A complete state-by-state guide for landlords, property managers, and renters on security deposit laws for maximum limits and deadlines for refunding the funds to a tenant.
If you’re looking for information on your state’s security deposit laws, this guide is a concise and comprehensive outline of each state’s security deposit laws. This guide provides a quick reference to each state’s:
- Maximum amount of allowable security deposit
- The number of days a landlord/property manager has to return the deposit fund or accounting paper if any deductions were made.
- If the state requires a landlord/property owner to pay a tenant interest earned on security deposit funds.
Learn more about Security Deposit Management
Maximum amount of Security Deposit
State statutes issue laws about how much a landlord is allowed to collect for a security deposit. Some states have no limit, while others only allow a landlord to collect an amount equal to one month’s rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds or Accounting Paperwork
Each state establishes a different timeline in which a landlord must return the security deposit to their tenant. If a landlord does not meet this timeline, a tenant could potentially sue the landlord and keep all of the deposit funds. Refund timing can range from 14 days (like Hawaii) to 45 days (like Indiana).
Interest earned on Security Deposit Funds
Most states require that security deposit funds belong to the tenant and must be kept in a separate bank account. Some states, like Connecticut and Florida, require that a landlord pay any interest earned on the security deposit funds back to the tenant, either at the end of tenancy or annually. Check your state laws to see what your obligations are regarding interest earned on a security deposit. In some cases, landlords or property managers are eligible to keep interest.
Exceptions to Security Deposit Laws
Remember that your city or county, particularly if your rental property is covered by rent control, might have different landlord-tenant and security deposit laws than those at the state level.
Look for your state in the list below to discover what your state’s laws say about security deposit laws. This guide is a reference and does not count as legal advice – we always advise that you speak with a landlord-tenant attorney in your state if you need further clarification or help with a particular issue.
Relevant statutes and state laws were used to create this article and are provided for you in each section to reference.
Alabama Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent
(A landlord can also collect an additional deposit for pets, tenant alterations, or increased liability)
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 60 days after the end of tenancy
(Alabama Code Title 35. Property SECTION 35-9A-201 SECURITY DEPOSITS; PREPAID RENT)
Alaska Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to 2 months’ rent, unless rent exceeds $2,000 per month. (A landlord can ask for an additional pet deposit).
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 14 days if the tenant gave proper notice to terminate tenancy. A landlord has 30 days to return the deposit if the tenant hasn’t given proper notice or deductions need to be made.
(Alaska Statutes § 34.03.070 (2025) – Security deposits and prepaid rent)
Arizona Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one and a half months’ rent
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 14 days after the tenant has moved out
(Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 33-1321)
Arkansas Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to 2 months’ rent
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 60 days after a tenant has moved out
(Landlord And Tenant Rights – Arkansas Attorney General)
California Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent as of July 2024.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 21 days
(California AB-12 Tenancy: security deposits)
Colorado Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Two months’ rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: One month, unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement, but may not exceed 60 days.
(Colorado Revised Statutes – Tenants and Landlords)
Connecticut Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to 2 months’ rent unless the tenant is older than 62 years old. Renters over the age of 62 may pay a security deposit equivalent to 1 month’s rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: Within 21 days after termination of tenancy.
Interest: Connecticut landlords must pay the tenant any incurred interest on the security deposit when refunding any security deposit funds after damages have been deducted.
(Connecticut General Statutes- Sec. 47a-21. Security Deposits)
Delaware Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: One month’s rent for lease agreements for one year or more. Landlords may require an additional pet deposit.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 20 days
(Chapter 55. TENANT OBLIGATIONS AND LANDLORD REMEDIES)
Florida Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days after the keys have been returned and the property is vacated.
Interest: Required to pay the tenant any interest earned on the security deposit (annually and at the end of the tenancy), though no interest need be paid to a tenant who wrongfully terminates the lease early.
(Florida Statutes- Title IV, Chapter 83.49 – Deposit money or advance rent)
Georgia Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days after vacancy to the last known address via first-class mail.
(Ga. Code Ann. §§ 44-7-1 to 44-7-81)
Hawaii Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent. May require an additional deposit of one month’s rent if the tenant has a pet. Nonrefundable fees are not allowed.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 14 days
(Hawaii State Judiciary | Security Deposits)
Idaho Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 21 days, or up to 30 days if the tenant and landlord agree
(Renter Resources | Idaho Legal Aid Services)
Illinois Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 45 days, unless the unit has six or fewer units. A landlord has 45 days to return a deposit in full or 30 days to provide the tenant with an itemized statement of damages along with paid receipts.
Interest: State law requires your landlord to pay you interest on your security deposit if it is held for at least six months and there are at least 25 units in your building or complex. Your landlord must pay you the interest or apply the interest as a credit to your rent every 12 months.
(Getting or returning a security deposit (Guide) | Illinois Legal Aid Online)
Indiana Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 45 days
(Indiana Code Annotated § § 32-31-3-9 to 32-31-3-19)
Iowa Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to 2 months’ rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
(Security deposits :: Iowa People’s Law Library)
Kansas Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent for unfurnished rentals; one and one-half months’ rent for furnished rentals. Kansas landlords may require an additional deposit of up to one-half month’s rent for pets.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Kentucky Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 to 60 days after the tenant has moved out, depending on whether the tenant disputes deductions taken out of the security deposit.
(Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated § 383.580)
Louisiana Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: One month.
(Louisiana Revised Statutes Annotated § 9:3251)
Maine Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to two months’ rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days for a written or oral lease agreement or within 21 days for an at-will tenancy.
(Maine Revised Statutes Annotated Title 14 § § 6031 to 6038)
Maryland Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: 1 to 2 months’ rent, depending on the landlord’s circumstances.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 45 days
Interest: Landlords in Maryland must also pay interest on security deposits of $50 or more.
(Security Deposits | The Maryland People’s Law Library)
Massachusetts Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to a month’s rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Interest: Landlords in Massachusetts must also pay tenants 5% interest on the security deposit per year, or the amount of interest paid by the bank (the bank must be in Massachusetts). Interest should be paid yearly, and within 30 days of the termination date.
(Massachusetts General Laws Annotated Chapter 186 § section 15B)
Michigan Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one and one-half months’ rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Minnesota Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: Within 3 weeks after a tenant has surrendered the property and provided the landlord with a forwarding address; but within five days if the tenant must leave due to building condemnation.
Interest: Landlords in Minnesota must also pay 1% simple noncompounded interest on the security deposit per year.
(Minnesota Statutes Annotated § § 504B.175, 504B.178, and 504B.195)
Mississippi Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 45 days.
(Mississippi Code § 89-8-21 (2024) – Tenant’s security deposit)
Missouri Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to two months’ rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
(Missouri’s Landlord-Tenant Law)
Montana Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: Within 30 days or within 10 days if no deductions have been taken out.
(Montana Code Annotated § § 70-25-201 to 70-25-206)
Nebraska Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent; landlords may collect up to one-quarter of a month’s rent for a pet deposit.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 14 days
(Nebraska Revised Statutes § 76-1416)
Nevada Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to three months’ rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
(Nevada Revised Statutes Annotated § § 118A.240 to 118A.250)
New Hampshire Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days; unless the landlord and tenant live together, in which case other timelines apply.
Interest: New Hampshire landlords must pay interest on security deposits held for a year or longer.
(New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated § § 540-A:5 to 540-A:8; 540-B:10)
New Jersey Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one and one-half months’ rent. An additional deposit may be collected annually, but it may be no greater than 10% of the original deposit.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days; unless the tenant has vacated the premises due to a fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation, in which case the landlord must return a security deposit within 5 days.
Interest: Landlords in New Jersey must pay tenants interest earned on security deposits, either in annual interest payments or as credit toward payment of rent due.
(New Jersey Statutes Annotated § § 46:8-19, 44:8-21, 44:8-26)
New Mexico Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent for rental agreements less than one year; there is no state limit for rental agreements over one year.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Interest: Landlords in New Mexico must pay annual interest on security deposits that are larger than one month’s rent on a year’s lease.
(New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 47-8-18)
New York Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: One month’s rent in most cases, but seasonal use and owner-occupied units may have different rules.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 14 days.
Interest: Landlords of non-regulated units in buildings with six or more units must pay tenants interest on the security deposit. The interest can be subtracted from the rent, paid at the end of each year, or paid at the end of the tenancy (according to the tenant’s choice).
(N.Y. General Obligations Law § § 7-103 to 7-108)
North Carolina Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one and one-half months’ rent on a month-to-month lease and equivalent to two months’ rent for a lease term longer than two months. North Carolina landlords can require an additional “reasonable”, nonrefundable pet deposit.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
(North Carolina General Statutes § § 42-50 to 42-56)
North Dakota Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent, or two months’ rent if the tenant has been convicted of a felony or has violated previous rental agreements. If a tenant has a pet, the deposit should not exceed $2,500 or the equivalent of two months’ rent, whichever is greater.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Interest: North Dakota must pay the tenants interest on the deposit. Interest must be paid to the tenant at the end of the lease.
(North Dakota Century Code § 47-16-07.1)
Ohio Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Interest: landlords in Ohio must pay interest on most security deposits at the rate of 5% per year, if the tenancy is longer than 6-months.
(Ohio Revised Code Annotated § 5321.16)
Oklahoma Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 45 days
(Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Acts)
Oregon Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts. Landlords may not impose or increase a deposit within the first year of a tenancy unless both landlord and tenant agree to modify the rental agreement to allow for a pet or other cause
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 31 days
(Oregon Revised Statutes § § 90.300, 90.302)
Pennsylvania Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to two months’ rent during the first year of tenancy, and equivalent to one month’s rent after the first year.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Interest: Tenants who occupy a rental unit for two or more years are entitled to interest paid on the security deposit beginning on the 25th month of occupancy.
(Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated Title 68 § § 250.511a to 250.512)
Rhode Island Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 20 days
(Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-19)
South Carolina Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
(South Carolina Code Annotated § 27-40-410)
South Dakota Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s rent. South Dakota allows a higher deposit if special conditions pose a danger to the maintenance of the property.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 2 weeks. If the landlord takes out any deductions from the deposit, the tenant may request accounting paperwork that must be provided within 45 days.
(South Dakota Codified Laws Annotated § § 43.32-6.1 and 43-32-24)
Tennessee Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Exceptions: The rule does not apply in counties that have a population of less than 75,000, according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census.
(Tennessee Code Annotated § 66-28-301)
Texas Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
(Texas Property Code Annotated § § 92.101 to 92.109)
Utah Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
(Utah Code Annotated § § 57-17-1 to 57-17-5)
Vermont Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 14 days
(Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 9 § 4461)
Virginia Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: Equivalent to two months’ rent.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 45 days
(Virginia Law § 55.1-1226. Security deposits)
Washington Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days
Exceptions: Some security deposit rules do not apply to landlords who own fewer than 5 single-family homes.
(Washington Revised Code Annotated § § 59.18.260 to 59.18.285)
West Virginia Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 45 to 60 days, depending on whether a new tenant moves into the vacated property.
(West Virginia Code § § 37-6A-1 et seq)
Wisconsin Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 21 days
(Wisconsin Administrative Code, ATCP § 134.06and Wisconsin Statute § 704.28)
Wyoming Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Security Deposit: No state law. Check with your local city and county laws for maximum security deposit amounts.
Number of Days to Return the Remaining Deposit Funds and/or Accounting Paperwork: 30 days; the landlord may take an additional 30 days to return the deposit if there are deductions due to damages to the property.
(Wyoming Statutes § § 1-21-1207 and 1-21-1208)
Note: This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please speak with an attorney familiar with landlord-tenant law in your state if you require further clarification or need assistance.
These laws are current as of April 30, 2026, and may not reflect recent legislation if viewed after this date.
I suffer from a mental health condition called Schizophrenia with Bi polar and ADHD can my landlord use my condition against me when i ask to make repairs with in the apartment
There isn’t enough context to your question to understand how a landlord could (or would) use those conditions against a tenant regarding rental repairs. For instance, what type of repairs are you asking for, how is the landlord behaving, how do you think you are being treated differently vs anyone else submitting a repair request? I can’t give legal advice but if you feel you are being discriminated against, I would first check your lease agreement to know what is expected from each party. Then, check with your local housing authority to ask about maintenance and repair requests in your state to find those details of landlord responsibilities (regardless of health status). Knowing what is acceptable is a good first step in knowing if the landlord is operating outside the norm.
If a 1 year lease is Nov 2020 to Nov 30 2021 but both parties signed the lease on March 21 2020.. What is considered a move out date or to renew the lease???? Please…..thanks…
California Tenant. If a lease is signed and is a month to month and it states landlord may terminate month to month lease agreement for any reason. Does that make it so? Even though there is laws that says a lease can’t be terminated without cause. Or because it says that and is signed, then that’s what it is because of agreeing to it?