Tenant rights come mostly from state law, which is why the same problem can have a different answer in Ohio than in Oregon. Every state requires landlords to return deposits, go to court to evict, and keep rentals livable, but the deadlines, notice periods and remedies differ. This page puts the most-asked rules for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. side by side.
A few patterns hold almost everywhere. Deposits come back within about a month: the median deadline in our data is 30 days. A landlord must give written notice before filing an eviction for unpaid rent in most states, with a median of 5 days. Most states require advance notice before a landlord enters, and 27 jurisdictions let a tenant repair a serious problem and deduct the cost from rent when the landlord will not act.
The summary table covers four of those rules. Each topic page below goes deeper, with the full rule, national patterns, answers to common questions and the statute behind every entry. Cities and counties can add protections on top of state law, so check local rules too.
Tenant rights by topic
- Security deposit laws by state: caps, return deadlines and penalties
- Rent increase laws by state: notice, statewide caps and rent control
- Late fee laws by state: grace periods and caps
- Month-to-month lease laws by state: notice to end a tenancy
- Eviction process by state: notice before filing for unpaid rent
- Repair and habitability laws by state: repair and deduct, withholding
- Tenant protection laws by state: retaliation and entry
- Breaking a lease by state: duty to re-rent and servicemember rights
- Landlord entry notice by state: hours of notice before entry
- Suing over a security deposit by state: small claims limits and penalties
- Security deposit interest by state: where landlords must pay interest
- Eviction record sealing by state: automatic, by petition or not at all
- Mobile home park laws by state: notice before a lot rent increase
- Tenant rights legal glossary: 75 landlord-tenant terms in plain English
Key patterns across the states
- Median deposit return deadline: 30 days (49 jurisdictions with a verified deadline).
- Median notice before an eviction filing for unpaid rent: 5 days.
- 26 jurisdictions set a fixed number of hours for entry notice; 17 do not.
- 27 of 51 jurisdictions allow repair and deduct by statute.
Tenant rights at a glance: all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Deposit return deadline | Notice before eviction filing (unpaid rent) | Entry notice | Repair and deduct? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60 days | 7 days | 48 hours | No |
| Alaska | 14 days | 7 days | 24 hours | No |
| Arizona | 14 days | 5 days | 48 hours | Yes |
| Arkansas | 60 days | 3 days | Not yet verified — see statute (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-602) | No |
| California | 21 days | 3 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Colorado | 30 days | 10 days | No set hours | Yes |
| Connecticut | 21 days | 3 days | No set hours | Yes |
| Delaware | 20 days | 7 days | 48 hours | Yes |
| District of Columbia | 45 days | 10 days | 48 hours | — |
| Florida | 15 days | 3 days | 24 hours | No |
| Georgia | 30 days | 3 days | No set hours | No statute |
| Hawaii | 14 days | 10 days | 48 hours | Yes |
| Idaho | 21 days | 3 days | No set hours | No |
| Illinois | 45 days | 5 days | No set hours | Yes |
| Indiana | 45 days | 10 days | No set hours | No statute |
| Iowa | 30 days | 3 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Kansas | 30 days | 3 days | No set hours | No statute |
| Kentucky | No fixed deadline | 7 days | 48 hours | Yes |
| Louisiana | 30 days | 5 days | — | Yes |
| Maine | 30 days | 7 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Maryland | 45 days | 10 days | — | Not yet verified — see statute (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-211) |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | 14 days | No set hours | Yes |
| Michigan | 30 days | 7 days | — | Not yet verified — see statute (MCL 554.139) |
| Minnesota | 21 days | 14 days | 24 hours | No |
| Mississippi | 45 days | 3 days | — | Yes |
| Missouri | 30 days | No pre-filing notice period | — | Yes |
| Montana | 30 days | 3 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Nebraska | 14 days | 7 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Nevada | 30 days | 7 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| New Hampshire | 30 days | 7 days | No set hours | — |
| New Jersey | 30 days | No pre-filing notice period | No set hours | No statute |
| New Mexico | 30 days | 3 days | 24 hours | No |
| New York | 14 days | 14 days | No set hours | No statute |
| North Carolina | 30 days | 10 days | — | No |
| North Dakota | 30 days | 3 days | No set hours | Yes |
| Ohio | 30 days | 3 days | 24 hours | No |
| Oklahoma | 45 days | 5 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Oregon | 31 days | 10 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days | 10 days | No set hours | No statute |
| Rhode Island | 20 days | 5 days | 48 hours | Yes |
| South Carolina | 30 days | 5 days | 24 hours | No |
| South Dakota | 21 days | No pre-filing notice period | 24 hours | Yes |
| Tennessee | No fixed deadline | Not yet verified — see statute (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a)) | Not yet verified — see statute (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-403) | Not yet verified — see statute (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-502) |
| Texas | 30 days | 3 days | No set hours | Yes |
| Utah | 30 days | 3 days | 24 hours | Yes |
| Vermont | 14 days | 14 days | 48 hours | Yes |
| Virginia | 45 days | 14 days | No set hours | Yes |
| Washington | 30 days | 14 days | 48 hours | Yes |
| West Virginia | 60 days | No pre-filing notice period | No set hours | No |
| Wisconsin | 21 days | 5 days | 12 hours | No |
| Wyoming | 30 days | 3 days | No set hours | No |
How we compiled this
We checked every rule on this page against the statute itself in November 2026, reading each state’s own code site or an official state guide such as an attorney general’s tenant handbook. A cell shows a rule only when we confirmed it against one of those primary sources. Where we could not confirm a rule, the cell says “Not yet verified” and links the statute so you can read it yourself. Simplified table entries leave out exceptions, so read the linked statute before you rely on a number.
Laws change. Legislatures amend these sections often, and cities and counties can add their own rules on top of state law. Confirm the current text of the statute, or ask a local legal aid office, before you act on a deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do tenant rights come from state or federal law?
Mostly state law, with local ordinances on top. Federal law adds fair housing protections, servicemember rights, lead paint disclosure and rules for subsidized housing.
Which rules matter most for a renter?
Deposit return deadlines, eviction notice rules, repair remedies and entry notice cover most disputes. Our tenant rights basics guide walks through each.
Are tenant rights the same in every city in a state?
No. Many cities add rent control, just-cause eviction or relocation rules, unless state law preempts them. Check your city and county code as well.
How current is this information?
We checked each rule against the statute in November 2026. Laws change, so confirm the current statute using the links on each topic page.
Where can I get help with my situation?
Local legal aid offices give free help to eligible tenants, and many courts run self-help centers. Our tenant tools help with deadlines and letters.
Related guides and tools
- Tenant rights basics
- How the eviction process works
- Security deposit law basics
- All tenant tools
- Security deposit deadline checker
- Eviction notice timeline
This page is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney or a local legal aid office. See our disclaimer.