Security Deposit Guides

Historic brick buildings along a downtown Knoxville, Tennessee street

Tennessee Security Deposit Law: 17 Counties, a 60-Day Notice Rule

Tennessee's deposit statute covers only 17 counties. There is no cap or refund deadline, but skipping the deposit account and damage list forfeits it.

Historic brick building in a Wyoming downtown

Wyoming Security Deposit Law: 30-Day Return and Your Address Duty

Wyoming landlords must return deposits within 30 days, or 15 days after getting your address, plus 30 with damage; unreasonable failure costs the deposit.

Aerial view of Madison, Wisconsin between two lakes

Wisconsin Security Deposit Law: 21-Day Return and Double Damages

Wisconsin landlords must return deposits within 21 days with a written statement, can't deduct routine carpet cleaning, and owe double for violations.

Hillside houses along a street in a West Virginia town

West Virginia Security Deposit Law: 60/45-Day Rule and 1.5x Damages

West Virginia deposits are due within 60 days, or 45 days after a new tenant moves in, and bad-faith withholding adds 1.5 times the...

Colorful Victorian rowhouses on a Washington, DC street corner

Washington DC Security Deposit Law: One-Month Cap and Interest

DC caps deposits at one month's rent, requires interest-bearing escrow, and allows 45 days to refund or give notice; bad faith means treble damages.

New riverfront apartment buildings along a walking path

Washington Security Deposit Law: Move-In Checklist and 30-Day Proof

Washington landlords need a signed move-in checklist to take a deposit and must document every deduction within 30 days or owe the full deposit.

Richmond, Virginia skyline with brick warehouse buildings

Virginia Security Deposit Law: Two-Month Cap and 45-Day Accounting

Virginia caps deposits at two months' rent, requires a move-in damage report in five days, and gives landlords 45 days to account for the...

Red wooden building beside a stream in autumn

Vermont Security Deposit Law: The 14-Day Deadline and Forfeiture

Vermont landlords must return deposits with an itemized statement in 14 days or lose the right to keep any of it; willful failure means...

Downtown Salt Lake City buildings with snowy mountains behind

Utah Security Deposit Law: 30 Days, the Tenant Notice and $100

Utah landlords get 30 days to return deposits; after a tenant's formal notice they have five business days or owe the full deposit plus...

Historic two-story home framed by live oak trees

Texas Security Deposit Law: 30-Day Refund and the Bad-Faith Penalty

Texas sets no deposit cap, but a landlord who misses the 30-day refund is presumed in bad faith and can owe $100 plus three...

Downtown Sioux Falls street lined with historic brick buildings

South Dakota Security Deposit Law: One-Month Cap, 21-Day Return

South Dakota caps deposits at one month's rent, requires a refund or written reasons within 21 days, and strips landlords who miss it of...

Pastel row houses with shutters on a Charleston street

South Carolina Security Deposit Law: Treble Damages and 30 Days

South Carolina sets no deposit cap but gives landlords 30 days to itemize and return it, with triple the wrongly kept amount plus attorney...

Rhode Island State House in Providence under a blue sky

Rhode Island Security Deposit Law: One-Month Cap and 20-Day Return

Rhode Island caps deposits at one month's rent, gives landlords 20 days to return them, and adds twice the wrongly kept amount plus attorney...

Houses stacked up a steep hillside in Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania Security Deposit Law: Two-Month Cap That Drops to One

Pennsylvania caps deposits at two months' rent in year one and one month after, pays interest after two years, and doubles wrongly withheld money.

Row of painted wood-frame houses on a residential street

Oregon Security Deposit Law: 31-Day Accounting and the Carpet Rule

Oregon landlords must account for deposits within 31 days, may charge carpet cleaning only under strict rules, and owe double for bad-faith withholding.

Brick Tudor-style house with a front lawn

Oklahoma Security Deposit Law: Written Demand, Escrow and 45 Days

Oklahoma deposits sit in escrow, come back 45 days after your written demand, and revert to the landlord if you don't demand within six...

Brick sidewalk and brick houses on a shaded residential street

Ohio Security Deposit Law: 5% Interest and the 30-Day Return Rule

Ohio sets no deposit cap but owes 5% interest on deposits above one month's rent, a 30-day itemized return, and double damages for wrongful...

Brick storefronts and benches on a downtown Fargo street

North Dakota Security Deposit Law: Treble Damages and Interest Rule

North Dakota caps deposits at one month's rent, requires interest and a 30-day refund, and awards treble damages for unjustified withholding.

Charlotte, North Carolina skyline above tree-covered neighborhoods

North Carolina Security Deposit Law: Caps Set by Lease Type

North Carolina caps deposits at 2 weeks to 2 months' rent by lease type, allows nonrefundable pet fees, and requires an itemized refund within...

Aerial view of a Rochester, New York neighborhood at dusk

New York Security Deposit Law: 14-Day Return and Inspection Rights

New York caps deposits at one month's rent and requires an itemized refund within 14 days of move-out, or the landlord forfeits the right...

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