| Location | Deposit limit | Return deadline and itemization |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Up to one month's periodic rent. Landlords may charge more only for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks.Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a) | Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered, the landlord must mail the deposit and/or an itemized list of amounts withheld. The tenant should give a written forwarding address. If the landlord misses the deadline, the landlord owes double the original deposit. Deposits left unclaimed for 90 days are forfeited.Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(f) |
| Alaska | Deposit plus prepaid rent can total no more than 2 months' rent, but the cap does not apply to units renting for more than $2,000 a month. A landlord may also charge a separate pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent (not for service animals), which can be used only for pet damage.AS 34.03.070(a), (h) | The landlord has 14 days after move-out to mail the refund and an itemized notice of deductions if proper termination notice was given, or 30 days if deductions are taken for tenant damage. If the tenant did not give proper notice, the deadline is 30 days. Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted. A landlord who wilfully fails to comply can owe up to twice the amount withheld.AS 34.03.070(b), (d), (g) |
| Arizona | Security deposit plus prepaid rent can total no more than 1.5 months' rent, but a tenant may choose to prepay more rent. Any fee or deposit not stated in writing as nonrefundable must be refunded.A.R.S. § 33-1321(A)-(B) | Within 14 days (not counting weekends or legal holidays) after the tenancy ends, the tenant moves out and the tenant asks for the deposit, the landlord must mail an itemized list of deductions and any refund. A landlord who does not comply can owe the amount due plus damages of twice the amount wrongfully withheld. A tenant who does not dispute the list within 60 days waives further claims.A.R.S. § 33-1321(D)-(E) |
| Arkansas | No more than 2 months' rent.Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-304 | Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant moves out, the landlord must return the deposit, minus unpaid rent and damages itemized in a written notice. Mailing it first class to the tenant's last known address counts. If the payment comes back and the tenant cannot be found, the landlord keeps it after 180 days.Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305 |
| California | Up to 1 month's rent (in addition to first month's rent) for deposits collected on or after July 1, 2024 (AB 12). Small landlords (individuals or all-individual LLCs owning no more than 2 rental properties with 4 or fewer units in total) may charge up to 2 months' rent, but not to service members. Advance rent of at least 6 months is allowed on leases of 6 months or longer.Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c) | No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must return the deposit with an itemized statement of any deductions. Ordinary wear and tear cannot be deducted. Landlords must photograph the unit after move-out and after repairs (from April 1, 2025) and at move-in for tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025. Deposits paid electronically generally must be refunded electronically (AB 414, effective January 1, 2026). Bad-faith retention can cost up to twice the deposit plus actual damages.Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(e), (g), (h), (m) |
| Colorado | No more than 2 months' rent (SB23-184, in effect since August 7, 2023).C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5 | Since January 1, 2026 (HB25-1249), the landlord must return the deposit within 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the premises, whichever is later. The lease can allow more time, up to 60 days. Any amount kept needs a written statement of exact reasons plus supporting documentation, and nothing may be kept for normal wear and tear or for damage that existed before the tenancy. Wrongful retention can cost the landlord three times the amount withheld plus attorney fees, but the tenant must first give 7 days' notice of intent to sue.C.R.S. § 38-12-103, as amended by HB25-1249 |
| Connecticut | Up to 2 months' rent for tenants under 62. Up to 1 month's rent for tenants 62 or older, and a tenant who turns 62 after paying a larger deposit can ask for the excess back. The deposit must be held in an escrow account and earns interest.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b), (h), (i) | Within 21 days after the tenancy ends or 15 days after receiving the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later, the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest, minus any damages listed in an itemized written statement. A landlord who violates this rule is liable for twice the deposit.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d) |
| Delaware | Up to 1 month's rent for leases of 1 year or more, and for month-to-month or open-ended tenancies once they have lasted a year (the landlord must then credit back any excess). The limit does not apply to furnished units. Deposits must be kept in a separate escrow account at a federally insured bank with an office in Delaware.25 Del. C. § 5514(a)-(b) | Within 20 days after the lease ends, the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized list of damages with estimated repair costs, plus any balance owed. A landlord who misses the deadline owes double the amount wrongfully withheld. The tenant has 10 days after receiving the payment to object in writing, and should give a forwarding address in writing.25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(h) |
| District of Columbia | No more than the first month's rent, and it must be kept in an interest-bearing account. For rent-controlled units occupied since July 17, 1985 with no deposit, the landlord cannot start requiring one.14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a) | Within 45 days after move-out, the landlord must return the deposit, with interest if the tenancy lasted 12 months or more, or send written notice of any amounts claimed, with photos or other documentation. The tenant then has 30 days to dispute the charges. The landlord must return any balance within 30 days of that first notice. Ordinary wear and tear cannot be charged.D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(c), (e); 14 DCMR §§ 308-311 |
| Florida | No statutory cap on the amount. The landlord must hold the deposit in a separate Florida bank account (interest-bearing or not) or post a surety bond. Landlords with 5 or more units must tell the tenant in writing, within 30 days, where the deposit is held and whether it earns interest.Fla. Stat. § 83.49(1)-(2) | Within 15 days after the lease ends if there is no claim. If the landlord intends to keep any of it, the landlord must send written notice of the claim and the reason by certified mail or agreed e-mail within 30 days, or lose the right to make a claim. The tenant then has 15 days to object in writing. Without an objection, the landlord must return the balance within 30 days of the notice.Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3) |
| Georgia | No more than 2 months' rent, a cap added by the Safe at Home Act in 2024. Landlords with more than 10 units, or who use a management agent, must keep deposits in an escrow account (or post a bond) and tell the tenant in writing where it is held.Safe at Home Act (2024 Ga. Laws 392); O.C.G.A. § 44-7-31 | Within 30 days after the landlord gets possession, the landlord must return the full deposit or a written statement of the exact reasons for keeping any of it, including the move-out damage list, with any balance. Deductions for ordinary wear and tear are not allowed. Landlords with more than 10 units or a management agent can owe 3 times the amount wrongfully withheld.O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34; Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (DCA) |
| Hawaii | No more than 1 month's rent. A landlord may also collect a pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent for a pet allowed under the lease, but not for an assistance animal. At move-in, the landlord may collect only the first month's rent and the deposit.HRS § 521-44(b) | Within 14 days after the lease ends, the landlord must return the deposit or send written notice of what is being kept and why, with estimates, invoices or receipts, plus any balance. A landlord who misses the 14-day deadline must return the entire deposit. Tenants have 1 year to sue.HRS § 521-44(c) |
| Idaho | No statutory cap on the amount. A landlord may not keep any part of the deposit for normal wear and tear. Since a 2025 law, cities and counties also cannot regulate deposits on private rentals.Idaho Code § 6-321; § 55-306 | Within 21 days after the tenant surrenders the premises if the lease sets no other time, and never later than 30 days. If any part is kept, the landlord must include a signed, itemized statement of the amounts kept and what was spent.Idaho Code § 6-321(2) |
| Illinois | No statewide cap. Some local ordinances set limits, for example 1.5 times the monthly rent in Evanston and suburban Cook County. Landlords with 25 or more units on a property must pay interest on deposits held more than 6 months (public housing is excluded).765 ILCS 715/1; local ordinances | To keep any part of the deposit for damage, the landlord must give the tenant an itemized statement of the damage and costs, with paid receipts, within 30 days after move-out. Otherwise the full deposit must be returned within 45 days. Since January 1, 2024 (P.A. 103-224), this applies to all residential rentals; it used to cover only buildings with 5 or more units. A landlord who acts in bad faith can owe twice the deposit plus court costs and attorney fees.765 ILCS 710/1 |
| Indiana | No statutory cap: the security deposit chapter sets no maximum. Local governments are also barred from regulating security deposits on private rentals.Ind. Code ch. 32-31-3; § 32-31-1-20 | Within 45 days after the lease ends and the tenant moves out, the landlord must return the deposit, minus unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and unpaid utilities, with a written itemized list of deductions. The deadline applies only after the tenant gives the landlord a mailing address in writing. If the landlord does not comply, the tenant can recover the full deposit plus reasonable attorney fees.Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 |
| Iowa | A security deposit cannot be more than 2 months' rent. It must be held in a federally insured bank, savings and loan or credit union, separate from the landlord's own money.Iowa Code § 562A.12(1)–(2) | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit or give a written statement of the specific reasons for keeping any of it. A landlord who misses the deadline loses the right to keep any part, and keeping a deposit in bad faith can bring punitive damages of up to 2 months' rent plus actual damages. If the tenant gives no address within 1 year, the deposit goes to the landlord.Iowa Code § 562A.12(3), (4), (7) |
| Kansas | Up to 1 month's rent for an unfurnished unit, or 1.5 months' rent if furnished. A landlord who allows pets may charge up to an extra half month's rent. Subsidized municipal housing authorities may use their own schedule based on bedroom size.K.S.A. 58-2550(a) | Deductions must be itemized in a written notice. The balance is due within 14 days after the landlord determines the deductions, and never later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, the tenant moves out and the tenant asks for it. A landlord who does not comply owes the amount due plus damages of 1.5 times the amount wrongfully kept. Tenants may not use the deposit as last month's rent unless the lease allows it.K.S.A. 58-2550(b)–(d) |
| Kentucky | No statutory cap on the amount. Kentucky Justice Online notes there is no set limit; check the lease.KRS 383.580 (sets no maximum) | URLTA areas only: deposits must be kept in a separate bank account, and the landlord must give a signed list of existing damage before move-in and a list of damage with cost estimates after move-out. A landlord who skips the separate account and these lists may not keep any of the deposit. There is no fixed refund deadline: the landlord must notify the tenant of any refund due and may keep it if the tenant does not respond within 60 days. Outside URLTA areas, no statute governs deposit return.KRS 383.580 |
| Louisiana | No statutory cap. The deposit law (R.S. 9:3251) controls how deposits are returned, but it does not set a maximum amount.La. R.S. 9:3251 | The deposit must be returned within one month after the lease ends. The landlord may keep only what is reasonably needed to cover the tenant's default or unreasonable wear. If any of it is kept, the landlord must send an itemized statement with the reasons, and the statute (as amended by Acts 2026, No. 63) allows up to 15 more days after that one-month mark. The tenant must give a forwarding address. These rules do not apply if the tenant abandons the unit without the required notice or before the lease ends.La. R.S. 9:3251 |
| Maine | The deposit cannot be more than 2 months' rent. At move-in, a landlord also cannot require more than the first full month's rent, the security deposit and any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee.14 M.R.S. §§ 6032, 6022-A | With a written lease, the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized written statement of deductions, plus any balance, within the time the lease states, which cannot be more than 30 days. With a tenancy at will, the deadline is 21 days after the tenancy ends or the tenant surrenders the unit, whichever is later. The landlord may not deduct for normal wear and tear and loses the right to keep any of the deposit if the deadline is missed.14 M.R.S. § 6033 |
| Maryland | Capped at 1 month's rent per unit, no matter how many tenants (since October 1, 2024). The cap rises to 2 months' rent only if the tenant qualifies for DHS utility assistance, the lease requires the tenant to pay utilities to the landlord, and both sides agree in writing. A tenant who is overcharged can recover up to 3 times the extra amount plus attorney's fees.Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b) | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest (if held at least 6 months; the greater of the 1-year Treasury rate or 1.5% a year), minus damages rightfully withheld. Any deductions require a written, itemized list of damages and costs mailed first-class within the same 45 days. A landlord who misses this deadline forfeits the right to withhold for damages, and one who withholds without a reasonable basis can owe up to 3 times the amount withheld.Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)–(g) |
| Massachusetts | At or before move-in, a landlord may collect no more than first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit equal to one month's rent, and the cost of a new lock and key. Since August 1, 2025, this limit also covers the landlord's agents (St. 2025, c. 9).M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b) | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit (with interest owed). Allowed deductions are unpaid rent or water charges, certain tax-escalation charges, and reasonable repair costs for damage beyond normal wear and tear. Damage deductions require a sworn, itemized list with estimates, bills or receipts given within the same 30 days. A landlord who violates the return rules can owe 3 times the deposit plus interest, costs and attorney's fees.M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4), (6), (7) |
| Michigan | Capped at 1½ months' rent.MCL 554.602 | Within 30 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must mail an itemized list of damages with estimated repair costs, plus a check or money order for the rest of the deposit. The tenant should give a forwarding address within 4 days of moving out and has 7 days to respond by mail to the list. A landlord who wants to keep money that is in dispute must sue within 45 days of move-out. If the landlord does not sue or return the deposit, a tenant who followed the rules can sue for double the deposit.MCL 554.609; Michigan Legal Help |
| Minnesota | No statewide cap. The Attorney General's handbook notes that some cities, such as Minneapolis, limit deposit amounts by ordinance.Minnesota Attorney General, Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities, ch. 1 | Within 3 weeks after the tenancy ends and the landlord gets the tenant's mailing address, the landlord must return the deposit with 1% simple interest or give a written statement of the specific reasons for withholding (5 days if the building is condemned). Deductions are limited to unpaid rent or other money owed and restoring the unit, minus ordinary wear and tear. A landlord who misses the deadline owes a penalty equal to the amount withheld, and bad-faith retention adds up to $500 in punitive damages. Tenants can also ask for move-in and move-out inspections (Minn. Stat. § 504B.182).Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.178, 504B.182 |
| Mississippi | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit.Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant demands return of the deposit; any deductions must be itemized in writing. Bad-faith retention can cost the landlord up to $200 in damages plus actual damages.Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 |
| Missouri | A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent.RSMo § 535.300 | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or give the tenant a written, itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance. A tenant whose deposit is wrongfully withheld can recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld.RSMo § 535.300 |
| Montana | No statutory cap. Montana's security deposit law (MCA Title 70, chapter 25) sets rules for deductions and refunds but no maximum amount.MCA 70-25-101 to 70-25-206 | If there are no unpaid rent, damage or cleaning charges, the deposit must be returned within 10 days. If there are deductions, the landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends or the unit is surrendered (whichever comes first) to give the tenant a written list of charges and pay back the difference.MCA 70-25-202 |
| Nebraska | Up to one month's rent, plus a pet deposit of no more than one-fourth of one month's rent where appropriate. This cap does not apply to housing agencies organized under the Nebraska Housing Agency Act.Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(1) | Within 14 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must deliver or mail the balance with a written itemization of deductions. If the failure to comply is willful and not in good faith, the tenant can also recover the lesser of one month's rent or twice the deposit, plus court costs and attorney's fees.Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2)-(3) |
| Nevada | The security deposit and/or surety bond, including any last month's rent, cannot total more than 3 months' rent. The landlord may not require a surety bond instead of a deposit, but the tenant may buy one if the landlord agrees.NRS 118A.242(1)-(3) | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the remaining deposit with an itemized written accounting. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and reasonable cleaning. A landlord who fails or refuses to return it on time can owe the full deposit plus up to another amount equal to the deposit.NRS 118A.242(4), (6) |
| New Hampshire | No more than one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. The landlord must give a signed receipt (unless paid by check) and tell the tenant to list any needed repairs in writing within 5 days of moving in.RSA 540-A:6, I | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit (plus any interest due), with a written, itemized list of any damages, repairs, unpaid rent or charges deducted. A landlord who does not comply can owe twice the deposit, unless the tenant failed to give a new address.RSA 540-A:7, 540-A:8 |
| New Jersey | No more than 1.5 times one month's rent. Any yearly increase in the deposit is capped at 10% of the current deposit. A pet deposit plus the regular deposit cannot exceed 1.5 months' rent combined, and prepaid 'last month's rent' counts toward the cap.N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2 | Within 30 days after the lease ends, the landlord must return the deposit plus the tenant's share of interest, minus allowed charges, by personal delivery or registered or certified mail, with itemized deductions. The deadline is shorter (5 business days) when a tenant is displaced by fire, flood, condemnation or evacuation. A court can award double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs.N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 |
| New Mexico | If the lease is shorter than one year, the deposit can be no more than one month's rent. With an annual lease the landlord may collect more than one month's rent, but must then pay the tenant interest on the deposit each year.NMSA 1978, § 47-8-18(A) | Within 30 days after the rental agreement ends or the tenant moves out, whichever is later, the landlord must give the tenant an itemized written list of deductions and any balance owed (mailing it to the last known address counts). Deductions for normal wear and tear are not allowed. A landlord who misses the deadline loses the right to keep any of the deposit and owes court costs and attorney fees. Keeping a deposit in bad faith adds a $250 civil penalty.NMSA 1978, § 47-8-18(C)-(E) |
| New York | A deposit or advance may not exceed one month's rent. There are limited exceptions, such as seasonal units and owner-occupied co-ops.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 | Within 14 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must give an itemized statement of any deductions and return the rest. A landlord who misses the 14-day deadline loses the right to keep any part of the deposit. Willful violations can bring punitive damages of up to twice the deposit.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 |
| North Carolina | Up to 2 weeks' rent for week-to-week tenancies, 1.5 months' rent for month-to-month, and 2 months' rent for longer terms. A separate reasonable nonrefundable pet fee is allowed.N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-51(b), 42-53 | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord gets possession, the landlord must return the deposit with a written itemized list of any damage. If the claim can't be determined in 30 days, the landlord must send an interim accounting within 30 days and a final accounting within 60 days. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not allowed.N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 |
| North Dakota | Up to one month's rent. A landlord may charge up to two months' rent to a tenant with a felony conviction or a prior judgment for violating a rental agreement. A separate pet deposit may be up to the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent, but not for service or companion animals.N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 | Within 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant gives up possession, the landlord must mail or deliver an itemized list of deductions with the balance owed. The deposit must be kept in an interest-bearing account, but interest isn't owed if the tenant stayed less than nine months. Withholding without reasonable justification can bring treble damages.N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 |
| Ohio | No statutory cap on the amount. On any deposit above $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater), the landlord owes 5% annual interest on the excess if the tenant stays six months or more.Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(A) | Within 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant gives up possession, the landlord must deliver an itemized written notice of deductions with the amount due. The tenant must give a forwarding address in writing. If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant can recover the amount wrongfully withheld, plus an equal amount in damages and attorney's fees.Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B)-(C) |
| Oklahoma | No statutory cap on the amount. The deposit must be held in an escrow account at a federally insured institution in Oklahoma.41 Okla. Stat. § 115(A) | The landlord must return the balance with an itemized statement within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the tenant gives up possession, and the tenant makes a written demand. If the tenant makes no written demand within 6 months after the tenancy ends, the deposit goes to the landlord.41 Okla. Stat. § 115(B) |
| Oregon | No statutory maximum amount. A landlord may not require a new or larger deposit during the first year of a tenancy, except for an agreed change such as adding a pet. Pet deposits may not be charged for assistance animals.ORS 90.300 | Within 31 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives up possession, the landlord must give a written accounting of any claim against the deposit and return the unclaimed balance.ORS 90.300(12)-(13) |
| Pennsylvania | Up to two months' rent during the first year of a lease and one month's rent after that. After five years, a rent increase cannot be used to raise the deposit.Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, § 511.1 | Within 30 days after the lease ends or the unit is surrendered, the landlord must give a written list of damages and return the balance. A landlord who misses the 30-day list loses the right to withhold any of the deposit, and wrongful withholding can bring double damages. The tenant must give a forwarding address in writing.Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, § 512 |
| Rhode Island | Up to one month's rent. A separate furniture deposit of up to one month's rent is allowed only if the furnishings are worth $5,000 or more.R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(a), (e) | Within 20 days after the latest of the tenancy ending, the tenant giving up possession, or the tenant providing a forwarding address, the landlord must return the deposit with an itemized notice of deductions. Wrongful withholding can bring damages of twice the amount withheld plus attorney fees.R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b)-(c) |
| South Carolina | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit.S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410 | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession and demands the deposit (whichever is later), with a written itemized list of any deductions. A landlord who wrongfully withholds it can owe three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees.S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410 |
| South Dakota | No more than one month's rent. A larger deposit is allowed only if the landlord and tenant agree to it because special conditions endanger upkeep of the premises.SDCL 43-32-6.1 | Within 21 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address, the landlord must return the deposit or give a written statement of the specific reasons for keeping any of it. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent or other money owed under an agreement and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. The tenant may ask for an itemized accounting within 45 days. A landlord who does not comply loses the right to keep any of the deposit, and bad-faith retention can add up to $200 in punitive damages. The deadline changed from two weeks to 21 days under SB 4, effective July 1, 2026.SDCL 43-32-24 (as amended by SL 2026, ch 179) |
| Tennessee | No statutory cap on the deposit amount. In URLTA counties (population over 75,000), landlords must keep deposits in a separate account used only for that purpose and tell the tenant where that account is.Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301; § 66-28-102(a) | In URLTA counties, the landlord must offer a move-out inspection and give an itemized list of damages with estimated costs that it is charging against the deposit. If a refund is due, the landlord must send notice of the amount to the tenant's last known address, and may keep the money if the tenant does not respond within 60 days. Damage must be discovered within 30 days after the tenant moves out, or 7 days after a new tenant moves in, whichever comes first. The statute sets no fixed number of days for paying the refund.Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 |
| Texas | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit; the Property Code defines a deposit but sets no maximum.Tex. Prop. Code § 92.102 | Landlord must refund the deposit on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises, with a written itemized list of any deductions (no deductions for normal wear and tear). The landlord does not have to refund until the tenant gives a written forwarding address. A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith owes $100 plus three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees.Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.104, 92.107, 92.109 |
| Utah | No statutory cap on the amount. If any part of the deposit is non-refundable, that must be stated in writing when the deposit is taken.Utah Code 57-17-1 to 57-17-5 (see 57-17-2) | Within 30 days after the renter moves out and returns possession, the landlord must mail or deliver the balance of the deposit and any prepaid rent, with a written itemized explanation of each deduction. Deductions may cover rent, damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, fees in the contract and cleaning. If the landlord misses the deadline, the renter can serve a statutory 'Tenant's Notice to Provide Deposit Disposition'. A landlord who then fails to comply within 5 business days owes the full deposit plus a $100 penalty.Utah Code 57-17-3, 57-17-5 |
| Vermont | No statewide cap on the amount. A deposit may be kept only for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utility or other required charges, and the cost of removing abandoned items. Towns may adopt ordinances that add to these minimum protections.9 V.S.A. § 4461(b), (g) | Within 14 days after the tenant moves out (or after the landlord discovers the tenant has left), the landlord must hand-deliver or mail the deposit with a written itemized statement of deductions. The deadline is 60 days for seasonal rentals that are not a primary residence. A landlord who misses the deadline forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit, and a willful failure makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees and costs.9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)-(e) |
| Virginia | No more than two months' rent. If the landlord also requires renter's or damage insurance, the premiums plus the deposit together may not be more than two months' rent.Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A); §§ 55.1-1206, 55.1-1208 | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends or the tenant moves out, whichever is later, the landlord must give the tenant a written itemized list of deductions with any amount due. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent and late charges, damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, other charges in the lease, and actual damages for breaking the lease. The tenant may attend the move-out inspection, which must be done within 72 hours after the unit is turned over.Va. Code § 55.1-1226 |
| Washington | No statutory cap on the amount. A deposit may be collected only if there is a written rental agreement explaining when it can be withheld and a signed move-in condition checklist; without the checklist, the landlord owes the tenant the full deposit.RCW 59.18.260 | Within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant moves out, the landlord must return the deposit or give a full and specific written statement of the reasons for keeping any of it. A landlord who misses the deadline (except when it was beyond their control or the tenant abandoned the unit) owes the full deposit.RCW 59.18.280 |
| West Virginia | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit.W. Va. Code § 37-6A-1 | Deposit, minus deductions, must be returned with a written itemization within 60 days after the tenancy ends, or within 45 days after a new tenant moves in, whichever is shorter. If damages exceed the deposit and need a third-party contractor, the landlord may give written notice and get an extra 15 days to itemize.W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2 |
| Wisconsin | Not yet verified | Within 21 days after the tenant moves out. If the tenant leaves before the lease ends, the 21 days run from the last day of the lease or the day a new tenant moves in, whichever comes first. Any deductions must be listed in a written itemized statement.Wis. Stat. § 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 |
| Wyoming | No statutory cap on the amount of a deposit.W.S. 1-21-1201 to 1-21-1211 | The balance and a written itemization of deductions must be delivered or mailed within 30 days after the rental agreement ends, or within 15 days after the owner receives the renter's new mailing address, whichever is later. If there is damage to the unit, the deadline is extended by 30 days.W.S. 1-21-1208(a) |
Security deposit laws by state
How much a landlord can charge for a deposit, and how long they have to return it or explain deductions, with a link to each state’s law.
How to use this table: each entry summarizes the statewide rule for most private rentals and links to the law. City or county rules, subsidized housing, and your lease can change the answer. This is general information, not legal advice.
U.S. territories are not included. For Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, see each territory’s resource page and contact local legal aid.
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