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Landlord guides

Security deposit laws, state by state

How much you may hold, how long you have to give it back, and the statute that says so — for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Written for landlords with a handful of units.

Jurisdictions that cap the deposit
30 of 51
No statutory cap
21 jurisdictions
Return deadline
14–60 days (median 30)
StateMaximum depositReturn deadlineStatute
Alabama1 month's rent60 daysAla. Code § 35-9A-201
Alaska2 months' rent14 daysAlaska Stat. § 34.03.070
Arizona1.5 months' rent14 business daysAriz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321
Arkansas2 months' rent60 daysArk. Code §§ 18-16-303 to 18-16-305
California1 month's rent21 daysCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5
Colorado2 months' rent30 daysColo. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103
Connecticut2 months' rent21 daysConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21
Delaware1 month's rent20 daysDel. Code tit. 25 § 5514
District of Columbia1 month's rent45 days14 DCMR §§ 308–309; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17
FloridaNo statutory cap15 daysFla. Stat. § 83.49
Georgia2 months' rent30 daysGa. Code §§ 44-7-30.1, 44-7-34
Hawaii1 month's rent14 daysHaw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
IdahoNo statutory cap21 daysIdaho Code § 6-321
IllinoisNo statutory cap45 days765 ILCS 710/1
IndianaNo statutory cap45 daysInd. Code § 32-31-3-12
Iowa2 months' rent30 daysIowa Code § 562A.12
Kansas1 month's rent30 daysKan. Stat. § 58-2550
KentuckyNo statutory capNo fixed deadlineKy. Rev. Stat. §§ 383.500, 383.580
LouisianaNo statutory cap30 daysLa. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251
Maine2 months' rent30 daysMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 §§ 6032, 6033
Maryland1 month's rent45 daysMd. Real Prop. § 8-203
Massachusetts1 month's rent30 daysMass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B
Michigan1.5 months' rent30 daysMich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609
MinnesotaNo statutory cap21 daysMinn. Stat. § 504B.178
MississippiNo statutory cap45 daysMiss. Code § 89-8-21
Missouri2 months' rent30 daysMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300
MontanaNo statutory cap30 daysMont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202
Nebraska1 month's rent14 daysNeb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416
Nevada3 months' rent30 daysNev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242
New Hampshire1 month's rent30 daysN.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 540-A:6, 540-A:7
New Jersey1.5 months' rent30 business daysN.J. Stat. §§ 46:8-21.1, 46:8-21.2
New Mexico1 month's rent30 daysN.M. Stat. § 47-8-18
New York1 month's rent14 daysN.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108
North Carolina2 months' rent30 daysN.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-51, 42-52
North Dakota1 month's rent30 daysN.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1
OhioNo statutory cap30 daysOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16
OklahomaNo statutory cap45 daysOkla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115
OregonNo statutory cap31 daysOr. Rev. Stat. § 90.300
Pennsylvania2 months' rent30 days68 Pa. Stat. §§ 250.511a, 250.512
Rhode Island1 month's rent20 daysR.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19
South CarolinaNo statutory cap30 daysS.C. Code § 27-40-410
South Dakota1 month's rent21 daysS.D. Codified Laws §§ 43-32-6.1, 43-32-24
TennesseeNo statutory capNo fixed deadlineTenn. Code § 66-28-301
TexasNo statutory cap30 daysTex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.107
UtahNo statutory cap30 business daysUtah Code § 57-17-3
VermontNo statutory cap14 daysVt. Stat. tit. 9 § 4461
Virginia2 months' rent45 daysVa. Code §§ 55.1-1208, 55.1-1226
WashingtonNo statutory cap30 daysWash. Rev. Code §§ 59.18.260, 59.18.280
West VirginiaNo statutory cap60 daysW. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2
WisconsinNo statutory cap21 daysWis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06
WyomingNo statutory cap30 daysWyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208
This is not legal advice. Landlord–tenant law changes, and many cities add rules on top of their state. Each state page links to the statute — read it before you rely on a figure here.
Lease agreements by stateWhat the document must contain, and the clauses templates omitLate rent laws by stateNotice for unpaid rent, grace periods and late-fee capsDeposit limit checkerThe cap and deadline computed against your own rentFree lease auditCheck an existing lease against your state’s rulesHow Rentmark handles thisInspections, deadlines and the itemized statement

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