This is a summary of the maximum amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit and when it must be returned according to the laws of each state. For more specific information regarding required disclosures and paying interest, please see our entire summary of state laws or you may post a question in our forums.
| State | Limit | Deadline |
| Alabama | One month’s rent, except for pet deposits, deposits to cover undoing tenant’s alterations, deposits to cover tenant activities that pose increased liability risks | 60 days after termination of tenancy and delivery of possession |
| Alaska | Two months’ rent, unless rent exceeds $2,000 per month. Landlord may ask for an additional month’s rent as deposit for a pet that is not a service animal, but may use it only to remedy pet damage. | 14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice or if landlord has deducted amounts needed to remedy damage caused by tenant’s failure to maintain the property |
| Arizona | One and one-half months’ rent | 14 days |
| Arkansas | Two months’ rent | 60 days |
| California | Two months’ rent (unfurnished); three months’ rent (furnished). Add extra one-half month’s rent for waterbed | 21 days |
| Colorado | No statutory limit | One month, unless lease agreement specifies longer period of time (which may be no more than 60 days); 72 hours (not counting weekends or holidays) if a hazardous condition involving gas equipment requires tenant to vacate |
| Connecticut | Two months’ rent (tenant under 62 years of age); one month’s rent (tenant 62 years of age or older) | 30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is later |
| Delaware | One month’s rent on leases for one year or more; no limit for month-to-month rental agreements (may require additional pet deposit of up to one month’s rent). No limit for rental of furnished units. Tenant may offer to supply a surety bond in lieu of or in conjunction with a deposit, which landlord may elect to receive. | 20 days |
| District of Columbia | One month’s rent | 45 days |
| Florida | No statutory limit | 15 to 60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Georgia | No statutory limit | One month |
| Hawaii | One month’s rent; Landlord may require an additional one month’s rent as security deposit for tenants who keep a pet | 14 days |
| Idaho | No statutory limit | 21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree |
| Illinois | No statutory limit | For properties with five or more units, 30 to 45 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions or if statement and receipts are furnished |
| Indiana | No statutory limit | 45 days |
| Iowa | Two months’ rent | 30 days |
| Kansas | One month’s rent (unfurnished); one and one-half month’s rent (furnished); for pets, add extra one-half month’s rent | 30 days |
| Kentucky | No statutory limit | 30-60 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Louisiana | No statutory limit | One month |
| Maine | Two months’ rent | 30 days (if written rental agreement) or 21 days (if tenancy at will) |
| Maryland | Two months’ rent | 45 days |
| Massachusetts | One month’s rent | 30 days |
| Michigan | One and one-half months’ rent | 30 days |
| Minnesota | No statutory limit | Three weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing address; five days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation |
| Mississippi | No statutory limit | 45 days |
| Missouri | Two months’ rent | 30 days |
| Montana | No statutory limit | 30 days (10 days if no deductions) |
| Nebraska | One month’s rent (no pets); one and one-quarter months’ rent (pets) | 14 days |
| Nevada | Three months’ rent; if both landlord and tenant agree, tenant may use a surety bond for all or part of the deposit. | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | One month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater; no limit when landlord and tenant share facilities | 30 days; for shared facilities, if the deposit is more than 30 days’ rent, landlord must provide written agreement acknowledging receipt and specifying when deposit will be returned — if no written agreement, 20 days after tenant vacates |
| New Jersey | One and one-half month’s rent. Any additional security deposit, collected annually, may be no greater than 10% of the current security deposit. | 30 days; five days in case of fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation; does not apply to owner-occupied building with two or fewer units where tenant fails to provide 30 days’ written notice to landlord invoking provisions of act |
| New Mexico | One month’s rent (for rental agreement of less than one year); no limit for leases of one year or more | 30 days |
| New York | No statutory limit (for non-regulated units) | Reasonable amount of time |
| North Carolina | One and one-half months’ rent for month-to-month rental agreements; two months’ rent if term is longer than two months; may add an additional “reasonable,” nonrefundable pet deposit. | 30 days; if landlord’s claim against the deposit cannot be finalized within that time, landlord may send an interim accounting and a final accounting within 60 days of the tenancy’s termination |
| North Dakota | One month’s rent (or if tenant has a pet, not to exceed the greater of $2,500 or amount equal to two months’ rent) | 30 days |
| Ohio | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Oklahoma | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Oregon | No statutory limit | 31 days |
| Pennsylvania | Two months’ rent for first year of renting; one month’s rent during second and subsequent years of renting | 30 days |
| Rhode Island | One month’s rent | 20 days |
| South Carolina | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| South Dakota | One month’s rent (higher deposit may be charged if special conditions pose a danger to maintenance of the premises) | Two weeks, and must supply reasons if withholding any portion; 45 days for a written, itemized accounting, if tenant requests it |
| Tennessee | No statutory limit | No statutory deadline to return; 10 days to itemize |
| Texas | No statutory limit | 30 days. Landlord need not refund deposit if lease requires tenant to give written notice of tenant’s intention to surrender the premises. |
| Utah | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Vermont | No statutory limit | 14 days; 60 days if the rental is seasonal and not intended as the tenant’s primary residence |
| Virginia | Two months’ rent | 45 days |
| Washington | No statutory limit | 14 days |
| West Virginia | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Wisconsin | No statutory limit | 21 days |
| Wyoming | No statutory limit | 30 days, when applying it to unpaid rent (or within 15 days of receiving tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is later); additional 30 days allowed for deductions due to damage |