What a security deposit is
Money the tenant pays at the start, held by the landlord against rent left unpaid and damage beyond normal use. It stays the tenant’s money: what is not owed goes back at the end.
US security deposit law
Security deposit laws by state (2026)
A security deposit is money a landlord holds against unpaid rent and damage, and every state sets its own rules for it. 28 of 50 states cap the amount, and the median deadline to return it is 30 days. Find your state below for the limit, the deadline and the statute.
Free for 14 days, cancel whenever · Nothing is switched on until you say so
- States that cap the deposit
- 28
- of 50 states
- Median return deadline
- 30 days
- Across the 48 states that set one
- Shortest return deadline
- 14 days
- Longest return deadline
- 60 days
Security deposit limit and return deadline, by state
The cap on the deposit, the days a landlord has to return it, and whether the statute owes the tenant interest. Each figure gives the section it was read from; open a state for the notes that change it.
50 states shown
| State | Deposit limit | Return deadline | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month’s rentAla. Code § 35-9A-201 | 60 daysAla. Code § 35-9A-201 | Not required by state law |
| Alaska | 2 months’ rentAlaska Stat. § 34.03.070 | 30 daysAlaska Stat. § 34.03.070 | Not required by state law |
| Arizona | 1.5 months’ rentAriz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 | 14 daysAriz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 | Not required by state law |
| Arkansas | 2 months’ rentArk. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-303, 18-16-304, 18-16-305 | 60 daysArk. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-303, 18-16-304, 18-16-305 | Not required by state law |
| California | 1 month’s rentCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (as amended by AB 12, 2023) | 21 daysCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (as amended by AB 12, 2023) | Not required by state law |
| Colorado | 1 month’s rentColo. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, from 2026-01-01) | 30 daysColo. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, from 2026-01-01) | Not confirmed yet |
| Connecticut | 2 months’ rentConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 | 21 daysConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 | Owed, see the note |
| Delaware | 1 month’s rent25 Del. C. §§ 5514, 5514A | 20 days25 Del. C. §§ 5514, 5514A | Not required by state law |
| Florida | No cap in statuteFla. Stat. § 83.49 | 30 daysFla. Stat. § 83.49 | Not required by state law |
| Georgia | 2 months’ rentO.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30.1, 44-7-31, 44-7-32, 44-7-34, 44-7-36 | 30 daysO.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30.1, 44-7-31, 44-7-32, 44-7-34, 44-7-36 | Not confirmed yet |
| Hawaii | 1 month’s rentHaw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 | 14 daysHaw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 | Not required by state law |
| Idaho | No cap in statuteIdaho Code § 6-321 | 21 daysIdaho Code § 6-321 | Not required by state law |
| Illinois | No cap in statute765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); 765 ILCS 715 (Security Deposit Interest Act) | 45 days765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); 765 ILCS 715 (Security Deposit Interest Act) | Owed, see the note |
| Indiana | No cap in statuteInd. Code § 32-31-3-12 | 45 daysInd. Code § 32-31-3-12 | Not required by state law |
| Iowa | 2 months’ rentIowa Code § 562A.12 | 30 daysIowa Code § 562A.12 | Not required by state law |
| Kansas | 1 month’s rentKan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550 | 30 daysKan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550 | Not required by state law |
| Kentucky | No cap in statuteKy. Rev. Stat. § 383.580 | No fixed deadlineKy. Rev. Stat. § 383.580 | Not required by state law |
| Louisiana | No cap in statuteLa. R.S. 9:3251 | 30 daysLa. R.S. 9:3251 | Not required by state law |
| Maine | 2 months’ rent14 M.R.S. §§ 6031, 6032, 6033, 6038 | 30 days14 M.R.S. §§ 6031, 6032, 6033, 6038 | Not required by state law |
| Maryland | 1 month’s rentMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 | 45 daysMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 | Owed, see the note |
| Massachusetts | 1 month’s rentMass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 15B; 940 CMR 3.17(4) | 30 daysMass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 15B; 940 CMR 3.17(4) | Owed, see the note |
| Michigan | 1.5 months’ rentMich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.604, 554.609 | 30 daysMich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.604, 554.609 | Not required by state law |
| Minnesota | No cap in statuteMinn. Stat. § 504B.178 | 21 daysMinn. Stat. § 504B.178 | Owed, see the note |
| Mississippi | No cap in statuteMiss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 | 45 daysMiss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 | Not required by state law |
| Missouri | 2 months’ rentMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 | 30 daysMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 | Not required by state law |
| Montana | No cap in statuteMont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202 | 30 daysMont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202 | Not required by state law |
| Nebraska | 1 month’s rentNeb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, as amended by LB 433, 2019) | 14 daysNeb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, as amended by LB 433, 2019) | Not required by state law |
| Nevada | 3 months’ rentNRS 118A.240, 118A.242, 118A.250 | 30 daysNRS 118A.240, 118A.242, 118A.250 | Not required by state law |
| New Hampshire | 1 month’s rentRSA 540-A:5 to 540-A:8 | 30 daysRSA 540-A:5 to 540-A:8 | Not confirmed yet |
| New Jersey | 1.5 months’ rentN.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26 (Rent Security Deposit Act), notably 46:8-19, 46:8-21.1, 46:8-21.2 | 30 daysN.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26 (Rent Security Deposit Act), notably 46:8-19, 46:8-21.1, 46:8-21.2 | Owed, see the note |
| New Mexico | No cap in statuteNMSA 1978 § 47-8-18 (Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act) | 30 daysNMSA 1978 § 47-8-18 (Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act) | Owed, see the note |
| New York | 1 month’s rentGeneral Obligations Law §§ 7-103, 7-108 (as amended by the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act 2019) | 14 daysGeneral Obligations Law §§ 7-103, 7-108 (as amended by the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act 2019) | Owed, see the note |
| North Carolina | 2 months’ rentN.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-50 to 42-56 (Tenant Security Deposit Act) | 60 daysN.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-50 to 42-56 (Tenant Security Deposit Act) | Not required by state law |
| North Dakota | 1 month’s rentN.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1 | 30 daysN.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1 | Owed, see the note |
| Ohio | No cap in statuteOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | 30 daysOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | Owed, see the note |
| Oklahoma | No cap in statute41 O.S. § 115 (Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) | 45 days41 O.S. § 115 (Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) | Not required by state law |
| Oregon | No cap in statuteORS 90.300 | 31 daysORS 90.300 | Not required by state law |
| Pennsylvania | 2 months’ rent68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.511b, 250.512 (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951) | 30 days68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.511b, 250.512 (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951) | Owed, see the note |
| Rhode Island | 1 month’s rentR.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 | 20 daysR.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 | Not required by state law |
| South Carolina | No cap in statuteS.C. Code § 27-40-410 | 30 daysS.C. Code § 27-40-410 | Not required by state law |
| South Dakota | 1 month’s rentSDCL §§ 43-32-6.1, 43-32-24 (as amended by SL 2026, ch 179) | 21 daysSDCL §§ 43-32-6.1, 43-32-24 (as amended by SL 2026, ch 179) | Not required by state law |
| Tennessee | No cap in statuteTenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) | No fixed deadlineTenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) | Not required by state law |
| Texas | No cap in statuteTex. Prop. Code §§ 92.102 to 92.109 | 30 daysTex. Prop. Code §§ 92.102 to 92.109 | Not required by state law |
| Utah | No cap in statuteUtah Code § 57-17-3 (Residential Renters’ Deposits) | 30 daysUtah Code § 57-17-3 (Residential Renters’ Deposits) | Not required by state law |
| Vermont | No cap in statute9 V.S.A. § 4461 | 14 days9 V.S.A. § 4461 | Not required by state law |
| Virginia | 2 months’ rentVa. Code § 55.1-1226 (Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) | 45 daysVa. Code § 55.1-1226 (Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) | Not required by state law |
| Washington | No cap in statuteRCW 59.18.260, 59.18.270, 59.18.280, 59.18.610, 59.18.670 | 30 daysRCW 59.18.260, 59.18.270, 59.18.280, 59.18.610, 59.18.670 | Not required by state law |
| West Virginia | No cap in statuteW. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2 | 60 daysW. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2 | Not required by state law |
| Wisconsin | No cap in statuteWis. Stat. § 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 | 21 daysWis. Stat. § 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 | Not required by state law |
| Wyoming | No cap in statuteWyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1207, 1-21-1208 | 60 daysWyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1207, 1-21-1208 | Not required by state law |
Every figure was read against the statute on 29 September 2026.
The basics
What every state agrees on, and where they part
What can come out of it
Unpaid rent and the cost of repairing damage beyond normal wear and tear. Faded paint, light scuffs and carpet worn by ordinary living are wear and tear; a hole in a wall is damage. A written list of each deduction, with what it cost, is what makes one stick.
How long you have to return it
Between 14 and 60 days in the 48 states that fix a number, usually counted from the day the tenancy ends and the keys come back. Some states allow longer when there are deductions, or count only business days, so read your state’s note.
New to Dardaris?
Dardaris keeps the deposit and its deadline for you
Each deposit sits on its lease with the day it arrived. When a tenant moves out, Dardaris counts the return deadline from that day and puts it on your list, so the deposit goes back in time. Nothing goes out until you approve it.
Free for 14 days, cancel whenever · Nothing is switched on until you say so
88 Maple Street, Apt 2A
Dardaris
The deposit for this apartment is on its lease. I count the California return deadline from move-out. You approve, I send.
- Deposit ceiling
- 1 month’s rent
- Back to the tenant within
- 21 days
Questions owners ask
What is a security deposit?
A sum the tenant pays at the start of a lease, which the landlord holds against unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. It remains the tenant’s money, and whatever is not owed has to be returned when the tenancy ends, within the deadline the state sets.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
It depends on the state. Of the 50 states, 48 fix a number of days, from 14 to 60, with a median of 30. The clock usually starts when the tenancy ends and the tenant gives back possession, and several states allow longer when deductions are made. The table above gives each state’s figure and its statute.
Is there a security deposit limit?
In 28 of 50 states, yes: the statute caps the deposit at a number of months’ rent. The other 22 set no cap in statute, though a city can add its own. Open a state for its figure and the notes that change it, such as an extra deposit for a pet.
Do landlords owe security deposit interest?
Only where state law says so: Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania require it, some only in certain cases, which each state page explains. Some cities add their own interest rule, so check local ordinances as well.
Can a landlord keep the deposit for normal wear and tear?
No. A deposit covers unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the ordinary ageing of a home is the landlord’s cost. Each deduction should be itemised with what it cost, and sent with the balance within the state’s deadline.
This is not legal adviceThis page summarises statutes as read on 29 September 2026. Laws change, cities add their own rules, and a court reads a statute against the facts of a case. Check the official text, or ask a lawyer, before you act on it.
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