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Chart: Deadline for Returning Security Deposits, State-by-State

State deadlines for itemizing and returning tenants' security deposits.

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Here's the amount of time landlords have to return a tenant's security deposit after the tenant leaves. For details on your state's specific procedures for returning security deposits, see your state's landlord-tenant statutes.

StateSecurity Deposit Return Timeline
Alabama35 days after termination of tenancy and delivery of possession
Alaska14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice
Arizona14 days
Arkansas60 days
California21 days
ColoradoOne month, unless lease agreement specifies longer period of time (which may be no more than 60 days); 72 hours (not counting weekends or holidays) if a hazardous condition involving gas equipment requires tenant to vacate
Connecticut30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later
Delaware20 days
District of Columbia45 days
Florida15 to 60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
GeorgiaOne month
Hawaii14 days
Idaho21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree
IllinoisFor properties with five or more units, 30 to 45 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions or if statement and receipts are furnished
Indiana45 days
Iowa30 days
Kansas30 days
Kentucky30-60 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
LouisianaOne month
Maine30 days (if written rental agreement) or 21 days (if tenancy at will)
Maryland45 days
Massachusetts30 days
Michigan30 days
MinnesotaThree weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing address; five days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation
Mississippi45 days
Missouri30 days
Montana30 days (10 days if no deductions)
Nebraska14 days
Nevada30 days
New Hampshire30 days; for shared facilities, if the deposit is more than 30 days' rent, landlord must provide written agreement acknowledging receipt and specifying when deposit will be returned -- if no written agreement, 20 days after tenant vacates
New Jersey30 days; five days in case of fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation; does not apply to owner-occupied building with two or fewer units where tenant fails to provide 30 days' written notice to landlord invoking provisions of act
New Mexico30 days
New Yorkreasonable time
North Carolina30 days; if landlord's claim against the deposit cannot be finalized within that time, landlord may send an interim accounting and a final accounting within 60 days of the tenancy's termination
North Dakota30 days
Ohio30 days
Oklahoma30 days
Oregon31 days
Pennsylvania30 days
Rhode Island20 days
South Carolina30 days
South DakotaTwo weeks, and must supply reasons if withholding any portion; 45 days for a written, itemized accounting, if tenant requests it
TennesseeNo statutory deadline to return; 10 days to itemize
Texas30 days
Utah30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later, but if there is damage to the premises, 30 days
Vermont14 days; 60 days if the rental is seasonal and not intended as the tenant's primary residence
Virginia45 days
Washington14 days
West Virginia30 days
Wisconsin21 days
Wyoming30 days, when applying it to unpaid rent (or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later); additional 30 days allowed for deductions due to damage
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