State Laws on Deadlines for Returning Security Deposits

Here's the amount of time landlords have to return a tenant's security deposit after the tenant leaves. For the specific law in your state, see your state's security deposit statutes. Also, be sure to check state or local rent control or rent regulation laws for any additional related rules.

State Laws on Deadlines for Returning Security Deposits

Alabama

Ala. Code 35-9A-201

60 days after termination of tenancy and delivery of possession.

Alaska

Alaska Stat. §§ 34.03.070, 34.03.120

14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant doesn't give proper notice or if the landlord has deducted amounts needed to remedy damage caused by tenant's failure to maintain the property.

Arizona

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321

14 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays); tenant has the right to be present at final inspection.

Arkansas

Ark. Code § 18-16-305

60 days

California

Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5

21 days

Colorado

Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-12-103, 38-12-104

One month, unless lease agreement specifies longer period of time (which can't be longer than 60 days); 72 hours (not counting weekends or holidays) if a hazardous condition involving gas equipment requires tenant to vacate.

Connecticut

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21

21 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later.

Delaware

Del. Code tit. 25, § 5514

20 days

District of Columbia

14 D.C. Mun. Regs. 309

45 days

Florida

Fla. Stat. § 83.49

15 to 60 days; depends on whether tenant disputes deductions.

Georgia

Ga. Code § 44-7-34

30 days

Hawaii

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44

14 days

Idaho

Idaho Code § 6-321

21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree.

Illinois

765 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 710/1

30 days after the tenant has vacated or when the tenant's right to possession ended, whichever is later. If landlord doesn't return the deposit in full but fails to provide an itemized damage statement with repair costs and receipts, landlord must return the full deposit within 45 days of tenant's vacating the rental.

Indiana

Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12, 32-31-3-14

45 days

Iowa

Iowa Code § 562A.12

30 days

Kansas

Kan. Stat. § 58-2550

14 days after the determination of the amount of any deductions, but in no event longer than 30 days after the end of the tenancy.

Kentucky

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580

30 to 60 days; depends on whether tenant disputes deductions.

Louisiana

La. Rev. Stat. 9:3251

1 month

Maine

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 6033

30 days (if written rental agreement) or 21 days (if tenancy at will).

Maryland

Md. Code Real Prop., § 8-203.1

45 days

Massachusetts

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B

30 days

Michigan

Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.609

30 days

Minnesota

Minn. Stat. § 504B.178

3 weeks after tenant leaves and landlord receives forwarding address; 5 days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation.

Mississippi

Miss. Code §§ 89-8-21

45 days

Missouri

Mo. Rev. Stat § 535.300

30 days

Montana

Mont. Code §§ 70-24-427, 70-25-202, 70-33-427

30 days; 10 days if no deductions. Landlord need not return the deposit if the tenancy was terminated pursuant to Mont. Code §§ 70-24-427 or 70-33-427 (eviction with a claim for rent and damages), and a landlord has a pending claim in court for actual damages.

Nebraska

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416

14 days

Nevada

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242

30 days

New Hampshire

N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 540-A:7, 540-B-10

30 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 Jersey

N.J. Stat. § 46:8-21.1

30 days; within 5 days if tenant has to move out due to fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation.

New Mexico

N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18

30 days

New York

N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108

14 days

North Carolina

N.C. Gen Stat. § 42-52

30 days; if landlord's claim against the deposit can't be finalized within that time, landlord can send an interim accounting and a final accounting within 60 days of the tenancy's end.

North Dakota

N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1

30 days

Ohio

Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16

30 days

Oklahoma

Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115

45 days

Oregon

Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300

31 days

Pennsylvania

68 Pa. Stat. § 250.512

30 days

Rhode Island

R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19

20 days

South Carolina

S.C. Code § 27-40-410

30 days

South Dakota

S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24

2 weeks, and landlord must supply reasons if withholding any portion; 45 days for a written, itemized accounting if tenant requests one.

Tennessee

Tenn. Code § 66-28-301

No statutory deadline for returning security deposit, but landlord must send notification to the tenant's last known address of the amount of any refund due. If the landlord doesn't receive a response from the tenant within 60 days of sending the notification, the landlord may retain the deposit.

Texas

Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103

30 days. Landlord doesn't need to refund deposit until the tenant gives the landlord a forwarding address. If landlord wants to condition the refund of the security deposit on the tenant's giving advance notice of surrender, landlord must put this condition in the lease, and it must be either underlined or printed in conspicuous bold print.

Utah

Utah Code § 57-17-3

30 days

Vermont

Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4461

14 days; 60 days if the rental is seasonal and not intended as the tenant's primary residence.

Virginia

Va. Code § 55.1-1226

45 days after termination or the date tenant vacates, whichever occurs last; 30 days to itemize any deductions to be made during the course of the tenancy (60 days if the deductions exceed the amount of the security deposit). Lease can provide for expedited processing at the end of the tenancy and specify an administrative fee for such processing, which will apply only if tenant requests it with a separate written document. Landlord must give tenant written notice of tenant's right to be present at a final inspection. If tenant finds the unit uninhabitable within 7 days of move-in, tenant may terminate and vacate; landlord must return the deposit within 15 days of receipt of the termination notice or tenant's vacating the unit, whichever is later.

Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280

30 days, but if landlord retains the deposit for reasons unrelated to damages (such as for rent or other unpaid charges), landlord need not comply with checklist and documentation requirements.

West Virginia

W.Va. Code § 37-6A-1

60 days from the date the tenancy has terminated.

Wisconsin

Wis. Stat. § 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code § 134.06

21 days

Wyoming

Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208

30 days when applying security deposit 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.