Security-deposit return deadlines — every state

Pick your state to see how many days you have to return the deposit, what the statute requires, and a calculator that turns a move-out date into your exact deadline.

Or pick your state from the list

All states at a glance

State	Return deadline	Deposit cap	Statute
Alabama	60 days	1 month's rent	Ala. Code §35-9A-201
Alaska	14–30 days	2 months' rent	Alaska Stat. §34.03.070
Arizona	14 business days	1.5 months' rent	Ariz. Rev. Stat. §33-1321(D)
Arkansas	60 days	2 months' rent	Ark. Code §18-16-305
California	21 days	1 month's rent	Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5
Colorado	3–60 days	2 months' rent	Colo. Rev. Stat. §38-12-103
Connecticut	15–21 days	2 months' rent	Conn. Gen. Stat. §47a-21
Delaware	20 days	1 month's rent	Del. Code tit. 25, §5514
District of Columbia	45–75 days	1 month's rent	14 DCMR §§309–311; D.C. Code §42-3502.17
Florida	15–30 days	No statewide cap	Fla. Stat. §83.49(3)
Georgia	30 days	2 months' rent	Ga. Code §§44-7-30.1, 44-7-34
Hawaii	14 days	1 month's rent	Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44
Idaho	21–30 days	No statewide cap	Idaho Code §6-321
Illinois	30–45 days	No statewide cap	765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 710/1
Indiana	45 days	No statewide cap	Ind. Code §§32-31-3-12, 32-31-3-14
Iowa	30 days	2 months' rent	Iowa Code §562A.12
Kansas	14–30 days	1 month's rent	Kan. Stat. §§58-2548, 58-2550
Kentucky	60 days	No statewide cap	Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580
Louisiana	30 days	No statewide cap	La. Rev. Stat. §9:3251
Maine	21–30 days	2 months' rent	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§6032–6033
Maryland	45 days	1 month's rent	Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-203
Massachusetts	30 days	1 month's rent	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B
Michigan	30 days	1.5 months' rent	Mich. Comp. Laws §§554.602–554.613
Minnesota	5–21 days	No statewide cap	Minn. Stat. §504B.178
Mississippi	45 days	No statewide cap	Miss. Code §89-8-21
Missouri	30 days	2 months' rent	Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300
Montana	10–30 days	No statewide cap	Mont. Code §§70-25-201, 70-25-202
Nebraska	14 days	1 month's rent	Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416
Nevada	30 days	3 months' rent	Nev. Rev. Stat. §§118A.240–118A.250
New Hampshire	30 days	1 month's rent	N.H. Rev. Stat. §§540-A:6, 540-A:7
New Jersey	5–30 days	1.5 months' rent	N.J. Stat. §46:8-21.1
New Mexico	30 days	1 month's rent	N.M. Stat. §47-8-18
New York	14 days	1 month's rent	N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108
North Carolina	30–60 days	2 months' rent	N.C. Gen. Stat. §§42-50 to 42-52
North Dakota	30 days	1 month's rent	N.D. Cent. Code §47-16-07.1
Ohio	30 days	No statewide cap	Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16
Oklahoma	45 days	No statewide cap	Okla. Stat. tit. 41, §115
Oregon	14–31 days	No statewide cap	Or. Rev. Stat. §90.300
Pennsylvania	30 days	2 months' rent	68 Pa. Stat. §§250.511a–250.512
Rhode Island	20 days	1 month's rent	R.I. Gen. Laws §34-18-19
South Carolina	30 days	No statewide cap	S.C. Code §27-40-410
South Dakota	14–45 days	1 month's rent	S.D. Codified Laws §§43-32-6.1, 43-32-24
Tennessee	No statutory deadline	No statewide cap	Tenn. Code §66-28-301
Texas	30 days	No statewide cap	Tex. Prop. Code §§92.103–92.109
Utah	30 days	No statewide cap	Utah Code §57-17-3
Vermont	14–60 days	No statewide cap; some municipalities (e.g., Burlington) impose their own deposit rules	Vt. Stat. tit. 9, §4461
Virginia	45 days	2 months' rent	Va. Code §55.1-1226
Washington	30 days	No statewide cap (installment payment rights apply); Seattle and some cities cap deposits locally	Wash. Rev. Code §59.18.280
West Virginia	45–60 days	No statewide cap	W. Va. Code §§37-6A-1(7), 37-6A-2
Wisconsin	21 days	No statewide cap	Wis. Stat. §704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP §134.06
Wyoming	30–60 days	No statewide cap	Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208

Statutes as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current statute before relying on a deadline. This is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?

It depends entirely on the state — anywhere from about two weeks to 60 days after the tenant moves out, and a few states set no fixed deadline at all. Most states also require an itemized statement of any deductions within the same window. Pick your state above for the exact clock and a date calculator.

When does the deadline clock start?

In most states, when the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession (moves out and returns keys). Some states start the clock only after the tenant provides a forwarding address, or run separate clocks for returning the deposit versus sending a deduction notice — the state pages spell out each variant.

What happens if a landlord misses the deadline?

Penalties vary by state, and many have teeth: forfeiting the right to keep any of the deposit, owing double or triple the amount wrongfully withheld, and paying the tenant's attorney's fees. Calendar the deadline the day the tenant leaves.

Do states cap how much security deposit I can charge?

Many do — commonly one to two months' rent — while others set no statewide cap. The cap column above shows each state's limit; cities can layer on stricter local rules, so check local ordinances too.

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