State Laws on Handling Abandoned Property

Most states regulate the way landlords must handle property left behind (abandoned) by departed tenants. Many set notice requirements as to how landlords must contact tenants regarding abandoned property and what to do if the tenant doesn't respond to the notice.

States might also regulate how landlords must store abandoned property and dispose of it when tenants don't claim their belongings. Sometimes state rules on abandoned property vary depending on the circumstances of the tenant's departure (for example, if a tenant moves out after giving proper notice versus someone who is evicted in a court proceeding).

For details, check your state's statute, listed below. You can find these statutes on the website maintained by the Cornell Legal Information Institute.

State Statutes on How Landlords Must Deal With a Tenant's Abandoned Property

Alabama: Ala. Code § 35-9A-423

Alaska: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.260

Arizona: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1370

Arkansas: Ark. Code § 18-16-108

California: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1965, 1980 to 1991

Colorado: Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-20-116, 13-40-122

Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-11b, 47a-42

Delaware: Del. Code tit. 25, §§ 5507, 5715

D.C.: D.C. Code §§ 42-3210.01, 42-3505.01a

Florida: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.67; 715.104 to 715.111

Georgia: Ga. Code § 44-7-55

Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-56

Idaho: Idaho Code § 6-316

Illinois: 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/9-318

Indiana: Ind. Code. §§ 32-31-4-1 to 32-31-4-5, 32-31-5-5

Iowa: Khan v. Heritage Prop. Mgmt., 584 N.W.2d 725, 730 (Iowa Ct. App. 1998)

Kansas: Kan. Stat. § 58-2565

Kentucky: No statute

Louisiana: La. Civ. Code § 2707, La. Civ. Proc. § 4705

Maine: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6005, 6013

Maryland: Md. Code Real Prop., § 8-208

Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 239, § 4

Michigan: No statute

Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 504B.271

Mississippi: Miss. Code §§ 89-7-31, 89-7-35, 89-7-41, 89-8-13

Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.065

Montana: Mont. Code § 70-24-430

Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 69-2302 to 69-2314

Nevada: Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 118A.450, 118A.460

New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:3(VII)

New Jersey: N.J. Stat. §§ 2A:18-72 to 2A:18-84

New Mexico: N.M. Stat. § 47-8-34.1

New York: No statute

North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-25.9, 42-36.2

North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-30.1

Ohio: Ringler v. Sias, 428 N.E.2d 869 (Ohio Ct. App. 1980)

Oklahoma: Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 130

Oregon: Ore. Rev. Stat. §§ 90.425, 105.165

Pennsylvania: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 250.505a

Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-50

South Carolina: S.C. Code §§ 27-40-710(D), 27-40-730

South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws §§ 43-32-25, 43-32-26

Tennessee: Tenn. Code § 66-28-405

Texas: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.014

Utah: Utah Code § 78B-6-816

Vermont: Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4462; Vt. Stat. tit. 12, § 4854a

Virginia: Va. Code §§ 55.1-1249, 55.1-1254 to 55.1-1256

Washington: Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.310

West Virginia: W.Va. Code §§ 37-6-6, 55-3A-3

Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)

Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1210

Updated: April 5, 2023