Ohio security deposit law: know your rights.
Understand the return, deduction and notice rules in Ohio. Check which conditions apply to your rental, then choose your next step.
Your deposit rights in Ohio
- Return timing
- 30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession; the tenant must provide a forwarding address in writing to preserve the damages and fee remedies.
- Accounting for deductions
- Any deduction must be itemized and identified in a written notice delivered with the balance due within 30 days (R.C. 5321.16(B)); vague entries like 'cleaning fees' are too general per Ohio Legal Help.
- Deposit interest
- For a tenancy of at least six months, the deposit portion exceeding the greater of $50 or one month's periodic rent earns 5% annual interest, payable annually (R.C. 5321.16(A)).
Registry review: August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules, not an attorney review of your case.
Does this rule apply to your rental?
Check the type of tenancy, the lease and any local or housing-program rules before relying on the statewide summary.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗What starts the return clock?
30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession; the tenant must provide a forwarding address in writing to preserve the damages and fee remedies.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗Check your return timing
Optional estimate from your move-out date. Read the start conditions above before treating that estimate as the return deadline. You can start the free analysis without completing this check.
Check what the landlord deducted
The statute requires an itemized written notice identifying each deduction; the landlord bears the burden of justifying deductions as unpaid rent or damages from the tenant's noncompliance.
Match each charge to the work alleged, the lease provision and the records supporting the amount. Keep refunds and charges you accept separate from those you dispute.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗What could you recover?
The tenant may recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus damages equal to that amount (i.e., double) and reasonable attorney's fees (R.C. 5321.16(C)) - if a written forwarding address was provided.
Start with the unpaid amount you dispute. Any additional statutory recovery depends on the conditions in Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(C), including applicable notice requirements. A multiplier that already includes the deposit should not be added to that deposit again.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗Put the rules to work
See how the rules fit your deposit dispute
Free analysis
Add the refund, charges and records. Review the deductions and possible remedies with an explanation tied to your facts.
Full case package $29-$49
Turn your case into a demand letter, organized exhibits and a next-step plan. Review the analysis before deciding to buy.
Your entered dates and deposit amount carry forward. Additional timing details are saved in case notes. The next step asks for the refund and charges so you can build on this check.
Choose your next step
Small-claims limit: $6,000. Filing: $30-$85 (varies by court). The court guide explains the applicable limits and additional costs.
Questions about Ohio deposit rights
How long does a Ohio landlord have to return a security deposit?
30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession; the tenant must provide a forwarding address in writing to preserve the damages and fee remedies.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗See the timing rules →What happens if my landlord does not follow the deposit return rules in Ohio?
Amounts kept without a timely itemized notice become wrongfully withheld - recoverable with statutory damages and attorney fees under R.C. 5321.16(C). Keep proof of the dates, any refund, and the itemized statement.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗Understand the possible recovery →What accounting should I ask for in Ohio?
Any deduction must be itemized and identified in a written notice delivered with the balance due within 30 days (R.C. 5321.16(B)); vague entries like 'cleaning fees' are too general per Ohio Legal Help. The statute requires an itemized written notice identifying each deduction; the landlord bears the burden of justifying deductions as unpaid rent or damages from the tenant's noncompliance.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗What should I check about deposit interest in Ohio?
For a tenancy of at least six months, the deposit portion exceeding the greater of $50 or one month's periodic rent earns 5% annual interest, payable annually (R.C. 5321.16(A)).
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 ↗