days of the expiration or termination of the rental agreement.ÊÊ Pet Deposit OK up to 1 month.
District of Columbia45 days
Florida15 to 45 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
GeorgiaOne month
Hawaii14 days
Idaho21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree
Illinois30-45 days depending on whether deductions were made. Also depends on city (Chicago, Evanston etc).
Indiana45 days
Iowa30 days
KansasThe 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.
Kentucky30-60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
Louisiana30 days -Ê 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. ........
Maine21 days (tenancy at will) or 30 days (written rental agreement)
Maryland30-45 days depending on whether tenant has been evicted or has abandoned the premises
Massachusetts30 days
Michigan30 days
MinnesotaThree weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing address; five days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation
Mississippi45 days
MissouriCan only require a maximum two months' rent as a security deposit.Ê At the end of the lease, landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit with an itemized list of damages for which any portion of the deposit is kept.
Montana30 days
Nebraska14 days
Nevada30 days
New Hampshire30 days
New Jersey30 days; five days in case of fire, flood, condemnation or evacuation. Seasonal Rentals (under 125 days) not applicable.
New Mexico30 days
New YorkReasonable time
North Carolina30 days
North Dakota30 days
Ohio30 days
Oklahoma30 days
Oregon30 days
Pennsylvania30 days
Rhode Island20 days
South Carolina30 days - Any deduction from the security/rental deposit must be itemized by landlord in a written notice to the tenant together with the amount due, if any...
South DakotaTwo weeks
TennesseeNo statutory deadline
Texas30 days
Utah30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later
Vermont14 days
Virginia30 days
WashingtonLandlord 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.....
West VirginiaNo statutory deadline
WisconsinNo Interest required on deposit and no maximum a landlord may charge - except - see Madison Wisconsin.
WyomingNo statutory deadline