U.S. Security Deposit Laws - Return of Security Deposit

Is your lease over? Then learn the security deposit laws that govern the return of security deposit in your state.

Most states in the U.S. have a specific deadline for security deposit returns (commonly between 14 to 45 days from the end of a lease). Unless otherwise specified (e.g. see Florida below), the same deadline applies to security deposit deductions as well.

The security deposit rules for some states do not specify a deadline, but the landlord still has to return within security deposit within a reasonable time frame This is commonly assumed to be 30 days but we highly recommend a security deposit return within 14 days to play it safe.

Your state laws also dictate the amount of security deposit you can ask for and whether you have to pay interest on security deposit - Click here to see your state security deposit rules for deposit amount and interest.

Security Deposit Laws - Deduction and Return of Security Deposit

Alabama AL	No specific deadline.
Alaska AK	14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to landlord to terminate the lease. The deadline is extended to 30 days if the tenant fails to give proper notice.
Arizona AZ	14 days
Arkansas AR	30 days
California CA	21 days
Colorado CO	1 month by default but can be extended to 60 days if the lease agreement specifies a longer deadline.
Connecticut CT	30 days or 15 days of receiving the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later (meaning the deadline may be extended beyond 30 days if the forwarding address is received late).
Delaware DE	20 days and up to 30 days for pet deposit.
District of Columbia	45 days
Florida FL	15 days for return of security deposit if there are no deductions. If the landlord intends to make security deposit deductions, he or she has to inform the tenant in writing within 30 days. Once this deduction notice 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 extended to 30 days if the landlord and tenant agree to an extension.
Illinois IL	45 days for security deposit return. If the landlord intends to make security deposit deductions, he or 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 days. This is extended to 60 days if there are disputes with the security deposit deductions.
Louisiana LA	30 days if there is a written lease agreement. If there is no written lease agreement, the deadline falls to 21 days.
Maine ME	30 days if there is a written lease agreement. If there is no written lease agreement, the deadline falls to 21 days.
Maryland MD	45 days for security deposit return. If the landlord intends to make security deposit deductions, he or 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. New York security deposit law specifies it as "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 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.

U.S. Security Deposit Laws - Return of Security Deposit

Security Deposit Laws - Deduction and Return of Security Deposit

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