Which states have no deadline for returning a security deposit?

Kentucky sets no statewide deadline for returning a deposit (KRS § 383.580). Tennessee sets no statewide deadline for returning a deposit (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301). In Mississippi (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21), Oklahoma (Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115), South Dakota (S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24) and Wyoming (Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208), the deadline doesn't run from move-out alone: it depends on a later event, such as your demand for the deposit or the landlord getting your new address, so put that in writing and keep proof of the date. Arkansas's deadline covers only some landlords. Each state's page explains the exact rule.

What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit on time?

Once the deadline passes without your deposit or a valid itemized statement, some states, New York and Florida among them, take away the landlord's right to keep any of it. Some state laws also allow a penalty on top of the deposit when the landlord keeps it in bad faith: Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island and South Carolina allow up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld, and Texas allows $100 plus three times the amount wrongfully withheld (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109). A court decides whether a penalty applies. The usual next steps are a demand letter sent by certified mail, then small claims court, where filing fees typically run $30 to $75 and you don't need a lawyer.

Does the deadline start at move-out or at the lease end date?

In almost every state the clock starts when the tenancy ends and you surrender possession — that is, when you hand back the keys and vacate — not on the calendar lease-end date if you left earlier or stayed later. The statutes generally phrase it as days after the tenant 'vacates,' 'surrenders the premises,' or 'delivers possession.' If your move-out date differs from your lease-end date, count from the later actual move-out, and keep proof of when you returned the keys.

Does the landlord have to send an itemized list of deductions?

In every U.S. state and DC, yes. The landlord must provide a written, itemized statement of any deductions within the same window as the return deadline (some states, like Florida, set a separate notice deadline). If the landlord keeps part of the deposit without a valid itemized statement, some states, New York and Florida among them, take away the landlord's right to keep any of it.

What should I do the day after the deadline passes?

Send a demand letter. It is the cheapest pressure you can apply and the standard step before small claims court. A good demand letter names the property and move-out date, cites your state's exact statute, lists each improper deduction, calculates the deposit plus the penalty multiplier, and sets a firm 10-to-14-day response deadline. Send it by USPS certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. DepositHawk generates a state-specific, statute-cited demand letter for $19.

Security Deposit · 50 states + DC

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

In 44 states, a landlord has 14 to 60 days after you move out to return a security deposit: 14 days is the shortest (Alaska, Hawaii, Nebraska, New York and Vermont) and 60 days the longest (Alabama and West Virginia). Kentucky and Tennessee set no statewide deadline, and in Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming the deadline turns on a later event, such as your demand for the deposit or the landlord getting your new address. Arkansas's deadline covers only some landlords.

The table below gives every state's controlling statute, plus the deadline and late-return penalty wherever the statute sets a fixed period.

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Every deadline cites its statute
All 50 states + DC
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Last updated: September 2026 · Researched by the DepositHawk Research Team

The short answer

The deadline is set by your state's statute

California landlords must return security deposits within 21 days of move-out under Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5.

Texas landlords have 30 days to return the deposit under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103, and bad-faith withholding can cost up to 3× the amount plus a $100 penalty.

Florida landlords must return the deposit within 15 days under Fla. Stat. § 83.49, or send a written notice of intended deductions within 30 days.

New York landlords must return the deposit and provide an itemized statement within 14 days under N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108.

Washington landlords have 21 days to return the deposit under RCW § 59.18.280.

Massachusetts is among the strictest states: 30 days to return the deposit under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B, with up to 3× damages for bad-faith withholding.

Deadline by state

Security deposit return deadline in all 51 jurisdictions

Each deadline below is the number of calendar days the landlord has after you move out, with the controlling statute and the penalty for returning late. Where a row says “Check the statute”, that state sets no fixed period or the clock depends on a condition, and the row says which. Tap a state for the full local rules, or get the full dataset as a sortable table and CSV.

Security deposit statute citation for all 51 U.S. jurisdictions, with the return deadline and late-return penalty for the states with a fixed period
State	Return deadline	Statute	Penalty for late return
Alabama	60 days	Ala. Code § 35-9A-201	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Alaska	14 days (30 days if the landlord deducts for damage or you did not give the statutory notice ending the tenancy)	Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Arizona	14 business days	A.R.S. § 33-1321	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Arkansas	Check the statuteCovers some landlords only	Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305	Check the statute
California	21 days	Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Colorado	one month (60 days if the lease sets a longer period)	C.R.S. § 38-12-103	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Connecticut	21 days	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Delaware	20 days	Del. Code Ann. tit. 25, § 5514	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
District of Columbia	45 days (75 days if the landlord gives written notice that it will withhold part of the deposit)	14 DCMR § 309	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Florida	15 days	Fla. Stat. § 83.49	Actual damages plus court-determined damages
Georgia	30 days	O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Hawaii	14 days	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Idaho	21 days (30 days if the lease sets a longer period)	Idaho Code § 6-321	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Illinois	45 days	765 ILCS 710/1	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Indiana	45 days	Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12	Actual damages plus court-determined damages
Iowa	30 days	Iowa Code § 562A.12	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Kansas	30 days	K.S.A. § 58-2550	Up to 2.5× the wrongfully withheld amount
Kentucky	Check the statuteNo statewide deadline	KRS § 383.580	Check the statute
Louisiana	one month	La. R.S. § 9:3251	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Maine	30 days	14 M.R.S.A. § 6033	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Maryland	45 days	Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Massachusetts	30 days	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Michigan	30 days	M.C.L. § 554.602	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Minnesota	21 days	Minn. Stat. § 504B.178	Actual damages plus up to 2× as statutory damages
Mississippi	Check the statuteDepends on a later event	Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21	Check the statute
Missouri	30 days	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Montana	30 days	Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202	Actual damages plus court-determined damages
Nebraska	14 days	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Nevada	30 days	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
New Hampshire	30 days	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:7	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
New Jersey	30 days	N.J.S.A. § 46:8-21.1	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
New Mexico	30 days	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-18	Actual damages plus a $250 penalty
New York	14 days	N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108	Actual damages plus up to 2× as statutory damages
North Carolina	30 days (60 days if the landlord cannot yet determine what is owed)	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52	Actual damages plus court-determined damages
North Dakota	30 days	N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
Ohio	30 days	Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Oklahoma	Check the statuteDepends on a later event	Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115	Check the statute
Oregon	31 days	Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Pennsylvania	30 days	68 P.S. § 250.512	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Rhode Island	20 days	R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
South Carolina	30 days	S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410	Up to 3× the wrongfully withheld amount
South Dakota	Check the statuteDepends on a later event	S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24	Check the statute
Tennessee	Check the statuteNo statewide deadline	Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301	Check the statute
Texas	30 days	Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109	Up to 3× the withheld amount plus $100
Utah	30 days	Utah Code Ann. § 57-17-3	Actual damages plus a $100 penalty
Vermont	14 days	9 V.S.A. § 4461	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Virginia	45 days	Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1226	Actual damages plus court-determined damages
Washington	21 days	RCW § 59.18.280	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
West Virginia	60 days	W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2	Up to 2.5× the wrongfully withheld amount
Wisconsin	21 days	Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06	Up to 2× the wrongfully withheld amount
Wyoming	Check the statuteDepends on a later event	Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208	Check the statute

Day counts and penalties appear only for states with a fixed period, as of September 2026. A handful of states set a separate, longer window for sending an itemized deduction notice — see your state page for the local detail.

Check your deadline

When does your landlord's clock run out?

Pick your state and the day you handed back the keys. For the states with a fixed period, we'll show the date your landlord's deposit is due, the controlling statute and the late-return penalty, and email you a reminder before the clock runs out. For the rest, we show the statute to read.

Deadline passed? Generate a demand letter for $19.

If the deadline passes

What happens if your landlord misses the deadline

Missing the deadline is not a paperwork slip. Once the statutory window closes without your deposit or a valid itemized statement, some states, New York and Florida among them, take away the landlord's right to keep any of it.

Some state laws also allow a penalty on top of the deposit when the landlord keeps it in bad faith. Texas allows $100 plus three times the amount wrongfully withheld under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109, so a $1,200 deposit kept in bad faith can support a claim of up to $3,700. A court decides whether the penalty applies.

1. Confirm the deadline passed

Count from your actual move-out date — the day you handed back the keys — using your state's number of days from the table above. Keep proof of when you surrendered possession, such as move-out photos.

2. Send a demand letter

A written demand citing your state's statute and the penalty multiplier is the standard next step. Send it by certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery.

3. File in small claims

If the letter is ignored, you can sue without a lawyer. Filing fees run $30 to $75, and the deposit plus the statutory penalty is recoverable up to your state's small claims limit.

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Statute cited · Each deduction listed · Ready to print

The next step

A demand letter is the cheapest pressure you can apply

A demand letter that cites your state's exact return deadline and the specific penalty for missing it is the standard first step before small claims. It shows your landlord you know the law and creates a paper trail.

A strong letter gets three things right at once: the exact statute citation, the penalty math, and a firm deadline, sent by certified mail. Our security deposit demand letter guide walks through writing one yourself, or you can generate a state-specific version in five minutes for $19.

FAQ

Common questions about deposit return deadlines

General information about state deposit law, not legal advice.

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DepositHawk is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information and documents on this page are for informational purposes only. Statutory deadlines and penalties change — always verify against the current statute in your jurisdiction. For complex situations, consult a licensed attorney in your state.