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Security Deposit Laws in All 50 States: Deadlines and Penalties
The deadline to return a security deposit, the penalty for wrongly keeping it and the statute for every state and D.C., in one table.
1. Your state & dates
2. The deposit
What happened?
3. Letter details
✉️ 4. Your demand letter
Send it by certified mail (return receipt) and by email or text. Keep a copy, your lease, move-out photos and receipts.
🧭 If they don't pay
- Wait until the date in your letter. Many landlords pay once they see the law and the penalty.
- File in small claims court in the county where the rental is. Filing fees are usually $30–$100 and you don't need a lawyer.
- Bring the lease, move-in/move-out photos or video, this letter with the certified-mail receipt, and any messages.
- Ask for the deposit plus the state penalty. You can also complain to your state attorney general's consumer office.
General information and a template, not legal advice. Deadlines can start from move-out or from when the landlord gets your forwarding address; check your state's statute. 🔒 Everything stays on your device.
✅ Rules last checked:
📚 Official sources: State attorneys general (NAAG)
We build every tool from the official rules and re-check them when they change. Always confirm with the official source before you rely on a result.
🛠️ Spotted a mistake or an out-of-date rule? Tell us
Every state in one table
Deadlines run from 14 to 60 days, and 25 states use 30 days. If your landlord misses the deadline or deducts for normal wear and tear, use the tool above to write a demand letter that cites your state's law.
| State | Deadline | Penalty for wrongful withholding | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60 days | Double the original deposit | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 |
| Alaska | 14 days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
| Arizona | 14 business days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld, and the landlord loses the right to keep any of it | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 |
| Arkansas | 60 days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees | Ark. Code § 18-16-305 |
| California | 21 days | Bad faith: up to 2× the deposit, plus actual damages | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 |
| Colorado | 30 days | Willful: up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus fees and costs | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 |
| Connecticut | 21 days | Up to 2× the deposit, plus attorney's fees | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 |
| Delaware | 20 days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld; the landlord loses the right to keep any of it | Del. Code tit. 25, § 5514 |
| District of Columbia | 45 days | Bad faith: up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld | D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 |
| Florida | 15 days | The landlord loses the right to make any deductions (must return the full deposit) | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 |
| Georgia | 30 days | Bad faith: up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees | Ga. Code § 44-7-34 |
| Hawaii | 14 days | Bad faith: up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus fees and costs | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 |
| Idaho | 21 days | Up to 3× damages, plus costs and fees; the landlord loses the right to keep any of it | Idaho Code § 6-321 |
| Illinois | 45 days | 2× the deposit, plus court costs and attorney's fees (buildings with 5+ units) | 765 ILCS 710/1 |
| Indiana | 45 days | Full deposit plus reasonable attorney's fees if no itemized list was sent | Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 |
| Iowa | 30 days | Bad faith: up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld; the landlord loses the right to keep any of it | Iowa Code § 562A.12 |
| Kansas | 30 days | 1.5× the amount wrongfully withheld | Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 |
| Kentucky | 30 days | The landlord loses the right to keep any of it; bad faith may bring double damages plus fees | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580 |
| Louisiana | 30 days | Willful failure: the greater of $300 or 2× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus fees | La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 |
| Maine | 30 days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus fees and costs | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 6033 |
| Maryland | 45 days | Up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees | Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | 3× the deposit (no bad faith needed), plus interest, costs and fees | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B |
| Michigan | 30 days | 2× the amount retained, plus attorney's fees and costs | Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.613 |
| Minnesota | 21 days | 2× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus interest; bad faith adds up to $500 | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 |
| Mississippi | 45 days | The amount wrongfully withheld plus up to $200 for bad faith | Miss. Code § 89-8-21 |
| Missouri | 30 days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 |
| Montana | 30 days | The landlord loses the right to keep any part of the deposit | Mont. Code § 70-25-202 |
| Nebraska | 14 days | Loses the right to keep any of it; willful bad faith adds up to the lesser of one month's rent or 2× the deposit | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 |
| Nevada | 30 days | Bad faith: the deposit plus up to one more deposit amount | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 |
| New Hampshire | 30 days | 2× the deposit, plus attorney's fees | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:7 |
| New Jersey | 30 days | 2× the amount due (mandatory), plus costs and attorney's fees | N.J. Stat. § 46:8-21.1 |
| New Mexico | 30 days | Loses the right to keep any of it; bad faith adds a $250 penalty, plus costs and fees | N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 |
| New York | 14 days | The landlord loses the right to keep any of it; willful violation up to 2× the deposit | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 |
| North Carolina | 30 days | Willful failure: the landlord loses the right to keep any of it, plus attorney's fees | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 |
| North Dakota | 30 days | Up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 |
| Ohio | 30 days | The amount withheld plus an equal amount in damages (2×), plus attorney's fees | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 |
| Oklahoma | 45 days | Loses the right to keep any of it; up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld | Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115 |
| Oregon | 31 days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300 |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days | Loses the right to keep any of it; 2× the amount due | 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.512 |
| Rhode Island | 20 days | Up to 2× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 |
| South Carolina | 30 days | Willful: up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 |
| South Dakota | 14 days | Loses the right to keep any of it; bad faith adds up to $200 | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24 |
| Tennessee | 30 days | Actual damages plus attorney's fees | Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 |
| Texas | 30 days | Bad faith: $100 plus 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103 |
| Utah | 30 days | Full deposit plus a $100 civil penalty, plus costs and fees | Utah Code § 57-17-3 |
| Vermont | 14 days | Willful: 2× the deposit, plus attorney's fees | Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4461 |
| Virginia | 45 days | Actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 |
| Washington | 30 days | Intentional refusal: up to 2× the deposit, plus attorney's fees | Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 |
| West Virginia | 60 days | The deposit plus 1.5× the amount wrongfully withheld | W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2 |
| Wisconsin | 21 days | 2× the amount wrongfully withheld, plus fees and costs | Wis. Stat. § 704.28 |
| Wyoming | 30 days | The landlord loses the right to keep any part, plus court costs | Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208 |
Guides
Related tools
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?+
It depends on the state: from 14 days (e.g. New York, Hawaii, Nebraska, Vermont, Arizona's 14 business days) to 60 days (Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia). Most states use 30 days. Pick your state in the tool to see its exact rule.
Can a landlord deduct for normal wear and tear?+
No. In every state, normal wear and tear (faded paint, small nail holes, worn carpet from normal use) can't be deducted. Landlords can deduct unpaid rent and damage beyond normal use.
What if my landlord ignores the demand letter?+
File in small claims court. It's cheap, quick and you don't need a lawyer. Many states let you recover 2× or 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, and the letter shows the judge you tried to settle first.
Security deposit laws by state
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