Security Deposit Return Deadlines by State (2026)
Missing the deposit return deadline is one of the easiest ways for a small landlord to end up owing a tenant money. Here is the rule for every state, straight from the official statute, with the date we last checked it.
Why the deadline matters
Every state sets its own rule for when a landlord must give back a security deposit after the tenant moves out, and many also require a written, itemized list of any deductions. The clock, the paperwork, and the penalty for getting it wrong all differ from state to state, so the safest move is to read the exact rule for the state where your rental is.
Deadlines in all 50 states and DC
Each row below is the verified rule for that state, linked to the official code section. Click a state name for its full deposit page.
| State | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Refund or itemized list of deductions within 60 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered; if late, the landlord owes double the original deposit. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b), (c), (f) (Browser transcription) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Alaska | Within 14 days, or 30 days if deductions are made for damage or the tenant didn't give proper notice. | AS 34.03.070(g) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Arizona | Within 14 days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) after the tenancy ends, possession is returned, and the tenant demands it: an itemized list of deductions plus any amount due. | A.R.S. § 33-1321(D) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Arkansas | Within 60 days after the tenant vacates, with a written itemized list of any deductions (landlords with 6+ units). | Ark. security-deposit law, as summarized by the Arkansas Attorney General checked 2026-10-15 |
| California | No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Colorado | Within 30 days after the lease ends or the premises are surrendered, whichever is later (a lease may extend this to no more than 60 days). Include a written statement of the exact reasons for anything kept. | C.R.S. § 38-12-103(1) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Connecticut | Within 21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after receiving the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later. Includes accrued interest and an itemized statement of deductions. Penalty for violations: twice the deposit. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Delaware | Within 20 days after the lease ends, provide an itemized list of damages and return the balance; failure entitles the tenant to double the amount wrongfully withheld. | 25 Del. C. § 5514 checked 2026-10-15 |
| District of Columbia | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the owner must either return the deposit with interest due, or give written notice (in person or by certified mail) of intent to withhold. If notice is given, the owner must refund the balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after it. Bad-faith withholding can bring treble damages. | 14 DCMR §§ 309.1-309.5 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Florida | Return within 15 days if the landlord makes no claim. Otherwise, written notice of the claim within 30 days, sent by certified mail or email. | Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Georgia | Within 30 days after the landlord regains possession: return the deposit, or a written statement of the exact reasons for withholding plus the balance (Georgia Attorney General's summary of the statute). | O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Hawaii | Within 14 days after the tenancy ends. | HRS § 521-44(c) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Idaho | Within 21 days if the lease sets no time, and in any event within 30 days after the tenant surrenders the premises. | Idaho Code § 6-321 checked 2026-10-16 |
| Illinois | To withhold for damage: send an itemized statement with costs within 30 days after the tenant vacates (paid receipts within 30 days if estimates were used). With no statement, return the full deposit within 45 days of move-out. Bad faith can cost twice the deposit. | 765 ILCS 710/1 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Indiana | Itemized notice of deductions and the balance are due within 45 days after the lease ends and possession is delivered. | IC 32-31-3-12(a) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Iowa | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives a mailing address: return the deposit or give a written statement of specific reasons for withholding. | Iowa Code § 562A.12(3) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Kansas | Within 14 days after the amount of deductions is determined, and no later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant demands it. | K.S.A. 58-2550(b) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Kentucky | No fixed refund deadline: the landlord must send the tenant notice of any refund due, and may keep the deposit if the tenant doesn't respond within 60 days. If the tenant leaves owing the last month's rent and doesn't ask for the deposit, the landlord may apply it after 30 days. | KRS 383.580(6), (7) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Louisiana | Within one month after the lease ends. An itemized statement of any amounts kept is due within one month, or within 15 days after that one-month date. | La. R.S. 9:3251(A) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Maine | Written lease: within the time stated in the lease, but no more than 30 days. Tenancy at will: within 21 days after the tenancy ends or the premises are surrendered, whichever is later. | 14 M.R.S. § 6033 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Maryland | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends: a written list of charges with supporting documents, plus the rest of the deposit with interest. | Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-203, 8-203.1 (DHCD Tenant Bill of Rights) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Massachusetts | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends: return the deposit or balance. Any deduction for damage needs a sworn, itemized list plus estimates, bills, or receipts within the same 30 days, or the right to keep any of it is lost. | M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Michigan | To claim damages, mail the tenant an itemized notice of damages, with estimated repair costs, within 30 days after occupancy ends. | MCL 554.609 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Minnesota | Within three weeks after the tenancy ends (and after receiving the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions): return the deposit with interest, or a written statement of reasons for withholding. | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Mississippi | The landlord may keep only amounts reasonably needed for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, cleaning or other default costs, itemized in writing. The rest must be returned within 45 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant makes a demand. Bad-faith retention can add up to $200 in damages on top of actual damages. | Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3)–(4) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Missouri | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends: return the full deposit, or an itemized list of damages for any amount kept. | RSMo § 535.300(3) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Montana | Generally within 30 days after the tenancy ends or the premises are surrendered (whichever comes first), with a written list of charges and the refund; subsection (2) sets exceptions. | MCA § 70-25-202(1) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Nebraska | Within 14 days after the tenancy ends. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Nevada | Itemized accounting and the remaining deposit are due within 30 days after the tenancy ends. | NRS 118A.242(4) checked 2026-10-15 |
| New Hampshire | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, with any interest due and a written itemized list of damages. | RSA 540-A:7, I checked 2026-10-15 |
| New Jersey | Within 30 days after the tenant moves out: return the deposit plus interest, less itemized deductions. A tenant who wins in court gets double the amount owed, plus costs. | N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 (NJ Courts summary) checked 2026-10-15 |
| New Mexico | Itemized list of deductions and any balance within 30 days after the agreement ends or the tenant leaves, whichever is later. | NMSA 1978, § 47-8-18(C) checked 2026-10-15 |
| New York | Within 14 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must return the deposit or provide an itemized statement of any amounts kept. | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e) checked 2026-10-15 |
| North Carolina | Itemized accounting plus balance within 30 days after the tenancy ends and possession is returned. If the claim can't be determined by then, send an interim accounting within 30 days and a final accounting within 60 days. | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 checked 2026-10-15 |
| North Dakota | Return with a written notice within 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant delivers possession. | N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Ohio | Itemized written notice of deductions plus any amount due within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and possession is returned. The tenant must give a forwarding address in writing. | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Oklahoma | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant makes a written demand (the demand must be made within 6 months). | 41 O.S. § 115(B) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Oregon | Landlord must give a written accounting and return any unclaimed deposit within 31 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession. | ORS 90.300(12)-(13) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Pennsylvania | Written list of damages plus the remaining deposit (with any unpaid interest) within 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the premises. Missing the list forfeits the right to withhold. | 68 P.S. § 250.512 (Landlord and Tenant Act § 512) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Rhode Island | Within 20 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered, or the tenant gives a forwarding address, whichever is later. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b) checked 2026-10-15 |
| South Carolina | Itemized deductions and any refund are due within 30 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant makes a demand, whichever is later. | S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a) checked 2026-10-15 |
| South Dakota | Within 21 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address: return the deposit or give written reasons for withholding. An itemized accounting is due within 45 days on request. | SDCL § 43-32-24 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Tennessee | The statute sets no fixed return deadline. Deposits must be kept in a separate escrow account at a regulated bank, and tenants must be told where it is at lease signing. Move-out damage must be listed (with a mutual inspection if the tenant requests one) or the landlord cannot keep any of the deposit. If a refund is due, the landlord must notify the tenant. A refund unclaimed after 60 days may be kept. (Applies in counties covered by the URLTA, those with more than 75,000 people.) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301(a)–(c), (f), (h) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Texas | Within 30 days after the tenant surrenders the premises. | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103(a) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Utah | Within 30 days after the renter moves out, the owner must mail or deliver the deposit balance, any prepaid rent, and an itemized list of deductions. If the owner doesn't, the renter can serve a 5-business-day demand. Failing that, the owner owes the full deposit plus a $100 penalty. | Utah Code §§ 57-17-3(2)–(3), 57-17-5 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Vermont | Within 14 days after the tenant vacates (60 days for seasonal non-primary rentals). If the landlord misses the deadline, they forfeit the right to withhold; if the failure is willful, they owe double. | 9 V.S.A. § 4461 checked 2026-10-15 |
| Virginia | Itemized written notice plus any amount owed within 45 days after the tenancy ends or the tenant moves out, whichever is later. | Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Washington | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant moves out: a full, specific statement of reasons for any retention (with estimates or invoices) plus any refund owed. | RCW 59.18.280 checked 2026-10-15 |
| West Virginia | Within the notice period: 60 days after the tenancy ends, or 45 days after a new tenant moves in, whichever is shorter. | W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1(7), 37-6A-2(a) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Wisconsin | Within 21 days after the trigger date (usually the date the rental agreement ends): return the deposit, less permitted amounts, with a written itemized statement of anything withheld. | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06(2), (4) checked 2026-10-15 |
| Wyoming | Within 30 days after the lease ends or within 15 days after receiving the renter's new address, whichever is later; extended by 30 days if there is damage. | W.S. § 1-21-1208(a) checked 2026-10-15 |
How to stay on the right side of the deadline
Put the move-out date and your state's deadline on your calendar the day the tenant gives notice. Do the move-out walkthrough promptly, take dated photos, and keep receipts for any repairs you plan to deduct. Send the refund and any itemized statement in a way you can prove, such as a tracked mailing, to the forwarding address the tenant gives you. These are good-practice habits, not legal requirements.
Cities can add their own rules on top of state law, so check the city pages if your rental is in a city we cover.
- Free move-in/move-out checklist
- Security deposit limits by state
- Cities with their own rules
- Landlord law FAQ
Not legal advice. General information only. Laws change, and local rules, lease terms and your facts matter. Check the official source linked for each rule and talk to a licensed attorney in your state before you act.