Washington, D.C. security deposit law: know your rights.
Understand the return, deduction and notice rules in Washington, D.C.. Check which conditions apply to your rental, then choose your next step.
Your deposit rights in Washington, D.C.
- Return timing
- Within 45 days after termination the housing provider must return the deposit plus interest or give written notice of intent to withhold (14 DCMR 309.1); an itemized statement must follow within 30 days of that notice.
- Accounting for deductions
- After a timely notice of intent to withhold, the provider must deliver within 30 days an itemized statement of repairs and other uses with the cost of each, and refund any balance (14 DCMR 309.2). Deductions are limited to purposes stated in writing at the start of the tenancy.
- Deposit interest
- Deposit must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a District institution; accrued interest is returned with the deposit (14 DCMR 309, 311).
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.
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗What starts the return clock?
Within 45 days after termination the housing provider must return the deposit plus interest or give written notice of intent to withhold (14 DCMR 309.1); an itemized statement must follow within 30 days of that notice.
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗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 regulation requires an itemized statement of repairs/uses with the cost of each; no express receipts-attachment requirement found.
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.
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗What could you recover?
Liable for the amount withheld, or treble damages for bad faith - defined as a frivolous or unfounded refusal motivated by a fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, dishonest, or unreasonably self-serving purpose (14 DCMR 309-310).
Start with the unpaid amount you dispute. Any additional statutory recovery depends on the conditions in 14 DCMR § 309.5, including applicable notice requirements. A multiplier that already includes the deposit should not be added to that deposit again.
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗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: $10,000. Filing: $5-$45 by claim size. The court guide explains the applicable limits and additional costs.
Questions about Washington, D.C. deposit rights
How long does a Washington, D.C. landlord have to return a security deposit?
Within 45 days after termination the housing provider must return the deposit plus interest or give written notice of intent to withhold (14 DCMR 309.1); an itemized statement must follow within 30 days of that notice.
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗See the timing rules →What happens if my landlord does not follow the deposit return rules in Washington, D.C.?
Failure to comply with the 45-day/30-day requirements is prima facie evidence that the tenant is entitled to full return of the deposit plus interest (14 DCMR 309.3) - a rebuttable presumption shifting the burden to the provider, not automatic forfeiture; bad-faith withholding brings treble damages. Keep proof of the dates, any refund, and the itemized statement.
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗Understand the possible recovery →What accounting should I ask for in Washington, D.C.?
After a timely notice of intent to withhold, the provider must deliver within 30 days an itemized statement of repairs and other uses with the cost of each, and refund any balance (14 DCMR 309.2). Deductions are limited to purposes stated in writing at the start of the tenancy. The regulation requires an itemized statement of repairs/uses with the cost of each; no express receipts-attachment requirement found.
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗What should I check about deposit interest in Washington, D.C.?
Deposit must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a District institution; accrued interest is returned with the deposit (14 DCMR 309, 311).
14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 ↗