original analysis · 2026statutes reviewed August 2026

The Deposit Protection Index: all 50 states, ranked

One score per jurisdiction for how strongly the law protects a tenant's security deposit - computed from six features of each state's current statute: deadline speed, damages multipliers, forfeiture, interest, attorney fees, and itemization. No surveys, no vibes - every point traces to a citation.

HI · 8/9

strongest: Hawaii

15 of 51

jurisdictions in the strong tier

score below 4 - the weak tier

have no penalty at all for wrongful withholding

#	State	Score	Tier	Deadline	Penalty	Miss = forfeit	Interest	Atty fees
1	HawaiiHI	8.0	Strong	14 days	3x	yes	-	-
1	MassachusettsMA	8.0	Strong	30 days	3x	yes	yes	yes
3	GeorgiaGA	7.5	Strong	30 days	3x	yes	-	yes
3	New YorkNY	7.5	Strong	14 days	2x	yes	yes	-
3	VermontVT	7.5	Strong	14 days	2x	yes	-	yes
6	AlaskaAK	7.0	Strong	14/30 days	2x	yes	-	-
6	IllinoisIL	7.0	Strong	30/45 days	2x	yes	yes	yes
6	MarylandMD	7.0	Strong	45 days	3x	yes	yes	yes
6	MinnesotaMN	7.0	Strong	21 days	2x	yes	yes	-
10	CaliforniaCA	6.5	Strong	21 days	2x	yes	-	-
10	DelawareDE	6.5	Strong	20 days	2x	yes	-	-
10	IdahoID	6.5	Strong	21/30 days	3x	-	-	yes
10	MaineME	6.5	Strong	21/30 days	2x	yes	-	yes
10	PennsylvaniaPA	6.5	Strong	30 days	2x	yes	yes	-
10	WashingtonWA	6.5	Strong	30 days	2x	yes	-	yes
16	ColoradoCO	6.0	Moderate	30/60 days	3x	-	-	yes
16	MichiganMI	6.0	Moderate	30 days	2x	yes	-	-
16	NebraskaNE	6.0	Moderate	14 days	2x	-	-	yes
16	North DakotaND	6.0	Moderate	30 days	3x	-	yes	-
16	South CarolinaSC	6.0	Moderate	30 days	3x	-	-	yes
16	TexasTX	6.0	Moderate	30 days	3x	-	-	yes
22	ArizonaAZ	5.5	Moderate	14 days	2x	-	-	-
22	ConnecticutCT	5.5	Moderate	21 days	2x	-	yes	-
22	New JerseyNJ	5.5	Moderate	30 days	2x	-	yes	yes
22	OhioOH	5.5	Moderate	30 days	2x	-	yes	yes
22	Rhode IslandRI	5.5	Moderate	20 days	2x	-	-	yes
22	WisconsinWI	5.5	Moderate	21 days	2x	-	-	yes
28	FloridaFL	5.0	Moderate	15/30 days	-	yes	yes	yes
28	LouisianaLA	5.0	Moderate	30 days	2x	-	-	yes
28	New HampshireNH	5.0	Moderate	30 days	2x	-	yes	-
28	New MexicoNM	5.0	Moderate	30 days	-	yes	yes	yes
28	South DakotaSD	5.0	Moderate	14 days	-	yes	-	-
28	Washington, D.C.DC	5.0	Moderate	45 days	3x	-	yes	-
34	IowaIA	4.5	Moderate	30 days	-	yes	yes	-
34	MissouriMO	4.5	Moderate	30 days	2x	-	-	-
34	MontanaMT	4.5	Moderate	10/30 days	-	yes	-	yes
34	NevadaNV	4.5	Moderate	30 days	2x	-	-	-
38	KansasKS	4.0	Moderate	30 days	1.5x	-	-	-
38	OregonOR	4.0	Moderate	31 days	2x	-	-	yes
38	WyomingWY	4.0	Moderate	30/60 days	-	yes	-	-
41	ArkansasAR	3.5	Weak	60 days	2x	-	-	yes
41	IndianaIN	3.5	Weak	45 days	-	yes	-	yes
43	AlabamaAL	3.0	Weak	60 days	2x	-	-	-
43	North CarolinaNC	3.0	Weak	30/60 days	-	-	-	yes
45	UtahUT	2.5	Weak	30 days	-	-	-	-
45	West VirginiaWV	2.5	Weak	45/60 days	1.5x	-	-	-
47	KentuckyKY	2.0	Weak	varies	-	yes	-	-
47	OklahomaOK	2.0	Weak	45 days	-	-	-	yes
47	TennesseeTN	2.0	Weak	varies	-	yes	-	-
47	VirginiaVA	2.0	Weak	45 days	-	-	-	yes
51	MississippiMS	1.5	Weak	45 days	-	-	-	-

Methodology

Six statute features, 9 points. Deadline speed: 14 days or faster earns 3 points, sliding to 0 for no fixed deadline. Statutory damages: 3 points for treble (3x), 2 for double, 1.5 for 1.5x. Forfeiture (1.5 points): missing the deadline or itemized statement forfeits the landlord's right to keep any of the deposit. Interest, attorney fees, and a required itemized statement add 0.5 each. Strong tier is 6.5+, weak is below 4. Inputs come from the same attorney-reviewed registry that powers every state guide on this site - each guide carries the exact citations, and the 50-state comparison table shows the raw fields side by side.

Cite as: GetMyDepositBack, Deposit Protection Index 2026. Free to reference with a link to this page.

What does your state's score mean for your deposit?

The free case builder turns your state's rules into a plan: enter your move-out date and the landlord's deductions to see your deadline, your penalty exposure, and the demand letter that uses both.

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Frequently asked questions

How is the Deposit Protection Index scored?

Each jurisdiction is scored 0-9 from six statute features: return-deadline speed (up to 3 points), statutory damages multiplier (up to 3), full forfeiture of deductions when the landlord misses the deadline (1.5), required deposit interest (0.5), recoverable attorney fees (0.5), and a required itemized statement (0.5). Every input comes from the state's current statute - each state guide carries the citations.

Which state protects security deposits best?

Hawaii leads the 2026 index at 8 of 9, combining a fast return deadline with 3x damages and full forfeiture when the deadline is missed. 15 jurisdictions score in the strong tier (6.5+).

Which states are weakest on deposit protection?

11 jurisdictions score below 4 of 9, and in 5 of the 51 the statute has no real downside for a landlord who wrongfully withholds: no damages multiplier and no forfeiture rule - the worst case is returning what was always owed.

Does a low index score mean I cannot get my deposit back?

No. Every state lets you demand the deposit in writing and sue in small claims court; a low score means the statute gives you less leverage (a slower deadline or weaker penalties), not no rights. The state guides walk through the strongest path available in each jurisdiction.