Security Deposit Laws by State
Last updated: September 2026Researched by DepositHawk Research Team
Every state has different return deadlines, penalty multipliers, and rules on what landlords can legally deduct. Find your state below to see the exact statute and your rights.
51
States covered
29 days
Avg deadline, states with a fixed period
15
Fixed-period states with 3x penalty
2
States w/ walk-through req.
Alabama
AL- Return deadline
- 60 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Ala. Code § 35-9A-201
View Alabama laws →
Alaska
AK- Return deadline
- 14 days (30 days if the landlord deducts for damage or you did not give the statutory notice ending the tenancy)
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070
View Alaska laws →
Arizona
AZ- Return deadline
- 14 business days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- A.R.S. § 33-1321
View Arizona laws →
Arkansas
AR- Return deadline
- Check the statute
- Penalty
- Check the statute
- Statute
- Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305
View Arkansas laws →
California
CA- Return deadline
- 21 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5
View California laws →
Colorado
CO- Return deadline
- one month (60 days if the lease sets a longer period)
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- C.R.S. § 38-12-103
View Colorado laws →
Connecticut
CT- Return deadline
- 21 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21
View Connecticut laws →
Delaware
DE- Return deadline
- 20 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Del. Code Ann. tit. 25, § 5514
View Delaware laws →
District of Columbia
DC- Return deadline
- 45 days (75 days if the landlord gives written notice that it will withhold part of the deposit)
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- 14 DCMR § 309
View District of Columbia laws →
Florida
FL- Return deadline
- 15 days
- Penalty
- Actual + penalty
- Statute
- Fla. Stat. § 83.49
View Florida laws →
Georgia
GA- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34
View Georgia laws →
Hawaii
HI- Return deadline
- 14 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
View Hawaii laws →
Idaho
ID- Return deadline
- 21 days (30 days if the lease sets a longer period)
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- Idaho Code § 6-321
View Idaho laws →
Illinois
IL- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- 765 ILCS 710/1
View Illinois laws →
Indiana
IN- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Penalty
- Actual + penalty
- Statute
- Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12
View Indiana laws →
Iowa
IA- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Iowa Code § 562A.12
View Iowa laws →
Kansas
KS- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2.5x damages
- Statute
- K.S.A. § 58-2550
View Kansas laws →
Kentucky
KY- Return deadline
- Check the statute
- Penalty
- Check the statute
- Statute
- KRS § 383.580
View Kentucky laws →
Louisiana
LA- Return deadline
- one month
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- La. R.S. § 9:3251
View Louisiana laws →
Maine
ME- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- 14 M.R.S.A. § 6033
View Maine laws →
Maryland
MD- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203
View Maryland laws →
Massachusetts
MA- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B
View Massachusetts laws →
Michigan
MI- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- M.C.L. § 554.602
View Michigan laws →
Minnesota
MN- Return deadline
- 21 days
- Penalty
- Actual + penalty
- Statute
- Minn. Stat. § 504B.178
View Minnesota laws →
Mississippi
MS- Return deadline
- Check the statute
- Penalty
- Check the statute
- Statute
- Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21
View Mississippi laws →
Missouri
MO- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300
View Missouri laws →
Montana
MT- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- Actual + penalty
- Statute
- Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202
View Montana laws →
Nebraska
NE- Return deadline
- 14 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416
View Nebraska laws →
Nevada
NV- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242
View Nevada laws →
New Hampshire
NH- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:7
View New Hampshire laws →
New Jersey
NJ- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- N.J.S.A. § 46:8-21.1
View New Jersey laws →
New Mexico
NM- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- Actual + $250
- Statute
- N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-18
View New Mexico laws →
New York
NY- Return deadline
- 14 days
- Penalty
- Actual + penalty
- Statute
- N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108
View New York laws →
North Carolina
NC- Return deadline
- 30 days (60 days if the landlord cannot yet determine what is owed)
- Penalty
- Actual + penalty
- Statute
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52
View North Carolina laws →
North Dakota
ND- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1
View North Dakota laws →
Ohio
OH- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16
View Ohio laws →
Oklahoma
OK- Return deadline
- Check the statute
- Penalty
- Check the statute
- Statute
- Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115
View Oklahoma laws →
Oregon
OR- Return deadline
- 31 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300
View Oregon laws →
Pennsylvania
PA- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- 68 P.S. § 250.512
View Pennsylvania laws →
Rhode Island
RI- Return deadline
- 20 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19
View Rhode Island laws →
South Carolina
SC- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- 3x damages
- Statute
- S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410
View South Carolina laws →
South Dakota
SD- Return deadline
- Check the statute
- Penalty
- Check the statute
- Statute
- S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24
View South Dakota laws →
Tennessee
TN- Return deadline
- Check the statute
- Penalty
- Check the statute
- Statute
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301
View Tennessee laws →
Texas
TX- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- Actual + $100
- Statute
- Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109
View Texas laws →
Utah
UT- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Penalty
- Actual + $100
- Statute
- Utah Code Ann. § 57-17-3
View Utah laws →
Vermont
VT- Return deadline
- 14 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- 9 V.S.A. § 4461
View Vermont laws →
Virginia
VA- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Penalty
- Actual + penalty
- Statute
- Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1226
View Virginia laws →
Washington
WA- Return deadline
- 21 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- RCW § 59.18.280
View Washington laws →
West Virginia
WV- Return deadline
- 60 days
- Penalty
- 2.5x damages
- Statute
- W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2
View West Virginia laws →
Wisconsin
WI- Return deadline
- 21 days
- Penalty
- 2x damages
- Statute
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06
View Wisconsin laws →
Wyoming
WY- Return deadline
- Check the statute
- Penalty
- Check the statute
- Statute
- Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208
View Wyoming laws →
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