Chart: Security Deposit Limits, State-by-State

State

Limit

Alabama

One month's rent, except for pet deposits, deposits to cover undoing tenant's alterations, deposits to cover tenant activities that pose increased liability risks.

Alaska

Two months' rent, unless rent exceeds $2,000 per month. Landlord may ask for an additional month's rent as deposit for a pet that is not a service animal, but may use it only to remedy pet damage.

Arizona

One and one-half months' rent

Arkansas

Two months' rent, but this limit does not apply to landlords who own 5 or fewer properties, unless the landlord has hired a third party to manage the property.

California

Two months' rent (unfurnished); three months' rent (furnished). If the tenant is an active service member, no more than one month's rent (unfurnished) or two months' rent (furnished). Add extra one-half month's rent for waterbed.

Colorado

No statutory limit

Connecticut

Two months' rent (tenant under 62 years of age); one month's rent (tenant 62 years of age or older). Tenants who paid a deposit in excess of one month's rent, who then turn 62 years old, are entitled, upon request, to a refund of the amount that exceeds one month's rent.

Delaware

One month's rent on leases for one year or more. For month to month tenancies, no limit for the first year, but after that, the limit is one month's rent (at the expiration of one year, landlord must give tenant a credit for any deposit held by the landlord that is in excess of one month's rent). No limit for furnished units. Tenant may offer to supply a surety bond in lieu of or in conjunction with a deposit, which landlord may elect to receive.

District of Columbia

One month's rent

Florida

No statutory limit

Georgia

No statutory limit

Hawaii

One month's rent. Landlord may require an additional one month's rent as security deposit for tenants who keep a pet.

Idaho

No statutory limit

Illinois

No statutory limit

Indiana

No statutory limit

Iowa

Two months' rent

Kansas

One month's rent (unfurnished); one and one-half month's rent (furnished); for pets, add extra one-half month's rent.

Kentucky

No statutory limit

Louisiana

No statutory limit

Maine

Two months' rent

Maryland

Two months' rent

Massachusetts

One month's rent

Michigan

One and one-half months' rent

Minnesota

No statutory limit. If landlord collects a "prelease deposit" and subsequently rents to tenant, landlord must apply the prelease deposit to the security deposit.

Mississippi

No statutory limit

Missouri

Two months' rent

Montana

No statutory limit

Nebraska

One month's rent (no pets); one and one-quarter months' rent (pets).

Nevada

Three months' rent; if both landlord and tenant agree, tenant may use a surety bond for all or part of the deposit.

New Hampshire

One month's rent or $100, whichever is greater; no limit when landlord and tenant share facilities.

New Jersey

One and one-half month's rent. Any additional security deposit, collected annually, may be no greater than 10% of the current security deposit.

New Mexico

One month's rent (for rental agreement of less than one year); no limit for leases of one year or more.

New York

One month's limit for units other than those subject to the City Rent and Rehabilitation Law or the Emergency Housing Rent Control Law.

North Carolina

One and one-half months' rent for month-to-month rental agreements; two months' rent if term is longer than two months; may add an additional "reasonable" nonrefundable pet deposit.

North Dakota

One month's rent. If tenant has a pet, an additional pet deposit of up to $2,500 or two months' rent, whichever is greater. To encourage renting to persons with records of felony convictions, landlords may charge these applicants up to two months' rent as security. Applicants who have had court judgments entered against them "for violating the terms of a previous rental agreement" can also be charged up to two months' rent (this appears to refer to prior evictions and might not apply to evictions based on conduct not prohibited by the rental agreement).

Ohio

No statutory limit

Oklahoma

No statutory limit

Oregon

No statutory limit. Landlord may not impose or increase deposit within first year unless parties agree to modify the rental agreement to allow for a pet or other cause, and the imposition or increase relates to that modification.

Pennsylvania

Two months' rent for first year of renting; one month's rent during second and subsequent years of renting.

Rhode Island

One month's rent

South Carolina

No statutory limit

South Dakota

One month's rent (higher deposit may be charged if special conditions pose a danger to maintenance of the premises).

Tennessee

No statutory limit

Texas

No statutory limit

Utah

No statutory limit

Vermont

No statutory limit

Virginia

Two months' rent. Alternatively, landlord may permit a tenant to provide damage insurance coverage in an amount not more than two months' rent in lieu of the payment of a security deposit. The damage insurance coverage must meet the requirements listed in Virginia Code Annotated sections 55.1-1226(I)-(K).

Washington

Landlords must allow tenants to pay the deposit and fees in installments (does not apply if the deposit and any nonrefundable fees are less than 25% of the monthly rent, or the landlord has not demanded the last month's rent). Tenants with tenancies of three months or more may pay in three equal and consecutive installments, beginning at the start of the tenancy; two installments for shorter tenancies. Installment schedules must be written and signed. Does not apply to holding deposits (which may not be more than 25% of the first month's rent).

West Virginia

No statutory limit

Wisconsin

No statutory limit

Wyoming

No statutory limit