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

State deadlines for itemizing and returning tenants' 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.

Deadline for Returning Security Deposits

State	Security Deposit Return Timeline
Alabama	60 days after termination of tenancy and delivery of possession
Alaska	14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice or if landlord has deducted amounts needed to remedy damage caused by tenant's failure to maintain the property
Arizona	14 days; tenant has the right to be present at final inspection.
Arkansas	60 days
California	21 days
Colorado	One 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
Connecticut	30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later
Delaware	20 days
District of Columbia	45 days
Florida	15 to 60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
Georgia	30 days
Hawaii	14 days
Idaho	21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree
Illinois	For properties with five or more units, 30 to 45 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions or if statement and receipts are furnished
Indiana	45 days
Iowa	30 days
Kansas	30 days
Kentucky	30-60 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
Louisiana	One month
Maine	30 days (if written rental agreement) or 21 days (if tenancy at will)
Maryland	45 days
Massachusetts	30 days
Michigan	30 days
Minnesota	Three weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing address; five days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation
Mississippi	45 days
Missouri	30 days
Montana	30 days (10 days if no deductions)
Nebraska	14 days
Nevada	30 days
New Hampshire	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	30 days; five days in case of fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation
New Mexico	30 days
New York	14 days
North Carolina	30 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 Dakota	30 days
Ohio	30 days
Oklahoma	45 days
Oregon	31 days
Pennsylvania	30 days
Rhode Island	20 days
South Carolina	30 days
South Dakota	Two weeks, and must supply reasons if withholding any portion; 45 days for a written, itemized accounting, if tenant requests it
Tennessee	No statutory deadline
Texas	30 days. Landlord need not refund deposit if lease requires tenant to give written notice of tenant's intention to surrender the premises.
Utah	30 days
Vermont	14 days; 60 days if the rental is seasonal and not intended as the tenant's primary residence
Virginia	45 days; 30 days to itemize any deductions to be made during the course of the tenancy (45 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.
Washington	21 days
West Virginia	60 days from the date the tenancy has terminated, or within 45 days of the occupancy of a subsequent tenant, whichever is shorter. If the damage exceeds the amount of the security deposit and the landlord has to hire a contractor to fix it, the notice period is extended 15 days.
Wisconsin	21 days
Wyoming	30 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