💰 Security Deposit Laws by State
Complete guide to deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord requirements across all 50 states plus Washington D.C.
📋 51 Jurisdictions
⏰ Return Deadlines
💵 Deposit Limits
📅
Last reviewed: January
🗺️
51
Jurisdictions
💵
1-3x
Deposit Range
⏰
14-60
Days to Return
⚠️
2-3x
Penalty Risk
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Quick Reference Chart
Compare deposit limits and return deadlines at a glance
| State | Max Deposit | Return Deadline | Interest Req? | Itemization? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏈 Alabama | 1 month | 60 days | No | Yes |
| 🐻 Alaska | 2 months | 14 days (30 if stated) | No | Yes |
| 🌵 Arizona | 1.5 months | 14 days | No | Yes |
| 💎 Arkansas | 2 months | 60 days | No | Yes |
| 🌴 California | 1 month (unfurn) / 2 mo (furn) | 21 days | No | Yes |
| 🏔️ Colorado | No limit | 30 days (60 if lease) | No | Yes |
| 🍂 Connecticut | 2 months | 30 days (15 if >62) | Yes | Yes |
| 🏛️ Delaware | 1 month | 20 days | No | Yes |
| 🏛️ Washington D.C. | 1 month | 45 days | Yes | Yes |
| 🌴 Florida | No limit | 15-30 days | Optional | Yes |
| 🍑 Georgia | No limit | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🌺 Hawaii | 1 month | 14 days | No | Yes |
| 🥔 Idaho | No limit | 21 days (30 if lease) | No | Yes |
| 🌆 Illinois | No limit | 30-45 days | Yes (Chicago) | Yes |
| 🏎️ Indiana | No limit | 45 days | No | Yes |
| 🌽 Iowa | 2 months | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🌻 Kansas | 1 month (unfurn) / 1.5 mo (furn) | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🐴 Kentucky | No limit | 30-60 days | No | Yes |
| ⚜️ Louisiana | No limit | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🦞 Maine | 2 months | 30 days (21 if abandoned) | No | Yes |
| 🦀 Maryland | 2 months | 45 days | Yes (some) | Yes |
| 🏛️ Massachusetts | 1 month | 30 days | Yes | Yes |
| 🚗 Michigan | 1.5 months | 30 days | No | Yes |
| ❄️ Minnesota | No limit | 21 days | Yes | Yes |
| 🌸 Mississippi | No limit | 45 days | No | No |
| 🌉 Missouri | 2 months | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🦌 Montana | No limit | 30 days (10 if abandoned) | No | Yes |
| 🌾 Nebraska | 1 month (no pets) | 14 days | No | Yes |
| 🎰 Nevada | 3 months | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🍁 New Hampshire | 1 month (or $100) | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🏖️ New Jersey | 1.5 months | 30 days | Yes | Yes |
| 🌵 New Mexico | 1 month | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🗽 New York | 1 month | 14 days | Yes (some) | Yes |
| 🏔️ North Carolina | 2 months | 30 days | Yes (if trust) | Yes |
| 🌾 North Dakota | 1 month | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🌰 Ohio | No limit | 30 days | Yes (if >$50/6mo) | Yes |
| 🤠 Oklahoma | No limit | 45 days | No | Yes |
| 🌲 Oregon | No limit | 31 days | No | Yes |
| 🔔 Pennsylvania | 2 months (1st yr) | 30 days | Yes (if >2 yrs) | Yes |
| ⚓ Rhode Island | 1 month | 20 days | No | Yes |
| 🌴 South Carolina | No limit | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🏔️ South Dakota | 1 month | 14 days (45 if damage) | No | Yes |
| 🎸 Tennessee | No limit | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🤠 Texas | No limit | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🏜️ Utah | No limit | 30 days | No | Yes |
| 🍁 Vermont | No limit | 14 days | No | Yes |
| 🏛️ Virginia | 2 months | 45 days | No | Yes |
| 🌲 Washington | No limit | 21 days | No | Yes |
| ⛰️ West Virginia | No limit | 60 days | No | No |
| 🧀 Wisconsin | No limit | 21 days | No | Yes |
| 🦬 Wyoming | No limit | 30 days (15 if abandoned) | No | Yes |
State-by-State Details
Key deposit rules for every state at a glance
🏈Alabama
Limit: 1 month
Return: 60 days
Interest: No
🐻Alaska
Limit: 2 months
Return: 14 days
Interest: No
🌵Arizona
Limit: 1.5 months
Return: 14 days
Interest: No
💎Arkansas
Limit: 2 months
Return: 60 days
Interest: No
🌴California
Limit: 1-2 months
Return: 21 days
Interest: No
🏔️Colorado
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🍂Connecticut
Limit: 2 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: Yes
🏛️Delaware
Limit: 1 month
Return: 20 days
Interest: No
🏛️Washington D.C.
Limit: 1 month
Return: 45 days
Interest: Yes
🌴Florida
Limit: No limit
Return: 15-30 days
Interest: Optional
🍑Georgia
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🌺Hawaii
Limit: 1 month
Return: 14 days
Interest: No
🥔Idaho
Limit: No limit
Return: 21 days
Interest: No
🌆Illinois
Limit: No limit
Return: 30-45 days
Interest: Yes*
🏎️Indiana
Limit: No limit
Return: 45 days
Interest: No
🌽Iowa
Limit: 2 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🌻Kansas
Limit: 1-1.5 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🐴Kentucky
Limit: No limit
Return: 30-60 days
Interest: No
⚜️Louisiana
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🦞Maine
Limit: 2 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🦀Maryland
Limit: 2 months
Return: 45 days
Interest: Yes*
🏛️Massachusetts
Limit: 1 month
Return: 30 days
Interest: Yes
🚗Michigan
Limit: 1.5 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
❄️Minnesota
Limit: No limit
Return: 21 days
Interest: Yes
🌸Mississippi
Limit: No limit
Return: 45 days
Interest: No
🌉Missouri
Limit: 2 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🦌Montana
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🌾Nebraska
Limit: 1 month
Return: 14 days
Interest: No
🎰Nevada
Limit: 3 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🍁New Hampshire
Limit: 1 month/$100
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🏖️New Jersey
Limit: 1.5 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: Yes
🌵New Mexico
Limit: 1 month
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🗽New York
Limit: 1 month
Return: 14 days
Interest: Yes*
🏔️North Carolina
Limit: 2 months
Return: 30 days
Interest: Yes*
🌾North Dakota
Limit: 1 month
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🌰Ohio
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: Yes*
🤠Oklahoma
Limit: No limit
Return: 45 days
Interest: No
🌲Oregon
Limit: No limit
Return: 31 days
Interest: No
🔔Pennsylvania
Limit: 2 mo (1st yr)
Return: 30 days
Interest: Yes*
⚓Rhode Island
Limit: 1 month
Return: 20 days
Interest: No
🌴South Carolina
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🏔️South Dakota
Limit: 1 month
Return: 14 days
Interest: No
🎸Tennessee
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🤠Texas
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🏜️Utah
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
🍁Vermont
Limit: No limit
Return: 14 days
Interest: No
🏛️Virginia
Limit: 2 months
Return: 45 days
Interest: No
🌲Washington
Limit: No limit
Return: 21 days
Interest: No
⛰️West Virginia
Limit: No limit
Return: 60 days
Interest: No
🧀Wisconsin
Limit: No limit
Return: 21 days
Interest: No
🦬Wyoming
Limit: No limit
Return: 30 days
Interest: No
⚠️ Penalties for Violations Can Be Severe
Many states impose penalties of 2x or 3x the deposit amount if landlords fail to return deposits on time or don’t provide proper itemization. Some states also award attorney’s fees to tenants who successfully sue.
To avoid costly penalties: return deposits on time, always itemize deductions, and document property condition at move-in and move-out.
📋 Get Our Complete Security Deposit Guide
Learn best practices for collecting, holding, and returning deposits—plus screening tips to find tenants who won’t damage your property.
Universal Requirements
Rules that apply in most states
✅ Best Practices for All States
- Written receipts: Always provide a receipt when collecting the deposit
- Separate account: Many states require deposits be held in a separate bank account
- Move-in inspection: Document property condition with photos and a signed checklist
- Move-out inspection: Conduct a walkthrough and document any damage
- Itemized statement: Provide a written list of all deductions with receipts
- Timely return: Return the balance within your state’s deadline (see chart above)
Frequently Asked Questions
📌 What can landlords deduct from security deposits?
Generally: unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, cleaning costs to restore the unit to move-in condition, and costs specified in the lease. You cannot deduct for normal wear and tear (faded paint, worn carpet, etc.).
📌 What’s the difference between “damage” and “normal wear and tear”?
Damage is caused by negligence, abuse, or accidents (holes in walls, stains, burns, broken fixtures). Wear and tear is gradual deterioration from normal use (minor scuffs, carpet traffic patterns, faded paint).
📌 What happens if I miss the return deadline?
Penalties vary by state but can include: forfeiting the right to make deductions, owing the tenant 2-3x the deposit amount, and being liable for the tenant’s attorney’s fees if they sue.
📌 Can I charge a non-refundable deposit?
In most states, if you call it a “deposit,” it must be refundable. You may be able to charge non-refundable “fees” (like pet fees or cleaning fees) in some states, but these must be clearly labeled as non-refundable.
Related Resources
📋
Deposit & Screening Tips
Complete best practices guide
📝
Deposit Itemization Form
Free fillable PDF
🏠
Move-In Checklist
Document condition
📋
Move-Out Checklist
Document damages
⚖️
Eviction Laws by State
50-state guide
📑
State Lease Agreements
Free fillable PDFs
🔍
Tenant Screening Guide
Complete how-to
💰
Cost of Eviction
State-by-state data
🔍 Protect Your Deposit with Better Screening
The best way to protect your security deposit is to rent to responsible tenants. Screen for eviction history, credit problems, and rental references before signing a lease.
⚖️ Legal Disclaimer
This guide provides general information about security deposit laws as of . Laws change frequently and local ordinances may impose additional requirements. This is not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for specific guidance in your state.
