Security deposit laws, state by state
Return deadlines, penalty multipliers, forfeiture rules, and small-claims limits for all 50 states and DC - compiled from each jurisdiction's current statute. Click a column to sort; click a state for the full guide with citations.
30 days
median return deadline
34 of 51
states with 1.5x-3x damages
23
states where a missed deadline forfeits it all
26
states awarding attorney fees
Full analysis on the security deposit statistics page.
| Miss = forfeit | Atty fees | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAL | 60 days | 2x damages | - | $6,000 | - |
| AlaskaAK | 14 days | 2x damages | yes | $10,000 | - |
| ArizonaAZ | 14 days | 2x damages | - | $5,000 | - |
| ArkansasAR | 60 days | 2x damages | - | $5,000 | yes |
| CaliforniaCA | 21 days | 2x damages | yes | $12,500 | - |
| ColoradoCO | 30 days | 3x damages | - | $7,500 | yes |
| ConnecticutCT | 21 days | 2x damages | - | $5,000 | - |
| DelawareDE | 20 days | 2x damages | yes | $25,000 | - |
| FloridaFL | 30 days | No multiplier | yes | $8,000 | yes |
| GeorgiaGA | 30 days | 3x damages | yes | $15,000 | yes |
| HawaiiHI | 14 days | 3x damages | yes | $5,000 | - |
| IdahoID | 21 days | 3x damages | - | $5,000 | yes |
| IllinoisIL | 30 days | 2x damages | yes | $10,000 | yes |
| IndianaIN | 45 days | No multiplier | yes | $10,000 | yes |
| IowaIA | 30 days | No multiplier | yes | $6,500 | - |
| KansasKS | 30 days | 1.5x damages | - | $10,000 | - |
| KentuckyKY | varies | No multiplier | yes | $2,500 | - |
| LouisianaLA | 30 days | 2x damages | - | $5,000 | yes |
| MaineME | 30 days | 2x damages | yes | $10,000 | yes |
| MarylandMD | 45 days | 3x damages | yes | $5,000 | yes |
| MassachusettsMA | 30 days | No multiplier | - | $7,000 | yes |
| MichiganMI | 30 days | 2x damages | yes | $7,000 | - |
| MinnesotaMN | 21 days | 2x damages | yes | $20,000 | - |
| MississippiMS | 45 days | No multiplier | - | $3,500 | - |
| MissouriMO | 30 days | 2x damages | - | $5,000 | - |
| MontanaMT | 30 days | No multiplier | yes | $7,000 | yes |
| NebraskaNE | 14 days | No multiplier | - | $7,500 | yes |
| NevadaNV | 30 days | No multiplier | - | $10,000 | - |
| New HampshireNH | 30 days | 2x damages | - | $10,000 | - |
| New JerseyNJ | 30 days | 2x damages | - | $5,000 | yes |
| New MexicoNM | 30 days | No multiplier | yes | $10,000 | yes |
| New YorkNY | 14 days | 2x damages | yes | $10,000 | - |
| North CarolinaNC | 30 days | No multiplier | - | $10,000 | yes |
| North DakotaND | 30 days | 3x damages | - | $15,000 | - |
| OhioOH | 30 days | 2x damages | - | $6,000 | yes |
| OklahomaOK | 45 days | No multiplier | - | $10,000 | yes |
| OregonOR | 31 days | 2x damages | - | $10,000 | yes |
| PennsylvaniaPA | 30 days | 2x damages | yes | $12,000 | - |
| Rhode IslandRI | 20 days | 2x damages | - | $5,000 | yes |
| South CarolinaSC | 30 days | 3x damages | - | $7,500 | yes |
| South DakotaSD | 14 days | No multiplier | yes | $12,000 | - |
| TennesseeTN | varies | No multiplier | yes | $25,000 | - |
| TexasTX | 30 days | 3x damages | - | $20,000 | yes |
| UtahUT | 30 days | No multiplier | - | $20,000 | - |
| VermontVT | 14 days | 2x damages | yes | $10,000 | yes |
| VirginiaVA | 45 days | No multiplier | - | $5,000 | yes |
| WashingtonWA | 30 days | 2x damages | yes | $10,000 | yes |
| Washington, D.C.DC | 45 days | 3x damages | - | $10,000 | - |
| West VirginiaWV | 60 days | 1.5x damages | - | $20,000 | - |
| WisconsinWI | 21 days | 2x damages | - | $10,000 | yes |
| WyomingWY | 30 days | No multiplier | yes | $6,000 | - |
Penalty - statutory damages available on top of the wrongfully withheld amount; many require willful or bad-faith withholding. Miss = forfeit - missing the return deadline or itemized statement forfeits the landlord's right to keep any of the deposit. Deadline "varies" - no single fixed statutory deadline; the state works through itemization or escrow rules instead. Each state guide carries the exact statute citation and conditions.
Where does your state leave the landlord?
The free case builder reads this table for you: enter your move-out date and the landlord's deductions, and it computes your deadline, flags illegal charges, and shows your penalty exposure under your state's statute.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in the US?
It depends on the state: fixed statutory deadlines range from 14 to 60 days after move-out, and the median across the 49 jurisdictions with a fixed deadline is 30 days. 2 states set no single fixed deadline and work through itemization and escrow rules instead.
Which states have double or triple damages for withheld deposits?
34 of 51 US jurisdictions authorize statutory damages beyond the withheld amount: 9 allow treble (3x) damages, 23 allow double (2x) damages, and 2 allow 1.5x. The table above shows each state's multiplier with the statute citation on the linked guide.
What happens if the landlord misses the deposit return deadline?
In 23 jurisdictions, missing the deadline or the itemized statement forfeits the landlord's right to keep any of the deposit - the full amount becomes due regardless of damage claims. In most others it exposes the landlord to statutory damages.
Can I sue my landlord in small claims court for my deposit?
Yes - deposit disputes are the classic small-claims case. Limits range from $2,500 to $25,000 depending on the state (median $10,000), which covers nearly every deposit dispute, and 26 jurisdictions also let tenants recover attorney fees.