Security Deposit Guides

Adobe house with a walled courtyard in New Mexico

New Mexico Security Deposit Law: Miss 30 Days, Forfeit Claims

New Mexico caps deposits at one month for leases under a year. Landlords must itemize within 30 days or forfeit deductions and owe your...

Brownstone row houses with stoops on a tree-lined street

New Jersey Security Deposit Law: 1.5-Month Cap and Yearly Interest

New Jersey caps deposits at 1.5 months' rent, requires a NJ bank account and yearly interest, and a 30-day refund. Wrongful withholding can cost...

Red brick mill building on a river in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Security Deposit Law: 30 Days or Pay Double

New Hampshire caps deposits at one month's rent or $100, requires a trust account, and a 30-day refund. Violations cost double the deposit plus...

Stucco apartment building with desert mountains behind in Nevada

Nevada Security Deposit Law: 3-Month Cap and the 30-Day Penalty

Nevada allows deposits up to 3 months' rent and requires an itemized accounting within 30 days. Late landlords owe the full deposit, plus up...

Man looking out over downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, and the state capitol

Nebraska Security Deposit Law: 14-Day Refund and One-Month Cap

Nebraska caps deposits at one month's rent plus a quarter-month pet deposit and requires a refund within 14 days, with fees and bad-faith damages.

Snowy Montana neighborhood of houses and apartments below the mountains

Montana Security Deposit Law: The 24-Hour Cleaning Notice Rule

Montana has no deposit cap. Landlords must itemize within 30 days (10 if nothing is owed) and give a 24-hour cleaning notice before deducting...

Historic brick buildings along a downtown Kansas City street

Missouri Security Deposit Law: Two-Month Cap and Double Damages

Missouri caps deposits at two months' rent, excludes pet deposits, and requires a refund or itemized list in 30 days. Wrongful withholding costs double.

Craftsman-style house on a quiet Mississippi street

Mississippi Security Deposit Law: 45 Days After Your Written Demand

Mississippi sets no deposit cap. Landlords must itemize and refund within 45 days after move-out and your demand; bad faith adds up to $200.

Duluth hillside with church spire and brick buildings by the lake

Minnesota Security Deposit Law: Three-Week Refund and 1% Interest

Minnesota has no deposit cap but requires a refund with 1% interest within three weeks. Late landlords owe a penalty equal to the amount...

Brick buildings along a downtown Grand Rapids street

Michigan Security Deposit Law: The 45-Day Rule for Landlords

Michigan caps deposits at 1.5 months' rent. Landlords must itemize within 30 days and sue within 45 to keep disputed money, or owe double.

Narrow Beacon Hill street lined with brick row houses in Boston

Massachusetts Security Deposit Law: Bank Rule and Triple Damages

Massachusetts caps deposits at one month's rent, requires a separate bank account and interest, and awards triple damages if it isn't back in 30...

Aerial view of Baltimore rowhouse neighborhoods

Maryland Security Deposit Law: 45 Days, Interest, Triple Damages

Maryland caps deposits at one month's rent, requires interest and a 45-day refund with itemized costs, and allows triple damages plus attorney's fees.

Brick waterfront buildings and moored boats in Portland, Maine

Maine Security Deposit Law: 2-Month Cap, Escrow and Double Damages

Maine caps deposits at two months' rent, requires escrow, and sets a 21- or 30-day refund deadline. Wrongful retention costs double plus attorney's fees.

French Quarter building with iron balconies in New Orleans

Louisiana Security Deposit Law: One-Month Return and $300 Floor

Louisiana has no deposit cap, but R.S. 9:3251 requires a refund within one month, and willful withholding costs $300 or double, whichever is greater.

Painted Victorian house with a wraparound porch

Kentucky Security Deposit Law: Damage Lists, Not Deadlines, Decide It

Kentucky has no deposit cap or refund deadline. Where the uniform act applies, landlords need a separate account and signed damage lists to keep...

Single-story rental house with a front yard in a Kansas neighborhood

Kansas Security Deposit Law: Pet and Furnished Caps, 1.5x Damages

Kansas caps deposits at one month's rent (1.5 furnished, plus half for pets), sets a 14/30-day return rule and adds 1.5 times any amount...

Mid-rise apartment towers and rooftops at sunset

Iowa Security Deposit Law: Two-Month Cap and a Rent-Based Penalty

Iowa caps deposits at two months' rent, requires a refund or written reasons within 30 days, and adds punitive damages up to twice the...

Downtown Indianapolis street leading to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Indiana Security Deposit Law: The 45-Day List and Your Mailing Address

Indiana has no deposit cap, but landlords must mail an itemized damage list and refund within 45 days, or they are treated as owing...

Brick courtyard apartment building behind an iron fence

Illinois Security Deposit Law: Receipts in 30 Days or a Full Refund

Illinois landlords must send an itemized statement with paid receipts within 30 days or refund in full within 45. Bad faith costs twice the...

Downtown Boise, Idaho, with snow-dusted foothills behind

Idaho Security Deposit Law: No Cap, a 21-Day Refund and Treble Damages

Idaho sets no deposit cap and bars local limits, but landlords must refund within 21 days (30 at most) with a signed itemized list...

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