50-State Surveys › Security Deposit Return Deadlines & Deductions by State
Security Deposit Return Deadlines & Deductions by State
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit, and what can they deduct?
51 of 51 jurisdictions verified
every entry statute-checked, oldest 2026-07-06
What this survey covers
When a tenant moves out, state law sets the clock running on getting a security deposit back. Every state answers the same handful of questions differently: how many days the landlord has, whether a written itemized statement of deductions is required, what the landlord can actually deduct for, whether there's a cap on the deposit in the first place, whether the tenant is owed interest on the money the landlord held, and what the tenant can recover if the landlord blows the deadline or acts in bad faith.
This survey answers one question, state by state: how long does a landlord have to return a security deposit, and what can they deduct? Each state's page states the rule in plain English, quotes the statute it comes from, and shows the date we last verified the statutory text. This page covers STATE law only — some cities and counties add their own, stricter deposit rules on top of it, which this survey doesn't track.
How to read the table
Each column is one feature of the state's security deposit rule, answered the same way for every state, with the statutory citation compressed into the cell. Where a state's deadline is actually a multi-step process rather than a single number (a notice period followed by an objection window, for example), the cell states the real shape rather than flattening it into one misleading figure. Click a state for the full plain-English page: the rule dimension by dimension, the practical traps people actually hit, and the verbatim statutory text with official source links.
Patterns across all 51 jurisdictions
A "later of" or dual-trigger deadline is more common than a single flat number. A genuine majority of states gate the return deadline on more than one event — most often the later of lease termination and the tenant's forwarding address (WY, IA, RI, and others), or the later of termination and delivery of possession (VA, several others) — rather than counting from move-out alone. A smaller cluster (FL, MI, MD, KS) splits the deadline into a true two-track process: an initial window to notify of an intended withholding, followed by a SEPARATE, later window for the actual itemized statement and balance (DC's 45-day/30-day structure is the clearest example). Flattening either shape into one number is the single most common way a secondary source — or a careless cell — gets this dimension wrong.
No statutory cap is a real, common answer, not a research gap. Roughly a third of the 51 jurisdictions (TX, GA, OH, IL, WA, MN, SC, NH, WV, MT, VT, WY, and others) impose no cap at all on the deposit amount. Several of these are also where secondary sources most often fabricate a cap that isn't there — Hemlane alone invented a plausible-sounding cap for at least seven different no-cap states this build (OR, OK, NV, RI, ME, SD, VT) — making an independent statute check especially important precisely where the honest answer is "no limit."
Mandatory interest is the minority position, and it's almost never unconditional. Most states require no interest at all. Where a state does require it (NY, MD, ND, NJ, MN, and a handful of others), the duty is nearly always conditional — on a minimum tenancy length (commonly 12 months: DC, NY), on the landlord electing an interest-bearing account (FL), or on a building-size threshold (IL). An affirmatively-stated "no interest" or "without interest" clause (WY, OK, TX) is common enough that its absence in a state's text shouldn't be read as silence — check whether the statute addresses the question at all before concluding it's unclear.
The penalty for noncompliance sorts into a few recurring shapes, and states increasingly stack more than one. A bare, no-fault forfeiture of the ENTIRE withholding right for a missed deadline (VT, NY, HI, and many others) is the most common single trigger, often stacked with a SEPARATE bad-faith or willful-violation multiplier (2x is typical; NC, FL, and a few others use a rebuttable-presumption shape instead of a hard forfeiture — DC's "prima facie evidence" language shifts the burden without an automatic loss). A genuinely thin remedy — recover the deposit and court costs only, no multiplier at all — is rarer but real (WY is the clearest example, and its penalty provision cuts both ways: a tenant who sues unreasonably can be ordered to pay the LANDLORD's costs instead).
Escrow/segregation requirements track roughly with mandatory-interest states, but not perfectly. A state that requires interest almost always also requires a separate or insured account to hold the deposit (DC, NY, ND). But a few require escrow without requiring interest (FL's landlord- elected interest, AK's flat trust-account duty with no interest owed at all), showing the two dimensions are legally independent even though they correlate in practice.
Get this answered for your state
This survey compares every state side by side. Ezel applies your state's law to your specific situation and answers with citations to the statutes.
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| State | Governing law | Deadline to return the deposit | Itemized statement required? | What can be deducted | Maximum deposit amount | Interest on the deposit? | Penalty for a late/bad-faith withholding | Separate account or bond required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama verified 2026-07-06 | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 (Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Title 35, Ch. 9A) |
60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession |
Yes — a written itemized list of amounts withheld, mailed with the deposit balance (if any) within the same 60-day period |
Accrued (unpaid) rent, plus damages the landlord suffered from the tenant's noncompliance with the tenant's statutory maintenance duties — chiefly not deliberately or negligently destroying, defacing, damaging, or impairing the unit, and keeping it reasonably clean and code-compliant. The statute never uses the phrase 'normal wear and tear'; the standard is the tenant's own statutory duty of care. |
1 month's periodic rent, except a landlord may charge more for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks |
No state-mandated interest |
If the landlord fails to mail a timely refund or itemized accounting within the 60-day period, the landlord owes the tenant double the amount of the original deposit — an automatic statutory penalty, no bad-faith showing required |
No segregated account or bond required |
| Alaska verified 2026-07-06 | AS 34.03.070 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — Security deposits and prepaid rent) |
Two tracks. If the tenant gave the landlord proper notice under AS 34.03.290, the landlord must mail the refund/notice within 14 days after the tenancy is terminated and possession is delivered. If the tenant didn't give that notice, the landlord has 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, or the landlord learning the unit is abandoned. EITHER way, if the landlord is deducting for damage under this section, the deadline is 30 days, not 14. |
Yes — accrued rent and damages must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice mailed to the tenant's last known address, within the applicable 14- or 30-day deadline, together with the amount due the tenant |
Accrued (unpaid) rent, and damages meaning deterioration of the premises and their contents caused by the tenant's noncompliance with the tenant's maintenance duties. Excluded from "damages": deterioration from normal wear and tear, and deterioration caused by the LANDLORD's own failure to prepare for expected conditions or to meet the landlord's own statutory obligations. |
Combined prepaid rent plus security deposit may not exceed two months' periodic rent — UNLESS the rental unit's rent exceeds $2,000 a month, in which case this cap doesn't apply at all. A separate pet security deposit is allowed on top, capped at one additional month's rent, accounted for separately and usable only for pet-related damage. |
No interest required |
If the landlord WILLFULLY fails to comply with the return/itemization duty, the tenant may recover up to twice the actual amount wrongfully withheld — a bad-faith-style trigger tied to willfulness, not an automatic penalty for any missed deadline |
Yes — money paid as prepaid rent or a security deposit must be promptly deposited, wherever practicable, in a trust account at a bank, savings and loan association, or licensed escrow agent. Multiple tenants' funds may be commingled in one account, but the landlord must account for each tenant's money separately and may not use one tenant's funds to refund another tenant's deposit, pay another tenant's rent, or cover another tenant's damages. |
| Arizona verified 2026-07-06 | A.R.S. § 33-1321 (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
14 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and other legal holidays, running from whichever happens LAST of three triggers: termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession by the tenant, and demand by the tenant for the deposit |
Yes — a written, itemized list of all deductions together with any amount due, mailed by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address (unless the tenant has arranged otherwise in writing) within the 14-day window. If the tenant doesn't dispute the itemization within 60 days after it's mailed, it becomes final and any further tenant claims are waived. |
All accrued rent; any charges the signed lease itself specifies; and damages the landlord suffered because of the tenant's noncompliance with § 33-1341 (the tenant's duty not to deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, or impair the premises), subject to the landlord's duty to mitigate. Arizona's statute never uses the phrase "normal wear and tear" — it grounds recoverable damage in the tenant's own deliberate or negligent misconduct, so ordinary deterioration from normal use isn't chargeable under the statute's own terms. |
One and one-half month's rent, for security "however denominated" (including any prepaid rent counted as security). A tenant may voluntarily pay more in advance, but a landlord can't demand or receive more. |
No. Nothing in § 33-1321 requires a landlord to pay or credit interest on a held deposit. |
If the landlord fails to comply with the 14-day itemization/payment requirement, the tenant may recover the property and money due, plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld — in effect, up to three times the wrongfully withheld amount when the whole deposit was improperly kept. This recovery is triggered by simple noncompliance with the deadline itself; the statute's text doesn't require a separate showing of bad faith. |
No. Arizona's statute doesn't require the deposit to be held in a separate account, trust account, or bond. During the tenancy, a landlord may use a refundable deposit consistent with any property management agreement, but must refund it at termination under this section. |
| Arkansas verified 2026-07-06 | Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-301 to -306 (Residential Security Deposit Act) |
60 days after BOTH termination of the tenancy AND delivery of possession by the tenant |
Yes, if any amount is withheld — a written itemized notice of deductions delivered with the remaining balance inside the same 60 days |
Accrued unpaid rent; damages the landlord suffered from the tenant's noncompliance with the rental agreement. The statute's own text never uses the phrase 'wear and tear' — that description comes only from secondary sources paraphrasing this clause. |
2 months' periodic rent — but the entire subchapter (cap, deadline, and penalty) doesn't apply at all to a landlord who owns 5 or fewer dwelling units, unless a third party manages the unit or collects rent for a fee |
No interest required |
Recovery of the property/money due, damages equal to 2x the amount wrongfully withheld, costs, and reasonable attorney fees. If the landlord proves the noncompliance was an error despite reasonably designed procedures, or a good-faith dispute over the amount due, liability is limited to costs and the amount itself — no doubling, no fees. |
None — no segregated account, interest-bearing account, or bond required |
| California verified 2026-07-06 | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 |
21 calendar days after the tenant vacates |
Yes — written itemized statement within the same 21 days; receipts required if deductions exceed $125 |
Unpaid rent; damage beyond normal wear and tear; cleaning to restore move-in cleanliness; future furnishing defaults if the lease authorizes it. Ordinary wear and tear and pre-existing damage cannot be deducted. |
1 month's rent for most landlords; 2 months' rent for a small landlord (natural person/all-natural-person LLC owning 2 or fewer rental properties totaling 4 or fewer units) |
No state-mandated interest |
Bad-faith retention: up to 2x the deposit plus actual damages. Failure to comply with the itemized-statement/return rule in bad faith: forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit. |
No segregated account or bond required; the tenant's claim to the deposit is simply prior to any claim of the landlord's creditors |
| Colorado verified 2026-07-07 | C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102, -102.5, -103 (Title 38, Art. 12, Part 1), §§ 102–103 as amended by 2025 HB 25-1249, effective 2026-01-01 |
30 days after lease termination or surrender of the premises, whichever occurs last (up to 60 days if the written lease specifies a longer period) |
Yes — a written statement of exact reasons whenever any portion is retained, delivered with the deadline; supporting documentation (photos, invoices, receipts, estimates) required only if the tenant makes a written request within 14 days |
Unpaid rent, unpaid utility charges, other lawful charges listed in the lease, and necessary repairs for damage beyond normal wear and tear that didn't preexist the tenancy. Carpet may be charged only for substantial, irreparable damage (never for carpet 10+ years old at move-in); paint only for substantial damage across the whole unit's interior. Ordinary wear and tear, ordinary uncleanliness, and preexisting conditions are never deductible. |
2 months' rent, with no exception for a small landlord; a separate rule caps any additional pet deposit at $300 |
No state-mandated interest |
Missing the deadline or statement requirement, or otherwise wrongfully withholding, forfeits the landlord's right to keep any portion. A retained amount is presumed a bad-faith wrongful withholding if it's 125% or more of actual damages. If the landlord doesn't pay the wrongfully withheld amount within 7 days of the tenant's written demand, the tenant can recover 3x that amount plus attorney fees and court costs; a good-faith landlord found to have merely overestimated damages owes only the excess plus court costs, not treble damages. |
No segregated account, trust account, or bond required |
| Connecticut verified 2026-07-06 | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 |
21 days after the tenancy terminates, or 15 days after the tenant gives written notice of a forwarding address, whichever is LATER |
Yes, if the landlord keeps any part of the deposit — a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of the damages, delivered with the balance and any accrued interest by the same deadline |
The value of damages from the tenant's failure to meet the tenant's obligations under the lease and the landlord-tenant act — including unpaid rent or utilities and an unpaid lock-change cost. The statute never uses the phrase 'normal wear and tear' |
2 months' rent for a tenant under 62; 1 month's rent for a tenant 62 or older. A landlord who already collected more than one month's rent from a tenant who later turns 62 must refund the excess on request |
Yes — mandatory annual interest at a rate set each year by the state Banking Commissioner's published 'deposit index,' paid on the tenancy's anniversary or credited toward rent. A tenant forfeits that month's interest for paying rent more than 10 days late unless the lease instead imposes a separate late fee |
Missing the 21-/15-day deadline makes the landlord liable for twice the deposit amount; if the ONLY violation is failing to pay the accrued interest, the penalty drops to $10 or twice the unpaid interest, whichever is greater. Separately, a landlord who knowingly and willfully withholds a deposit can face a state fine of up to $250 — a different penalty track, not money paid to the tenant |
Yes — the entire deposit must go into an escrow account at a financial institution located in Connecticut immediately upon receipt, used only for disbursing deposits/interest, retaining lawful deductions, or transferring to a successor landlord |
| Delaware verified 2026-07-06 | 25 Del. C. § 5514 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Code); § 5515 (surety bond alternative) |
20 days after the expiration or termination of the rental agreement — a single trigger tied to the lease ending, not gated on delivery of possession |
Yes — within the same 20 days, the landlord must give the tenant a written itemized list of damages to the premises and the estimated cost to repair each one; skipping it is treated as the landlord admitting no damages are owed. A tenant who doesn't object in writing within 10 days of receiving an itemized payment is deemed to agree with it. |
Actual damage beyond normal wear and tear that painting and ordinary cleaning can't fix; rent arrearage (including late charges and rent due for premature termination or abandonment); and reasonable renovating/re-renting expenses caused by the tenant's premature termination (capped at 1 month's rent for a termination under § 5314). |
1 month's rent once the rental agreement is for 1 year or more. For an undefined-term or month-to-month tenancy, no cap applies until the tenancy has actually lasted 1 year — at that point the landlord must immediately credit back any amount (deposit plus any surety bond) above 1 month's rent. Neither cap applies at all to a FURNISHED rental unit. A separate pet deposit, also capped at 1 month's rent, is allowed on top. |
No interest required |
Two independent tracks. Missing the 20-day remit deadline entitles the tenant to double the amount wrongfully withheld. Separately, failing to disclose the escrow account's location within 20 days of the tenant's written request, or failing to actually hold the deposit in a proper federally-insured account, forfeits the ENTIRE deposit to the tenant outright — and if the landlord then doesn't pay that forfeited amount within 20 days, the tenant is owed DOUBLE the full deposit. |
Yes — each deposit must sit in a dedicated escrow bank account at a federally-insured institution accepting deposits in Delaware, disclosed to the tenant, held for the tenant's benefit with priority over the landlord's other creditors even if commingled. A tenant may instead purchase a surety bond in lieu of some or all of the deposit. |
| District of Columbia verified 2026-07-06 | D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 (Security deposit) and 14 DCMR §§ 308-311 (Housing Regulations, Security Deposits) |
Two-step: within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either (1) return the deposit plus any interest due, or (2) notify the tenant in writing (personally or by certified mail) of intent to withhold. If the landlord chooses (2), it then has 30 more days after that notice to send the remaining balance plus interest and the itemized statement. |
Yes, but only if the landlord withholds any amount — the itemized statement of repairs/uses and their cost is due within the 30-day second-step deadline, not the initial 45 days |
Amounts 'properly incurred under the terms and conditions of the security deposit agreement' — i.e., whatever the lease's deposit terms specify, typically unpaid rent and damage. Expressly FORBIDDEN: withholding for the replacement value of items damaged by ordinary wear and tear, defined by statute as deterioration from a unit's intended use, including age-related breakage or malfunction (not negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse). |
One month's rent, charged only once per tenancy |
Yes, but only for a tenancy of 12 months or longer — interest accrues from the date paid at the 'passbook rate' then prevailing at the escrow-holding D.C. financial institution, reset every January 1 and July 1, and is due and payable at termination unless deducted under the withholding procedure |
A landlord who fails to meet the 45-day/30-day deadlines faces a rebuttable presumption (prima facie evidence) that the tenant is entitled to the FULL deposit back, including interest — the landlord can still contest this in a dispute. Separately, if the withholding itself was in bad faith, the tenant can recover treble the amount withheld (not just the presumption). |
Yes — the deposit must go into an interest-bearing escrow account held in trust at a financial institution located in D.C. and insured by a federal or state agency, used solely for holding tenant deposits. A landlord with more than one building may use a single escrow account for all of them. |
| Florida verified 2026-07-06 | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 |
15 days after termination if no claim is made; if the landlord intends to claim part of the deposit, a 30-day certified-mail notice of claim instead, followed by a 15-day tenant objection window and remittance of any balance within 30 days after the notice |
The certified-mail notice of claim must state the dollar amount and the reason; there's no separate 'itemized statement' step beyond that notice |
The statute doesn't list specific categories — the landlord states 'the reason' in the claim notice and the tenant can object; a court resolves disputes. (Florida's separate fee-in-lieu-of-deposit statute, § 83.491, expressly limits liability to damage 'beyond normal wear and tear,' but that phrase is not written into § 83.49 itself.) |
None — Florida sets no statutory maximum |
Only if the landlord elects to hold the deposit in an interest-bearing account or a bond: at least 75% of the account's own rate or 5% simple interest (landlord's choice), or a flat 5% simple interest if bonded. No interest is owed if held in a non-interest-bearing account. |
Missing the 30-day claim-notice deadline forfeits the landlord's right to claim any part of the deposit (though the landlord may still sue for damages separately after returning it). In litigation over the deposit, the prevailing party recovers court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. |
Yes — the landlord must choose one of three options: a separate non-interest-bearing account, a separate interest-bearing account, or a surety bond (capped at $50,000 per county, or $250,000 for a multi-county bond filed with the Secretary of State) |
| Georgia verified 2026-07-06 | O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 to 44-7-35 (Georgia's residential security deposit article) |
30 days after the landlord obtains possession following the statute's own move-out inspection under § 44-7-33(b) — not gated on any tenant demand letter |
Yes, if withholding anything — a written statement of the exact reasons for retention, including the § 44-7-33 damage list where the reason is property damage, delivered together with any balance due |
Unpaid rent and late fees, abandonment of the premises, unpaid utility charges, repair/cleaning work the tenant contracted with third parties, unpaid pet fees, and actual damages from the tenant's lease breach (landlord must attempt to mitigate). No deposit may be retained for ordinary wear and tear absent the tenant's negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse. |
None under state law |
No — the statute doesn't require interest on a held deposit |
3x the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees, unless the landlord proves by a preponderance of the evidence the withholding was unintentional and a bona fide error despite reasonably designed safeguards. Separately, missing the statute's list/statement deadlines forfeits the landlord's right to withhold anything or sue the tenant for damages at all. |
Yes — an escrow account, or a surety bond (up to $50,000) in lieu — but a natural-person landlord (with spouse/minor children) who owns 10 or fewer rental units and doesn't use third-party management is exempt from the escrow/bond and move-in/move-out list requirements. The 30-day return deadline and the wear-and-tear rule still apply to every landlord regardless of size. |
| Hawaii verified 2026-07-06 | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Code) |
14 days after the rental agreement terminates — not gated on a separate forwarding-address or damages-determination step. Mailed delivery is presumptively timely if postmarked before midnight of the 14th day. Any action to recover a wrongfully withheld deposit must be filed within 1 year of termination. |
Yes — written notice of any amount retained, with the particulars and supporting evidence (estimates, invoices, receipts), due by the same 14-day deadline unless the tenant is deemed to have wrongfully quit. Missing the deadline forfeits the landlord's right to keep ANY portion of the deposit. |
Unpaid rent; damage from the tenant's failure to keep up statutory tenant duties, or unreturned keys/fobs/openers/mailbox keys; cleaning needed to return the unit to its move-in condition; damage caused by a tenant who wrongfully quits; pet-caused damage if a pet deposit was collected; and unpaid utility charges the landlord billed and paid on the tenant's behalf. The statute never uses the phrase 'normal wear and tear' — deductions are simply limited to this closed list of purposes. |
One month's rent for the security deposit itself, plus a separate pet deposit of up to another month's rent if the tenant actually has a pet on the premises (not required, and not chargeable, for a disability assistance animal). No other money may be collected at lease signing besides first month's rent and these deposits. |
No interest required |
Two independent remedies. (1) Missing the 14-day notice/return deadline is an automatic, no-fault forfeiture of the landlord's entire right to retain any part of the deposit. (2) In a small-claims dispute over a retained deposit: wrongful AND willful retention lets the court award triple the amount wrongfully withheld plus cost of suit; wrongful but not willful retention gets just the amount plus cost of suit; a landlord who was entitled to retain the money gets that amount plus cost of suit. Neither side may be represented by an attorney in that action. |
No separate-account or bond requirement in the statute's text. The deposit must simply be 'held by the landlord for the tenant,' with the tenant's claim to it ranking ahead of the landlord's OTHER creditors — including a bankruptcy trustee — even if the deposit is commingled with the landlord's own funds. |
| Idaho verified 2026-07-06 | Idaho Code § 6-321 (deposits); § 6-320 (tenant's civil action for a landlord's noncompliance) |
21 days after surrender of the premises if the lease sets no other time; in any event, no later than 30 days after surrender — the lease may shorten or extend the default 21 days but never past the 30-day outer cap |
Yes, whenever any refund is for less than the full deposit — a signed statement itemizing the amounts retained, the purpose, and a detailed list of expenditures |
Only amounts necessary to cover the contingencies specified in the deposit arrangement (i.e., what the lease itself says the deposit is for); never normal wear and tear, which the statute defines as deterioration from intended use without negligence, carelessness, accident, misuse, or abuse |
No statutory cap |
No interest required |
No deposit-specific damages multiplier in the statute itself. A tenant may sue for the amount due under the general landlord-noncompliance statute after giving the landlord 3 days' written notice; Idaho's general punitive-damages statute additionally allows up to 3 times compensatory damages (or $250,000, whichever is greater) only on clear-and-convincing proof of oppressive, fraudulent, malicious, or outrageous conduct |
Only if a THIRD-PARTY manager (not the owner) handles the property — the deposit must then sit in a separate account at a federally insured institution, apart from the manager's operating account; owners, common-member managers, real estate licensees, and certain nonprofits are exempt from this requirement |
| Illinois verified 2026-07-06 | 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); interest via 765 ILCS 715 (Security Deposit Interest Act, buildings with 25+ units) |
If withholding for property damage: itemized statement + receipts due within 30 days of vacating (or of when possession ends, if later). If no statement is furnished, the full deposit is due within 45 days of vacating instead. |
Yes, for property-damage deductions — itemized statement with paid receipts (or estimates, followed by receipts within 30 more days) within 30 days; skipping it means the full deposit is due within 45 days instead |
The statute's itemization procedure covers property-damage deductions only; a written lease may also pre-set a dollar deduction for a specific component's repair/replacement, but that amount must cover damage beyond normal wear and tear. The statute doesn't set a parallel itemization procedure for withholding to cover unpaid rent. |
No cap under state law (Chicago's own ordinance caps at 1.5 months' rent, but that's a city rule outside this survey's state-law scope) |
Yes, but only for a building (or contiguous-parcel complex) of 25+ units, and only on money held more than 6 months — rate equals the passbook-savings rate at the largest Illinois commercial bank as of the prior December 31, paid annually within 30 days after each 12-month period |
2x the deposit due plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, on a court finding the landlord refused to give the itemized statement (or gave it in bad faith) and missed the return deadline. Separately, willfully failing to pay required interest makes the landlord liable for an amount equal to the full deposit plus court costs and attorney's fees (no doubling). |
No — state law doesn't require a separate account or bond (Chicago's RLTO requires a segregated, federally insured account locally, outside this survey's scope) |
| Indiana verified 2026-07-06 | Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 through § 32-31-3-16 (Security Deposits chapter) |
45 days after both the rental agreement terminates AND the tenant delivers possession — but the landlord isn't liable under the chapter until the tenant supplies a written mailing address for the notice |
Yes — a written, itemized list mailed within the 45 days, showing the estimated repair cost for each damaged item and the amounts/lease provision the landlord relies on, with a check or money order for any remaining balance enclosed |
Rent in arrearage and rent due for early termination; actual damage beyond ordinary wear and tear; unpaid utility or sewer charges the tenant owed under the lease; the last month's rent only if a written agreement says the deposit serves that purpose |
None |
No state-mandated interest |
No statutory multiplier. Missing the 45-day itemized-notice deadline is treated as an agreement that no damages are due, forfeiting the right to any deduction — the landlord then owes the tenant the full deposit plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. |
No segregated account or bond required |
| Iowa verified 2026-07-06 | Iowa Code § 562A.12 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law) |
30 days after BOTH tenancy termination AND the landlord's receipt of the tenant's mailing address/delivery instructions; if the tenant never provides an address, the deposit reverts to the landlord after 1 year |
Yes — written statement of the specific reason for withholding, due within the same 30-day window; must specify the nature of any damage claimed. Landlord bears the burden of proof. |
Unpaid rent or other funds due under the rental agreement; restoring the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; expenses to recover possession from a bad-faith holdover tenant |
2 months' rent |
Not required to be interest-bearing. If held in an interest-bearing account, interest earned during the tenancy's first 5 years belongs to the landlord, not the tenant; the statute is silent on interest after year 5. |
Missing the 30-day written-statement deadline forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion, regardless of fault. Bad-faith retention separately exposes the landlord to punitive damages up to 2x the monthly rent (not the deposit) plus actual damages. A court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action on the rental agreement. |
Yes — deposits must be held in a federally insured bank, savings and loan association, or credit union account, not commingled with the landlord's personal funds; may be a common trust account and may be interest-bearing |
| Kansas verified 2026-07-06 | K.S.A. § 58-2550 (Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq.) |
14 days after the landlord determines the amount of any deductions, but never later than 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, AND demand by the tenant. If the tenant never demands within 30 days of termination, the landlord must mail the balance due to the tenant's last known address. |
Yes, whenever the landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses, damages, or other charges (other than rent) — itemized in a written notice delivered to the tenant |
Accrued rent and damages from the tenant's noncompliance with the tenant's statutory duties (cleanliness, damage responsibility, reasonable use of facilities) and the rental agreement. The statute's own text never uses the phrase 'wear and tear.' |
1 month's rent for an unfurnished unit; up to 1.5 months' rent if the landlord's own furniture is included; an additional 0.5 month allowed if pets are permitted. Subsidized municipal housing authorities may use their own income-based schedule instead. |
No interest required |
Recovery of the deposit amount due, plus statutory damages equal to 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld, for failing to comply with the return/itemization deadline |
None — no separate account, interest-bearing account, or bond required |
| Kentucky verified 2026-07-06 | KRS 383.580 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) — in force only where a city, county, or urban-county government has adopted it under KRS 383.500; no state deposit statute exists elsewhere in Kentucky |
No fixed day-count deadline for the landlord to send the money. The landlord must notify the tenant of any refund due; if the tenant doesn't respond within 60 days of that notice, the landlord may keep it. If the tenant left owing rent and never asked for the deposit back, the landlord may apply it to the debt after 30 days |
Yes, in two steps — a signed move-in listing of existing damage and a signed move-out listing of damage with its estimated repair cost; the tenant must inspect and either sign or write a specific dissent to preserve a later claim |
Damage documented on the signed move-out listing; unpaid last month's rent can be covered from the deposit if the tenant never demands a refund. The statute doesn't use the phrase 'normal wear and tear' or list deduction categories the way most states do |
No cap — Kentucky's URLTA sets no maximum deposit amount |
No — the statute requires a separate account but not an interest-bearing one, and never mentions interest |
Automatic forfeiture of the landlord's right to keep any part of the deposit, but only if the landlord fails BOTH the separate-account rule and the move-in/move-out listing rules; no bad-faith damages multiplier. A tenant who sues can recover only the specific items they dissented to in writing on the move-out listing |
Yes — the deposit must be held in its own account at a bank or lending institution regulated by Kentucky or the federal government, with the tenant told the location and account number; the account need not be interest-bearing |
| Louisiana verified 2026-07-06 | La. R.S. § 9:3251 (return and itemization), § 9:3252 (penalty for willful noncompliance), § 9:3253 (costs and attorney's fees) |
1 month after the lease terminates — the statute's own trigger is termination of the lease, not a separately-timed 'delivery of possession' step |
Yes — if any portion is retained, a written itemized statement of the amount retained and the reasons, within the same 1-month period; the tenant must furnish the landlord a forwarding address |
Amounts reasonably necessary to remedy a default by the tenant, or to remedy 'unreasonable wear' to the premises — Louisiana's own civil-law phrasing for what other states call damage beyond normal wear and tear |
No statutory cap |
No state-mandated interest |
A 'willful failure' to comply lets the tenant recover the wrongfully retained portion of the deposit, plus the greater of $300 or twice the wrongfully retained amount, with costs and attorney's fees left to the court's discretion. Failing to remit within 30 days after the tenant's written demand for a refund automatically counts as willful failure — no separate proof of intent required. |
No segregated account or bond required |
| Maine verified 2026-07-06 | 14 M.R.S. §§ 6031 through 6035 (Security Deposits on Residential Rental Units) |
For a written rental agreement: whatever period the agreement itself states, but never more than 30 days after termination. For a tenancy at will (no written lease): 21 days after the LATER of the tenancy's termination or the tenant's surrender and the landlord's acceptance of the premises. |
Yes, whenever any portion is retained — a written statement itemizing the reasons for the retention, delivered (mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies this) with full payment of whatever difference remains between the deposit and the amount retained |
Reasons the statute expressly names include the costs of storing and disposing of property the tenant abandoned, nonpayment of rent, and nonpayment of utility charges the tenant was required to pay directly to the landlord — plus, implicitly, repair costs for damage beyond normal wear and tear and costs to restore the unit to habitable condition (including cleaning), unless that expense was caused by the landlord, by something beyond the tenant's control, or by someone other than the tenant or their household/guests. Normal wear and tear itself can never be deducted. |
2 months' rent — a flat cap with no separate tier for furnished versus unfurnished units in the statute's own text |
No interest requirement found in this chapter |
Two layers. Missing the return/written-statement deadline is an automatic forfeiture — the landlord loses the right to withhold any part of the deposit at all. Separately, a wrongful retention of the deposit makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs, with the landlord bearing the burden of proving the withholding wasn't wrongful. Before suing, the tenant must give the landlord 7 days' written notice of intent to sue; if the landlord doesn't return the full deposit within that 7-day window, wrongful retention is presumed. |
No separate-account or bond requirement on the landlord in this chapter's text (the chapter separately defines a 'surety bond' a TENANT may purchase instead of paying a deposit, which is a tenant-side option, not a landlord escrow duty) |
| Maryland verified 2026-07-06 | Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 (receipt requirements at § 8-203.1) |
45 days after the end of the tenancy — return the deposit plus accrued interest, less rightfully withheld damages. A separate 45-day process applies to a tenant who was evicted, ejected, or abandoned the unit before the tenancy ended. |
Yes, if any amount is withheld — a written list of damages plus an itemized statement of costs, mailed first-class to the tenant's last known address within 45 days; the itemized statement must include supporting documentation, though the landlord may substitute a cost estimate followed later by the final invoice |
Unpaid rent; damage due to breach of lease; damage by the tenant or the tenant's family, guests, or agents beyond ordinary wear and tear to the unit, common areas, appliances, or furnishings. The deposit is not liquidated damages and can't be kept for a lease breach beyond the landlord's actual loss (minus any re-rental income received during the remaining term). |
1 month's rent for leases signed on or after October 1, 2024 (2 months' rent if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance, pays utilities directly to the landlord, and both sides agree in writing); leases signed before October 1, 2024 could carry the earlier 2-month cap. A landlord who overcharges owes up to 3x the excess plus attorney's fees. |
Yes — simple interest at the greater of the 1-year U.S. Treasury yield curve rate (published annually) or 1.5%/year, accruing monthly, but only once the deposit has been held at least 6 months and only on deposits of $50 or more |
Up to 3x the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees if the landlord, without a reasonable basis, fails to return the deposit and interest within 45 days. Separately, missing the 45-day itemized-list deadline, or failing to give the tenant proper notice of the move-out inspection, each independently forfeits the landlord's right to withhold anything for damages. |
Yes — deposits must be held in a federally insured financial institution account (or equivalent insured CDs/government securities) devoted exclusively to security deposits, in an amount sufficient to cover all deposits held; the deposit can't be attached by either party's creditors |
| Massachusetts verified 2026-07-06 | M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B |
30 days after the termination of a tenancy-at-will, or after the end of the tenancy specified in a valid written lease (in practice, once the tenant has also delivered possession) |
Yes, if any deduction is taken. Within the 30 days, the landlord must give the tenant an itemized list of damages, sworn to under pains and penalties of perjury, describing the nature of the damage and needed repairs in precise detail, plus written evidence (estimates, bills, invoices, or receipts) of the actual or estimated cost. Separately, at the START of the tenancy, the landlord must give a signed Statement of Condition within 10 days of receiving the deposit or the start of the tenancy (whichever is later); the tenant then has 15 days to sign it or attach a list of disagreements. |
Only three categories, and the statute says no others are allowed: (1) unpaid rent or water charges not validly withheld; (2) an unpaid real estate tax increase the tenant is obligated to pay under a conforming tax-escalation clause; and (3) a reasonable amount to repair damage the tenant (or someone under the tenant's control, or on the premises with the tenant's consent) caused, reasonable wear and tear excluded. No deduction is allowed for damage that was already listed on the move-in Statement of Condition, unless the landlord later repaired that exact damage and can prove any new damage is unrelated. A landlord can still sue separately (beyond the deposit) for willful or malicious property destruction that costs more to fix than the whole deposit. |
One month's rent. (A 2025 amendment, effective August 1, 2025, also lets the state's executive office of housing and livable communities create an optional fee-in-lieu-of-deposit program, capped at the same one month's rent total, but that program isn't usable until implementing regulations are issued.) |
Yes, but only once the deposit has been held for a year or longer: 5% per year (or the bank's own lower passbook rate, if lower), running from day one of the tenancy, paid to the tenant at the end of each year held (or within 30 days of an earlier termination). This interest is separate from — but calculated the same way as — interest MA also requires on any last month's rent collected in advance. |
A landlord forfeits the right to retain ANY portion of the deposit, or to counterclaim for damage, if the landlord: (a) doesn't hold the deposit in the required separate account; (b) doesn't furnish the sworn itemized list within 30 days when a deduction is taken; (c) uses a lease provision that conflicts with this law or tries to make the tenant waive it; (d) doesn't properly transfer the deposit to a new owner; or (e) doesn't return the deposit or balance owed within 30 days of termination. For violations (a), (d), or (e) specifically, the tenant is also awarded damages equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus 5% interest from the date payment became due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. |
Yes. The deposit must sit in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank, structured to be beyond the reach of the landlord's own creditors (including a bankruptcy trustee or foreclosing mortgagee) and to transfer automatically to a new owner. The landlord must give the tenant a receipt within 30 days naming the bank, its location, and the account number. Skipping the separate-account requirement entitles the tenant to the deposit's immediate return. |
| Michigan verified 2026-07-07 | MCL §§ 554.601 to 554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, 1972 PA 348) |
30 days after termination of occupancy for the landlord to mail an itemized notice of damages plus a check/money order for the undeducted balance; missing that 30-day window forfeits any damages claim and the full deposit is due immediately. If the tenant disputes the claim (or doesn't fall into a narrow set of exceptions), the landlord then has until 45 days after termination to obtain a court money judgment for the disputed amount (or prove it couldn't serve the tenant) or must return the balance. |
Yes — a mailed itemized list of the damage claimed, the estimated repair cost for each item, and a check or money order for the difference, all within 30 days of termination of occupancy; the notice must carry a bold statutory warning that the tenant has 7 days to respond in writing or forfeit any dispute |
Actual damage to the unit that's the direct result of conduct not reasonably expected in the normal course of habitation (i.e., beyond normal wear and tear), rent in arrears, rent due from the tenant's premature termination, and unpaid utility bills. No other category is authorized. |
One and one-half months' rent, regardless of the tenancy's length or type |
No — nothing in the Act requires a landlord to pay interest on a held deposit |
Missing the 30-day itemized-notice deadline forfeits any damages claim and the full deposit is due immediately. Separately, if the landlord doesn't fully comply with the 45-day judgment/exception process for a disputed claim, the landlord waives all claimed damages and owes the tenant double the amount of the deposit actually retained. |
Yes, by default — deposited in a regulated financial institution. As an alternative, a landlord may use the deposit funds for any purpose if it posts a cash or surety bond with the Secretary of State covering the deposits held, up to $50,000 plus 25% of any amount over that. |
| Minnesota verified 2026-07-06 | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178; § 504B.182 governs the related move-in/move-out inspection option |
3 weeks (21 days) after the tenancy terminates, once the landlord has the tenant's forwarding address or delivery instructions; 5 days if the tenant left because the unit was condemned through no fault of the tenant. Mailing the deposit or statement within the deadline satisfies it. |
Yes — a written statement of the specific reason for any withholding, due on the same 3-week/5-day deadline; no dollar threshold or receipts requirement in the statute |
Amounts reasonably necessary to remedy the tenant's default in rent or other funds owed under the lease, or to restore the premises to their condition at the start of the tenancy, ordinary wear and tear excepted. The landlord has the burden of proving the withholding was justified. |
No state-mandated cap |
Yes — mandatory simple, noncompounded interest at 1% per year, running from the month after the deposit was paid until the landlord complies or a judgment is entered (amounts under $1 excluded) |
Missing the return/statement deadline, failing to transfer or return the deposit after a change in landlord, or skipping a tenant-requested initial or move-out inspection makes the landlord liable for the withheld amount AGAIN as a separate penalty, on top of returning the wrongfully withheld portion plus interest — effectively doubling it. A bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit on top of that; bad faith is presumed if the landlord doesn't return the deposit within 2 weeks after the tenant files a recovery action. |
No segregated account, trust account, or bond required |
| Mississippi verified 2026-07-06 | Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
45 days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, AND demand by the tenant — a three-part trigger |
Yes, if any amount is claimed — a written notice itemizing the amounts claimed, delivered within the same 45-day period |
Amounts reasonably necessary to remedy unpaid rent, repair damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, clean the premises, or cover other reasonable expenses from the tenant's default — but only for purposes the deposit was actually collected for |
No statutory cap |
No interest required |
Actual damages, plus statutory damages of up to $200, if the landlord retains the deposit in violation of the statute and in the absence of good faith — no multiplier of the deposit itself |
None — the statute gives the tenant's claim to the money priority over the landlord's creditors, but doesn't require a separate account or bond |
| Missouri verified 2026-07-06 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 |
30 days after termination of the tenancy — return the full deposit, or mail a written itemized list of damages plus the balance, to the tenant's last known address |
Yes, within the same 30 days, if any amount is withheld; if the deduction includes carpet cleaning, the landlord must also give the tenant a receipt for the actual carpet-cleaning cost within 30 days |
Unpaid rent; the cost to restore the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted (a lease may separately authorize a flat carpet-cleaning charge regardless of actual damage, with required tenant notice); actual damages from the tenant's failure to give adequate notice before ending the tenancy, if the landlord made reasonable efforts to re-lease. Pet deposits are excluded from the statute's definition of "security deposit" entirely. |
2 months' rent |
No — any interest the deposit earns belongs to the landlord, not the tenant |
Mandatory 2x the amount wrongfully withheld. The statute itself doesn't add attorney's fees on top of that (despite some secondary sources and the live CTA template claiming otherwise). |
Yes — must be held in a bank, credit union, or other depository institution insured by a federal agency (no separate trust or anti-commingling requirement in the current text) |
| Montana verified 2026-07-06 | Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 through 70-25-205 (Residential Tenants' Security Deposits) |
10 days after the tenancy terminates if inspection shows no damage, no cleaning needed, no unpaid rent, and the tenant can demonstrate no unpaid utilities. Otherwise, 30 days after the termination of the tenancy OR after surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs FIRST — not both. |
Yes, whenever any amount is withheld — a written list of any rent due and any damage/cleaning charges, delivered along with payment of the difference between the deposit and the amount withheld, within the 30-day window |
Damage caused by the tenant, the tenant's household, or their guests/invitees (including damage from the tenant's failure to perform a legal duty regarding the premises); unpaid rent, late charges, utilities, lease-provision penalties, and other money owed to the landlord; and actual cleaning expenses, including a reasonable charge for the landlord's own labor — except cleaning charges for the landlord's normal cyclical maintenance can't be deducted unless the tenant's negligence forced that maintenance, and the tenant must get a written notice and 24 hours to do any required cleaining first. The statute bars deducting for anything outside this list. |
No statutory cap |
No interest required |
Two layers. Failing to provide the written list at all forfeits the landlord's entire right to withhold any portion of the deposit. Separately, wrongfully withholding any amount makes the landlord liable for that amount (not a multiplier), with the landlord bearing the burden of proving any damage claim; the court MAY, in its discretion, award attorney's fees to whichever party prevails — not a mandatory award, and not limited to the tenant. A tenant can't sue until getting the landlord's written denial, or until the applicable 30-day or 10-day period has expired. |
No separate-account, trust, or bond requirement found in these sections |
| Nebraska verified 2026-07-06 | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
14 days after the date the tenancy terminates — not gated on a tenant demand or a separate delivery-of-possession date, per Nebraska case law construing this subsection |
Yes, whenever any amount is withheld — a written itemization delivered or mailed to the tenant within the same 14 days |
Rent and damages from the tenant's noncompliance with the rental agreement or the tenant's statutory duty to maintain the unit (which itself excepts ordinary wear and tear) |
1 month's periodic rent, plus an optional pet deposit up to 1/4 of one month's rent; the cap doesn't apply to Nebraska Housing Agency Act housing agencies |
No interest required |
Recovery of the money due, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees as a matter of right; if the landlord's noncompliance was willful and not in good faith, the tenant may also recover liquidated damages equal to the LESSER of one month's rent or 2 times the security deposit |
None — no separate account, interest-bearing account, or bond required |
| Nevada verified 2026-07-06 | NRS 118A.240, 118A.242 |
30 days after termination of the tenancy |
Yes — an itemized written accounting of any deductions, delivered with the deposit balance within the same 30 days |
Unpaid rent; damage to the premises beyond normal wear caused by the tenant; reasonable cleaning costs. 'Normal wear' is separately defined as deterioration without negligence, carelessness, or abuse by the tenant, a household member, or a consented guest. |
3 months' periodic rent, combining any security deposit, surety bond, and last month's rent — a flat cap with no furnished/unfurnished distinction in the statute's own text |
No interest required |
If the landlord fails or refuses to return the balance within 30 days: liable for (a) the entire security deposit, plus (b) a court-fixed sum of up to another full deposit, considering the landlord's good faith, the parties' course of conduct, and the degree of harm to the tenant — up to 2x the deposit total, but the extra amount is discretionary, not automatic |
No segregated or interest-bearing account, or bond, is required of the landlord (a tenant may elect to substitute a surety bond for part of the deposit only with the landlord's consent). The tenant's claim to the deposit outranks any claim of the landlord's creditors. |
| New Hampshire verified 2026-07-06 | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 540-A:5 through 540-A:8 (Prohibited Practices and Security Deposits) |
30 days from the termination of the tenancy — the statute's own text does not add a separate delivery-of-possession trigger on top of that |
Yes — a written, itemized list is required whenever the landlord deducts for damage (stating the repair needed 'with particularity' and providing satisfactory evidence like receipts, estimates, bills, or invoices) or for unpaid rent, real estate taxes, or other lawful charges |
Unpaid rent; the cost to repair damage to the premises, excluding reasonable wear and tear; the tenant's share of a real estate tax increase during the lease term, but only if the lease requires the tenant to pay it; and other lawful charges due under the lease that remain unpaid |
One month's rent or $100, whichever is greater — and the statute defines 'security deposit' broadly as all funds beyond the monthly rent transferred to the landlord for any purpose, so pet fees and other charges count toward this same cap |
Yes, if the landlord holds the deposit for one year or longer — at the interest rate paid on regular savings accounts at the New Hampshire bank, savings and loan, or credit union holding it (or the actual interest earned, split proportionately, if multiple tenants' deposits are commingled in one account). A tenant can request payout of accrued interest every 3 years. |
Failing to return the deposit on time or pay interest due (violating § 540-A:6, IV or § 540-A:7) makes the landlord liable for twice the sum of the deposit plus interest due, minus any lawful deductions. Separately, failing to give the required receipt, hold the deposit in trust, or transfer it properly on a sale (violating § 540-A:6, I, II, or III) is itself deemed a violation of New Hampshire's Consumer Protection Act, opening a second remedy track (actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater; not less than double, up to triple, for a willful violation; mandatory attorney's fees for a prevailing tenant). No liability at all if the landlord's noncompliance was caused by the tenant's own failure to give a forwarding address; an unclaimed deposit becomes the landlord's property after 6 months in that situation. |
Yes — the deposit must be held in trust, never mixed with the landlord's own money, at a bank, savings and loan, or credit union organized under New Hampshire law (multiple tenants' deposits may be commingled together in one such trust account). A landlord may substitute a New Hampshire-based surety bond, filed with the city or town clerk, instead of holding the money in trust. |
| New Jersey verified 2026-07-06 | N.J.S.A. §§ 46:8-19 to 46:8-26 (the Security Deposit Law) |
30 days after the tenant's lease terminates for the standard case; shortened to 5 business days if the tenant was displaced by fire, flood, condemnation, or an evacuation order, or extended to 15 business days for certain domestic-violence lease terminations. The itemized statement of deductions is due on this same deadline, not a separate one. |
Yes — the interest/earnings and any deductions must be itemized and the tenant notified by personal delivery or registered/certified mail, on the same deadline as the return of the balance itself |
The statute itself doesn't enumerate specific damage categories — it lets a landlord withhold only 'any charges expended in accordance with the terms of a contract, lease, or agreement,' i.e. whatever the lease itself specifies (commonly unpaid rent and damage beyond normal use). No deduction of any kind is allowed from the deposit of a tenant who remains in possession of the unit. |
One and one-half times one month's rent; if a landlord later collects an additional deposit increase from a continuing tenant, that increase can't exceed 10% of the current deposit in any year |
Yes — the deposit has to be invested in a qualifying interest- or dividend-yielding vehicle (a New Jersey-based insured money-market fund for landlords with 10+ rental units, or an interest-bearing account at a bank or savings institution for smaller landlords), with the tenant's portion of the interest or earnings paid or credited to the tenant at least annually |
In a tenant's action for return of the deposit, a court that finds for the tenant must award double the amount of money due, plus the full costs of the action, and may award reasonable attorney's fees in the court's discretion |
Yes — the deposit is held in trust for the tenant, must not be mingled with the landlord's own property or become the landlord's asset, and must be deposited or invested as described above rather than simply held as cash |
| New Mexico verified 2026-07-06 | NMSA 1978 § 47-8-18 (Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act) |
30 days after whichever is LATER: termination of the rental agreement, or the resident's departure |
Yes, if the landlord has actual cause to retain any portion — a written itemized list of deductions and any balance due, within the same 30 days |
Rent and damages from the resident's noncompliance with the rental agreement or the resident's statutory duties; nonpayment of rent or utilities, repair work, or other legitimate damages. The statute expressly states no deposit may be retained to cover normal wear and tear. |
1 month's rent for a rental agreement of less than one year; no cap for an annual (or longer) rental agreement, but a deposit exceeding one month's rent under an annual agreement triggers a mandatory annual interest payment |
Yes, but only under an annual rental agreement where the deposit exceeds one month's rent — annual interest at the passbook rate savings and loan associations may pay, as set by the federal home loan bank board |
Missing the 30-day itemization deadline forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any part of the deposit, forfeits any counterclaim against the resident, and makes the landlord liable for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees; a landlord who retains a deposit in bad faith owes an additional flat $250 civil penalty |
None — no separate account, interest-bearing account, or bond required |
| New York verified 2026-07-06 | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 7-103, 7-108 |
14 days after the tenant vacates the premises |
Yes — a written itemized statement of the basis for any amount retained, due within the same 14 days; missing it forfeits the landlord's right to keep any of the deposit |
Unpaid rent, damage caused by the tenant beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utility charges payable directly to the landlord, and moving/storage of the tenant's belongings. Ordinary wear and tear and damage caused by a PRIOR tenant may never be deducted. |
1 month's rent for most units (exceptions for seasonal-use dwellings and owner-occupied cooperative apartments) |
Required only for buildings with 6 or more residential units, at the prevailing rate paid on such deposits in the area; the landlord may keep 1%/year as an administration fee |
Actual damages for any violation; a WILLFUL violation adds punitive damages of up to 2x the deposit. Missing the 14-day statement/return deadline is a separate, automatic forfeiture of the right to retain any amount. The landlord bears the burden of proving any retained amount was reasonable. |
Yes — the deposit is held in trust and may not be commingled with the landlord's own funds; a 6+ unit building must additionally use an interest-bearing account |
| North Carolina verified 2026-07-06 | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-50 to 42-56 (Tenant Security Deposit Act) |
30 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession; if the landlord's claim can't be determined in 30 days, an interim accounting is due at 30 days and a final accounting at 60 days |
Yes — a written itemization of any damage mailed or delivered with the balance, on the same 30/60-day schedule as the return deadline |
Unpaid rent and certain utility charges, damage to the premises (including smoke/CO alarms) beyond normal wear and tear, damages from not fulfilling the rental period, unpaid bills that become a lien on the property, re-renting costs after a tenant breach, removal/storage costs after eviction, court costs, and fees authorized under § 42-46. Never normal wear and tear, and never more than the landlord's actual damages. |
Two weeks' rent (week-to-week tenancy), one and one-half months' rent (month-to-month), or two months' rent (longer terms); a separate, uncapped nonrefundable pet fee is allowed on top |
No — the statute doesn't require interest on a held deposit |
Willful failure to comply with the deposit, bond, or notice requirements voids the landlord's right to retain any portion of the deposit; the tenant can also recover resulting damages, and a court finding of willful noncompliance can add attorney's fees. No automatic damages multiplier in the statute itself. |
Yes — a trust account with a licensed, federally insured NC depository (or trust institution), or a bond from an insurer licensed in NC. An out-of-state trust account is allowed only if backed by an adequate bond. |
| North Dakota verified 2026-07-06 | N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1 (Real property and dwelling security deposits — Limitations and requirements) |
30 days after BOTH the termination of the lease AND the tenant's delivery of possession — a conjunctive two-part trigger, not either event alone |
Yes — any portion of the deposit not returned must be itemized by the landlord, delivered or mailed to the tenant's last furnished address along with a written notice, within the same 30-day window; the notice must state either the amount still due the landlord or the refund due the tenant |
Damages the landlord suffered from deterioration or injury to the property caused by the tenant's pet or the tenant's (or the tenant's guest's) negligence; unpaid rent; and the costs of cleaning or other repairs needed to return the dwelling to its original condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted |
One month's rent generally. Two exceptions raise the ceiling to two months' rent: (1) a landlord MAY accept up to two months' rent as an incentive to rent to an individual with a felony conviction; (2) a landlord MAY demand up to two months' rent from an individual with a prior judgment against them for violating a previous rental agreement. A separate pet deposit (for a non-service, non-companion animal) is capped at the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent. |
Yes — the deposit must sit in a federally insured interest-bearing account, and the deposit plus any accrued interest must be paid to the tenant at lease termination. Exception: no interest is required if the tenant's occupancy lasted less than nine months. |
The landlord is liable for TREBLE damages for any security deposit money withheld without reasonable justification — a 3x multiplier tied to an unjustified-withholding standard, not a flat forfeiture-on-missed-deadline rule |
Yes — the deposit must be held in a federally insured interest-bearing savings or checking account for the tenant's benefit; on a sale of the property, the deposit and accrued interest transfer to the new owner, and the seller isn't released from liability until that transfer actually happens |
| Ohio verified 2026-07-06 | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 (Procedures for security deposits, part of the Ohio Landlord-Tenant Act) |
30 days after both the rental agreement terminates and the tenant delivers possession |
Yes, for any deduction — a written, itemized notice within the same 30 days, delivered together with the amount due; the tenant must give a forwarding address for the notice/payment to be sent to |
Past-due rent and damages from the tenant's noncompliance with the tenant's statutory duties (§ 5321.05) or the rental agreement itself. Neither section uses the phrase 'normal wear and tear.' |
None under state law |
Yes, but only on the portion of the deposit exceeding $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater), and only if the tenant stays 6+ months — a flat 5% per year, computed and paid annually |
Missing the 30-day itemized-notice-and-payment requirement makes the landlord liable for the amount wrongfully withheld again as damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees — but only if the tenant gave the landlord a forwarding address |
No — the statute doesn't require a separate account or bond |
| Oklahoma verified 2026-07-06 | 41 O.S. § 115 (Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
45 days — but the clock doesn't start until THREE things have all happened: the tenancy ends, the tenant delivers possession, AND the tenant makes a written demand for the deposit. If the tenant never makes that written demand within 6 months after the tenancy ends, the deposit reverts to the landlord entirely |
Yes, if the landlord wants to keep any part of the deposit — a written itemized statement of the rent/damages charged, delivered by certified mail or in person |
Accrued rent and damages the landlord suffered from the tenant's noncompliance with the lease or the landlord-tenant act. The statute never uses the phrase 'normal wear and tear.' A tenant may not use the deposit in place of paying rent unless the lease says otherwise |
No cap — the statute sets no maximum deposit amount |
No — the statute affirmatively says the balance is returned 'without interest' |
The tenant's civil remedy is simply recovering the security deposit and any prepaid rent if the landlord fails to comply with the section — no statutory doubling or attorney's fees for that civil claim. Separately, misappropriating the deposit is a CRIME: up to 6 months in county jail and a fine of up to twice the amount misappropriated, payable to the state, not the tenant |
Yes — the deposit must be kept in an escrow account for the tenant at a federally insured financial institution in Oklahoma |
| Oregon verified 2026-07-06 | ORS 90.300 (Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
31 days after BOTH the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession — whichever of the two happens last starts the clock |
Yes — a written accounting stating specifically the basis of any amount claimed, due within the same 31 days, delivered in person, by first-class mail, or by email if the tenant agreed to electronic delivery |
Unpaid rent or other rental-agreement defaults, and the cost to repair tenant-caused damage, not including ordinary wear and tear. The landlord doesn't have to actually perform the repair to deduct for it, and may charge a reasonable hourly rate for the landlord's own labor |
No cap on the initial amount. A landlord generally can't require a new or increased deposit during the first year of a tenancy, except for an added deposit the parties later agree to (for example, to allow a pet) |
No — the statute doesn't require or mention interest on a held deposit |
Two separate double-damages triggers: missing the 31-day written-accounting deadline entitles the tenant to twice whatever was withheld without an accounting, no bad-faith showing needed; separately, any amount withheld in bad faith is doubled too |
No — the statute doesn't require a separate account, an interest-bearing account, or a bond |
| Pennsylvania verified 2026-07-06 | 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a–250.512 (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, cited internally as §§ 511.1–512) |
30 days after lease termination or surrender/acceptance of the premises, whichever happens first |
Yes — written list of claimed damages within the same 30 days; missing this deadline forfeits the right to withhold anything |
Damages to the leasehold premises attributed to the tenant, unpaid rent, and breach of any other lease condition. No 'normal wear and tear' carve-out appears in the statute's own words. |
2 months' rent in year 1; 1 month's rent in year 2 and beyond; no further increase after 5 years of tenancy even if rent rises |
Yes, but only once escrowed funds have been held more than 2 years — interest paid annually starting year 3, minus a 1% landlord administrative fee. Applies only to deposits over $100. |
Forfeiture of the right to withhold anything if no itemized list is given within 30 days; double the amount wrongfully withheld if the landlord fails to pay the difference within 30 days. Neither requires a bad-faith showing. |
Yes for any deposit over $100 — a regulated bank escrow account, or a surety bond instead of escrow; written notice of the bank/account is required |
| Rhode Island verified 2026-07-06 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
20 days after the LATER of: termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant providing a forwarding address for receiving the deposit — whichever of the three happens last |
Yes — a written notice itemizing every deduction (unpaid rent, cleaning, trash disposal, physical damage beyond wear and tear), delivered together with whatever's left of the deposit, within the same 20-day deadline |
Unpaid accrued rent; reasonable cleaning expenses; reasonable trash disposal expenses; physical damage to the premises beyond ordinary wear and tear caused by the tenant's failure to meet the tenant's statutory upkeep duty (§ 34-18-24). Ordinary wear and tear itself may not be deducted. |
One month's periodic rent for the ordinary deposit. A separate furniture security deposit, also capped at one month's periodic rent, is allowed on top of that if the unit is furnished and the furniture's replacement value is $5,000 or more. |
No interest required |
Failing to comply with the 20-day return/itemization duty makes the landlord liable for the amount wrongfully withheld, PLUS damages equal to twice that amount, plus the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees — no separate bad-faith showing required beyond the failure to comply itself |
No separate-account, trust, or bond requirement found in this section |
| South Carolina verified 2026-07-06 | S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410 (South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Title 27, Ch. 40) |
30 days after the LATEST of: termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and the tenant's demand for return of the deposit |
Yes — a written, itemized notice of any deduction with the amount due, on the same 30-day deadline; if the tenant never gives a forwarding address, the landlord is protected by mailing the notice to the tenant's last known address |
Accrued (unpaid) rent, plus damages the landlord suffered from the tenant's breach of the tenant's own statutory duties — chiefly deliberately or negligently destroying, defacing, damaging, or impairing the premises, or failing to keep it reasonably clean and code-compliant. The statute never uses the phrase 'normal wear and tear'; the standard is the tenant's own duty of care, not a separate wear-and-tear test. |
No statutory cap |
No state-mandated interest |
A landlord who fails to return the deposit (or prepaid rent) with the required itemized notice is liable for 3x the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees — the statute's own text doesn't require a separate showing of bad faith |
No segregated account or bond required — the statute calls the deposit 'held in trust' only in the sense that it stays the tenant's money, not an affirmative account requirement |
| South Dakota verified 2026-07-06 | S.D. Codified Laws §§ 43-32-6.1 and 43-32-24 |
21 days after the LATER of the tenancy's termination AND the landlord's receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions — both conditions must occur before the clock starts. (Extended from 14 days/"two weeks" to 21 days by SL 2026, ch. 179, § 1, effective July 1, 2026, already in force.) |
A written statement of the specific reason for any withholding is due within the same 21-day window. Separately, if the tenant asks, the landlord must give a full itemized accounting of anything withheld within 45 days after the tenancy's termination — a longer, distinct deadline from the initial 21-day statement. |
Only amounts reasonably necessary to remedy the tenant's default in paying rent or other funds due under the rental agreement, or to restore the premises to their condition at the start of the tenancy — ordinary wear and tear excepted. |
One month's rent, except that a larger deposit may be agreed upon between landlord and tenant where special conditions pose a danger to maintaining the premises |
No interest required |
Two layers. Failing to comply with the section at all (missing the 21-day deadline or the 45-day itemized-accounting request) forfeits the landlord's entire right to withhold any portion of the deposit. Separately, bad-faith retention of a deposit, or bad-faith failure to give the required written statement or itemized accounting, subjects the landlord to punitive damages capped at a flat $200 — not a multiplier of the deposit. |
No separate-account, trust, or bond requirement found in this chapter |
| Tennessee verified 2026-07-06 | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (URLTA) — applies only in counties over 75,000 population per the 2010 census (§ 66-28-102(a)); no statewide deposit statute for smaller counties |
No fixed day-count deadline to return the money. If a refund is owed, the landlord must send written notice of the amount due; if the tenant doesn't respond within 60 days, the landlord may keep the balance. Additional damage discovered after the move-out inspection can still be charged if found within 30 days of vacating (or 7 days after a new tenant takes possession). |
No separate mailed itemized statement — instead a signed damage 'listing' from a move-out inspection (mandatory only if the tenant requests it); if the landlord skips the account requirement AND never provides a listing, it forfeits the whole deposit |
Unpaid rent and other amounts due; documented physical damage found at the move-out inspection (or discovered later within the 30-day/7-day window). The statute doesn't use the phrase "normal wear and tear" at all — it limits deductions to damage the landlord actually documents, not a defined wear-and-tear carve-out. |
None |
No state-mandated interest |
No statutory multiplier. Full forfeiture of the right to retain ANY part of the deposit if the landlord both failed to hold it in a segregated account and failed to provide a damage listing. Otherwise, a tenant can sue only over the specific items they disputed in writing at the inspection. |
Yes — deposit must be held in its own account at a bank or other lending institution regulated by the state or federal government, not commingled with other funds |
| Texas verified 2026-07-06 | Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.101-92.109 |
30 days after the tenant surrenders the premises, but the landlord has no obligation to refund or account until the tenant gives a written forwarding address |
Yes, if any portion is withheld — unless the tenant owed rent at move-out and the amount owed isn't disputed |
Damages and charges the tenant is legally liable for under the lease or from breaching it. Normal wear and tear may never be deducted. |
None — Texas sets no statutory maximum |
No state-mandated interest |
Bad-faith retention: $100 plus 3x the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees. Bad-faith failure to itemize: forfeits the right to withhold any amount or sue for damages, plus attorney's fees. Missing the 30-day deadline is a rebuttable presumption of bad faith. |
No separate account or bond required; the tenant's claim to the deposit is simply prior to any claim of the landlord's creditors |
| Utah verified 2026-07-06 | Utah Code §§ 57-17-1 to -5 (Residential Renters' Deposits) |
30 days after vacating & returning possession for the initial balance + itemized notice; if missed, tenant must serve a statutory notice, then the landlord gets 5 business days to comply |
Yes — written notice itemizing and explaining each deduction, due with the balance inside the same 30-day window |
Unpaid rent; damage to the premises beyond reasonable wear and tear; other costs/fees provided for in the rental contract; cleaning of the unit |
No statutory cap |
No interest required |
Full deposit + full prepaid rent + a $100 civil penalty once the landlord fails to comply within 5 business days of a properly served tenant notice; court costs and attorney fees added if the court finds bad faith. No relief under this remedy unless the tenant actually served that notice. |
None — no separate account, interest-bearing account, or bond required |
| Vermont verified 2026-07-06 | 9 V.S.A. § 4461 (Security deposits), with definitions (including 'normal wear and tear') in 9 V.S.A. § 4451 |
14 days from whichever comes first: the date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned the unit, or the date the tenant actually vacated — but the vacate-date trigger only applies if the landlord received notice from the tenant of that date. For a SEASONAL rental not intended as a primary residence, the deadline extends to 60 days. |
Yes — a written statement itemizing any deductions must be returned together with the deposit balance, within the same 14-day (or 60-day seasonal) deadline; delivered by hand or mail to the tenant's last known address |
Nonpayment of rent; damage to the landlord's property beyond normal wear and tear or beyond the tenant's control; nonpayment of utility or other charges the tenant was required to pay directly to the landlord or a utility; and expenses to remove property the tenant abandoned. 'Normal wear and tear' is statutorily defined as deterioration from reasonable use, without the tenant's negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse. |
No statewide cap of any kind — the statute sets no dollar or rent-multiple limit. (Some Vermont municipalities, such as Burlington, impose their own local cap by ordinance; this survey covers state law only.) |
No state-level interest requirement. The statute only permits — it does not require — a town or municipality to adopt an ordinance authorizing interest on deposits. |
Missing the 14-day (or 60-day seasonal) deadline is an automatic forfeiture of the landlord's right to withhold ANY portion of the deposit, regardless of fault. If that failure was willful, the landlord is additionally liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs — a stacked, not alternative, remedy. |
No statewide escrow, segregation, or bonding requirement. A municipal ordinance may regulate how a deposit is held only to the extent of authorizing interest; state law does not otherwise require a separate account. |
| Virginia verified 2026-07-31 | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 (Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
45 days after the termination of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates and delivers possession, whichever occurs LAST; extendable to 60 days total if damage exceeds the deposit and needs a third-party contractor, as long as the landlord gives written notice of that fact within the original 45-day period |
Yes — a written, itemized notice of all deductions delivered with any balance due, on the same 45-day (or extended 60-day) deadline as the return itself. A deduction made mid-tenancy (not at move-out) instead gets its own separate notice within 30 days of when the landlord determines the deduction. |
Accrued rent (including reasonable, lease-specified late charges), damages the landlord suffered from the tenant's noncompliance with the unit-maintenance statute (§ 55.1-1227), minus reasonable wear and tear, any other damages or charges the rental agreement itself authorizes, and actual damages for breach of the rental agreement. With advance written notice to the tenant, a reasonable portion may also be withheld to cover an unpaid water, sewer, or other third-party utility obligation that was the tenant's under the lease. |
Two months' periodic rent |
No — nothing in the current text of § 55.1-1226 requires a landlord to pay interest on a held deposit |
If the landlord willfully fails to comply, the court shall order the security deposit returned to the tenant together with actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees — unless the tenant owes rent, in which case the court instead orders an amount equal to the deposit credited against the rent due. No damages multiplier. |
No dedicated escrow or trust-account requirement in the statute's text. A landlord may instead let a tenant carry qualifying damage insurance in place of paying a cash deposit at all. |
| Washington verified 2026-07-06 | RCW 59.18.260, .270, .280 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act) |
30 days after the termination of the rental agreement and the tenant vacates the premises, whichever is later in practice (or 30 days after the landlord learns of an abandonment under RCW 59.18.310) |
Yes — a full and specific written statement of the basis for retaining any of the deposit, delivered with any refund due within the 30-day deadline, personally or by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address. For deductions tied to property damage, the landlord must also attach copies of estimates, invoices, or receipts substantiating the charge. This documentation duty doesn't apply when the deposit is withheld for reasons unrelated to property damage, such as unpaid rent or other charges owing. |
Unpaid rent or other charges owing under the lease (no receipts required for these). For property damage: repair or cleaning costs for damage beyond wear resulting from ordinary use, but only for conditions that were reasonably documented on the signed move-in checklist, and only up to the actual cost of repair or replacement of the damaged portion. Forbidden: any amount for wear resulting from ordinary use; carpet-cleaning charges unless the landlord documents wear beyond ordinary use; repair or replacement costs for fixtures, equipment, appliances, or furnishings whose condition wasn't documented on the move-in checklist; and any amount exceeding the actual repair/replacement cost of the damaged portion when the item isn't a total loss. |
No statewide cap — a landlord may charge any deposit amount as long as the rental agreement is in writing and states the amount and the conditions under which it may be withheld. (Individual cities, such as Seattle's one-month-rent cap, may impose a stricter local limit outside this survey's scope.) |
No. The deposit must sit in an interest-bearing-eligible trust account, but the statute gives the interest to the landlord by default: "the landlord shall be entitled to receipt of interest paid on such trust account deposits," unless the landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing. |
If the landlord misses the 30-day deadline or the required documentation, the landlord is liable to the tenant for the full deposit amount and is barred from raising any claim or defense for keeping any of it, unless circumstances beyond the landlord's control prevented compliance or the tenant abandoned the unit. On top of the deposit itself, a court may in its discretion award up to two times the deposit for an intentional refusal to provide the statement, documentation, or refund. The prevailing party in any deposit lawsuit also recovers costs of suit or arbitration and reasonable attorney's fees. |
Yes. The deposit must be placed in a trust account at a Washington financial institution or with a Washington-licensed escrow agent, kept for the purpose of holding tenant deposits. The landlord must give the tenant a written receipt for the deposit and written notice of the depository's name, address, and location (and of any change). The tenant's claim to the money has priority over the landlord's other creditors even if the funds are commingled. |
| West Virginia verified 2026-07-06 | W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1 through 37-6A-5 (Residential Rental Security Deposits article; West Virginia has not adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
The shorter of 60 days after the tenancy terminates or 45 days after a subsequent tenant takes occupancy of the unit; if repairing damage that exceeds the deposit requires a third-party contractor, the landlord may take 15 more days just to itemize (not to return the undisputed balance) by giving written notice of that fact within the normal deadline |
Yes, delivered together with the deposit/balance by the same deadline as the return itself (extendable by 15 days only for the third-party-contractor itemization described above) |
Unpaid rent, including lease-specified late charges; damages from the tenant's noncompliance with the rental agreement, less reasonable wear and tear; unpaid utilities that were billed to and paid by the landlord and are the tenant's obligation; reasonable costs to remove and store abandoned personal property; and any other damages or charges the written rental agreement itself provides for, including third-party contractor repair costs |
No statutory cap |
No interest required |
Not automatic on a bare missed deadline. Only if the landlord's noncompliance is willful or not in good faith: the tenant is entitled to judgment for the unreturned deposit plus 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld as annoyance/inconvenience damages (credited against any rent the tenant still owes). Separately, a tenant who is sued to enforce a lease clause that illegally waives these rights can recover actual damages and attorney's fees. |
No — the statute does not require a separate account, an interest-bearing account, or a bond |
| Wisconsin verified 2026-07-06 | Wis. Stat. § 704.28, together with Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 (a DATCP rule that largely duplicates the statute's return/deduction/itemization rules and is separately enforceable as an unfair trade practice under Wis. Stat. § 100.20) |
21 days, counted from whichever trigger applies: the termination date if the tenant vacates on that date; the termination date (or the new tenant's move-in date if the unit is re-rented first) if the tenant vacates or is evicted before the term ends; or the date the landlord learns the tenant vacated or was removed, if that happens after the term ends |
Yes, if any amount is withheld — a written statement describing each item of damage or other claim and the amount withheld for it, delivered or mailed within the same 21-day window. A landlord who otherwise complied isn't in violation just because the mail couldn't reach the tenant's given address. |
Tenant damage, waste, or neglect beyond ordinary wear and tear; unpaid rent; unpaid utility charges the tenant owed that the landlord becomes liable for; unpaid municipal permit fees the landlord becomes liable for; anything else only if it's spelled out in a separate signed "NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS" document. Normal wear and tear, or any loss the tenant can't reasonably be held responsible for, can never be deducted. |
None under the statute or administrative code (a narrow, unrelated exception caps deposits at 2 months' rent or $750, whichever is less, for mobile/manufactured home LOT rentals under a separate chapter, ATCP 125 — out of this topic's scope) |
No state-mandated interest |
No fixed statutory multiplier written into § 704.28 itself. Instead, because ATCP 134.06 is a DATCP order under the state's unfair-trade-practices law, a tenant who suffers a pecuniary loss from a violation can sue under Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5) and recover twice the loss plus reasonable attorney's fees (mandatory once the claim succeeds); courts have also allowed a landlord's failure to send any withholding statement to result in doubling the ENTIRE deposit, not just a disputed portion. A landlord who never sends the required statement can even face separate criminal prosecution as an unfair trade practice. |
No — neither the statute nor the administrative code requires a segregated or trust account for a residential security deposit |
| Wyoming verified 2026-07-06 | Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1207 to 1-21-1209 (Residential Rental Property article) |
30 days after termination of the rental agreement, OR 15 days after the owner receives the renter's new mailing address, whichever is LATER. If there is damage to the unit, this period is extended by an additional 30 days. The renter must notify the owner within 30 days of termination where payment/notice can be sent. |
Yes — a written itemization of any deductions, together with the reasons for them, must be delivered or mailed along with the deposit balance, within the same deadline described above |
Accrued (unpaid) rent; damage to the unit beyond reasonable wear and tear; the cost to clean the unit back to its condition at the start of the rental agreement; and any other costs the rental agreement itself provides for. Wyoming's statute does not define 'reasonable wear and tear' anywhere in this article. |
No statutory cap of any kind on the deposit amount |
No — the statute expressly requires the balance to be returned 'without interest' |
A comparatively thin remedy: if the owner UNREASONABLY fails to comply with the return/itemization duty, the renter may recover the full deposit and court costs — no doubling or trebling. This cuts both ways: if the renter is the one who sues unreasonably and the owner prevails, the court may award the owner court costs instead. |
No — Wyoming's Residential Rental Property article imposes no separate-account, trust, or bonding requirement for a security deposit |
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