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Security
Deposit Law PART 2:
Security Deposit Refund and Deduction Deadlines
The
return of security deposit has to be handled with love and care. Our
security deposit law guide for every state in the U.S. will reveal what
are the deadlines and details you must know when dishing out a security
deposit refund.
Do you
know your state laws for collecting and holding security deposit? If No,
Click
here for Part 1
of this Security Deposit Law Guide.
The count down for returning security deposit kick starts once the
lease terminates. If you intend to make deductions from the security
deposit, do make sure that it's done in writing - Click here for our free security
deposit deduction form. (opens a new window)
Here's an important slice of info: For most states,
the time limit for sending a deposit deduction form and security
deposit refund is the same. However some states impose a different time
limit to fire off your deduction notice (e.g. you may be given 45 days
for the return of security deposit, but only 30 days to inform your
tenant of any deductions).
State
Security Deposit Laws for Return of Security Deposit
Alabama AL
- No specific deadline
Alaska AK
- 14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to landlord
to terminate the tenancy. This is extended to 30 days if the tenant
fails to give proper notice.
Arizona AZ
- 14 days
Arkansas AR
- 30 days
California CA
- 3 weeks
Colorado CO
- 1 month by default but can be stretched up to 60 days if the lease
agreement specifies a longer deadline.
Connecticut CT
- 30 days or within 15 days of receiving the tenant's forwarding
address, which is later (means the deadline can be extended beyond 30
days if tenant gives notice late).
Delaware DE
- 20 days and up to 30 days for pet deposit.
District of
Columbia DC - 45 days
Florida FL
- 15 days for return of security deposit if there are no deductions. If
the
landlord intends to impose a claim
on the security deposit, he or she has to inform the tenant in writing
within 30 days. Once this
notice of deduction is issued, the landlord has 30 days to return the
remaining deposit to the tenant.
Georgia GA
- 1 month
Hawaii HI
- 14 days
Idaho ID
- 21 days by default but can be stretched up to 30 days if
both the landlord and tenant agree to extend it.
Illinois IL
- 45 days for
security deposit refund. If the landlord intends to impose a
claim
on the security deposit, he/she has to inform the tenant in writing
within 30 days.
Indiana IN
- 45 days
Iowa IA
- 30 days
Kansas KS
- 30 days
Kentucky KY
- 30 to 60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
Louisiana LA
- 30 days if there is a written lease agreement. For a tenancy at will (no
written lease agreement), the deadline for return of security deposit
drops to 21 days.
Maine ME - 30 days
if there is a written lease agreement. For a tenancy at will (no
written lease agreement), the deadline for return of security deposit
drops to 21 days.
Maryland MD
- 45 days for
security deposit refund. If the
landlord intends to impose a claim
on the security deposit, he/she has to inform the tenant in writing
within 30 days.
Massachusetts MA -
30 days
Michigan MI
- 30 days
Minnesota MN
- 21 days
Mississippi MS
- 45 days
Missouri MO
- 30 days
Montana MT
- 30 days
Nebraska NE
- 14 days
Nevada NV
- 30 days
New Hampshire
NH - 30 days
New Jersey NJ
- 30 days
New Mexico NM
- 30 days
New York NY
- No specific
deadline. Exact wording of the security deposit law is "reasonable
time".
North
Carolina NC - 30 days
North Dakota
ND - 30 days
Ohio OH
- 30 days
Oklahoma OK
- 30 days
Oregon OR
- 30 days
Pennsylvania
PA - 30 days
Rhode Island
RI - 20 days
South
Carolina SC - 30 days
South Dakota
SD - 2 weeks
Tennessee TN
- No specific deadline
Texas TX
- 30 days
Utah UT
- 30 days or
within 15 days of receiving the tenant's forwarding address, whichever
is
later.
Vermont VT - 14 days
Virginia VA
- 30 days
Washington WA
- 14 days
West Virginia
WV - No specific
deadline
Wisconsin WI - 21
days
Wyoming WY
- No specific
deadline
Do you want to learn MORE practical
must-know facts on
landlord tenant law?
Return from
this Security Deposit Law page to our Rental
Property Law
guide
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