Updated for 2026
Security Deposit Laws by State: Complete 2026 Guide
Security deposit laws vary dramatically by state. Whether you're a landlord collecting a deposit or a tenant trying to get yours back, understanding your state's specific rules is essential. This guide covers deposit limits, return deadlines, and dispute resolution for all 50 states.
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Deposit Limits
Maximum amounts landlords can collect as security deposit
Return Deadlines
How long landlords have to return deposits after move-out
Interest Requirements
States requiring landlords to pay interest on deposits
Penalties
What landlords owe for wrongful withholding
Security Deposit Laws by State
| State | Max Deposit | Return Deadline | Interest? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL Alabama | 1 month rent (extra allowed for pets, alterations or added liability risk) | 60 days | No | Details |
| AK Alaska | 2 months rent | 14 days (proper notice of termination given) / 30 days (no notice, or a deduction for damage) | No | Details |
| AZ Arizona | 1.5 months rent | 14 business days | No | Details |
| AR Arkansas | 2 months rent | 60 days | Not confirmed | Details |
| CA California | 1 month rent (two months for certain small landlords, Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5(c)) | 21 days | No | Details |
| CO Colorado | 2 months rent | 30 days (or up to 60 if the lease says so) | No | Details |
| CT Connecticut | 2 months rent | 21 days (or 15 days after a written forwarding address, if later) | Yes | Details |
| DE Delaware | 1 month rent | 20 days | No | Details |
| FL Florida | No limit | 15 days (no claim); claim notice within 30 days | No | Details |
| GA Georgia | 2 months rent (leases signed or renewed from July 1, 2024) | 30 days | Not confirmed | Details |
| HI Hawaii | 1 month rent | 14 days | No | Details |
| ID Idaho | No limit | 21 days (or up to 30 if the lease says so) | No | Details |
| IL Illinois | No limit | 45 days (itemized damage statement due within 30) | Yes | Details |
| IN Indiana | No limit | 45 days | No | Details |
| IA Iowa | 2 months rent | 30 days | No | Details |
| KS Kansas | 1 month rent (1.5 months if furnished) | 30 days | No | Details |
| KY Kentucky | No limit | No fixed deadline in state law (KRS 383.580) | No | Details |
| LA Louisiana | No limit | 1 month (itemized statement up to 15 days later if anything is kept) | No | Details |
| ME Maine | 2 months rent | 30 days (written rental agreement) / 21 days (tenancy at will) | No | Details |
| MD Maryland | 1 month rent (2 months only in a narrow utility-assistance case) | 45 days | Yes | Details |
| MA Massachusetts | 1 month rent | 30 days | Yes | Details |
| MI Michigan | 1.5 months rent | 30 days | No | Details |
| MN Minnesota | No limit | 21 days | Yes | Details |
| MS Mississippi | No limit | 45 days | No | Details |
| MO Missouri | 2 months rent | 30 days | No | Details |
| MT Montana | No limit | 10 days (no deductions) / 30 days (with deductions for rent, damage or cleaning) | No | Details |
| NE Nebraska | 1 month rent (plus a pet deposit of up to a quarter of a month) | 14 days | No | Details |
| NV Nevada | 3 months rent | 30 days | No | Details |
| NH New Hampshire | 1 month rent (or $100, whichever is greater) | 30 days | Yes | Details |
| NJ New Jersey | 1.5 months rent | 30 days | Yes | Details |
| NM New Mexico | 1 month rent (lease under one year; no fixed limit for an annual lease) | 30 days | No | Details |
| NY New York | 1 month rent | 14 days | Yes | Details |
| NC North Carolina | 2 months rent (1.5 months for month-to-month, 2 weeks for week-to-week) | 30 days | No | Details |
| ND North Dakota | 1 month rent (up to 2 months from a tenant with a felony conviction or a judgment for breaking a previous lease) | 30 days | Yes | Details |
| OH Ohio | No limit | 30 days | Yes | Details |
| OK Oklahoma | No limit | 45 days | No | Details |
| OR Oregon | No limit | 31 days | No | Details |
| PA Pennsylvania | 2 months rent (first year of a lease; 1 month after) | 30 days | Yes | Details |
| RI Rhode Island | 1 month rent | 20 days | No | Details |
| SC South Carolina | No limit | 30 days | No | Details |
| SD South Dakota | 1 month rent | 21 days (itemized accounting within 45 days if the tenant asks) | No | Details |
| TN Tennessee | No limit | No fixed deadline confirmed (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301) | Not confirmed | Details |
| TX Texas | No limit | 30 days | No | Details |
| UT Utah | No limit | 30 days | No | Details |
| VT Vermont | No limit | 14 days | No | Details |
| VA Virginia | 2 months rent | 45 days | No | Details |
| WA Washington | No limit | 30 days | No | Details |
| WV West Virginia | No limit | 60 days | No | Details |
| WI Wisconsin | No limit | 21 days | No | Details |
| WY Wyoming | No limit | 30 days (or 15 days after the renter gives a new mailing address, if later); 30 days longer if there is damage | No | Details |
What CAN Be Deducted
- Unpaid rent: Any back rent owed at move-out
- Damage beyond wear: Holes in walls, stains, broken fixtures
- Cleaning costs: If unit left dirtier than move-in condition
- Unpaid utilities: If tenant responsible per lease
- Lease break fees: If specified in lease and allowed by law
What CANNOT Be Deducted
- Normal wear and tear: Faded paint, worn carpet, minor scuffs
- Pre-existing damage: Issues present at move-in
- Improvements: Painting, new appliances, upgrades
- Routine maintenance: HVAC servicing, pest control
- Finding new tenant: Advertising, showing costs
Need a Security Deposit Receipt or Dispute Letter?
Create security deposit documents from guided forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Return deadlines vary by state, ranging from 14 days (New York, Hawaii, Vermont) to 60 days (Alabama, West Virginia). Most states require 30 days. The landlord must also provide an itemized list of any deductions. Check your state's specific deadline above.
Normal wear and tear includes minor scuffs on walls, worn carpet in traffic areas, faded paint from sunlight, and small nail holes. Damage includes large holes in walls, stained or burned carpet, broken fixtures, and unauthorized alterations. Landlords cannot deduct for normal wear and tear.
First, send a formal demand letter via certified mail. If the landlord doesn't respond, you can file a claim in small claims court. Many states award tenants 2-3x the deposit if the landlord acted in bad faith. Keep all documentation including your move-in/move-out inspection reports, photos, and communication.
Only some states require interest. States with interest requirements include: Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Check your specific state's laws for interest rate requirements and payment schedules.