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State laws / Security deposit return deadline by state

Security deposit return deadline by state

Rules differ by state. Here is what each state's statute says about when a security deposit must be returned, with citations. Data as of 2026-10-21, 34 states verified against official statute text.

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Alaska

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • 30 days is the latest date. If you gave proper written notice to end the tenancy and nothing is deducted for damage, the refund is due within 14 days after the tenancy ends and you hand back possession.
  • The 30-day limit applies when the landlord deducts for damage or you didn't give the required notice.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
AS 34.03.070

Arizona

Return deadline
14 business days
Conditions apply
  • Counted in business days: Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays don't count. We skip weekends only, so add a day for each holiday in the window.
  • The clock starts once the tenancy has ended, you've handed back possession, and you've asked for the deposit.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
A.R.S. § 33-1321

California

Return deadline
21 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5

Colorado

Return deadline
1 month
Conditions apply
  • The statute says one month after the lease ends or you hand back the home, whichever is later. The lease may set a longer period, but never more than 60 days.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026)

Delaware

Return deadline
20 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Del. Code tit. 25, § 5514(a)-(g), (i)

District of Columbia

Return deadline
45 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
14 DCMR §§ 308.2-308.3, 309.1-309.2, 311.1-311.2; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(c)

Florida

Return deadline
15 days
Conditions apply
  • 15 days applies when the landlord keeps nothing. If they intend to make a claim on the deposit, they must send written notice of the claim within 30 days.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Fla. Stat. § 83.49

Georgia

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30.1, 44-7-34

Illinois

Return deadline
45 days
Conditions apply
  • If the landlord deducts for damage, they must send an itemized statement within 30 days; otherwise the full deposit is due within 45 days.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
765 ILCS 710/1; 765 ILCS 715

Iowa

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Iowa Code § 562A.12(1)-(4)

Kansas

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
K.S.A. 58-2550(a)-(c)

Kentucky

Return deadline
See state page
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
KRS 383.580

Louisiana

Return deadline
1 month
Conditions apply
  • Louisiana's deadline is one month after the lease ends, sent to the forwarding address you must provide.
  • These rules don't apply if you abandon the unit without the notice the lease requires.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
La. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252, 9:3254

Maine

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
14 M.R.S. §§ 6032, 6033, 6034, 6038, 6022-A

Maryland

Return deadline
45 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b), (e), (g)

Minnesota

Return deadline
21 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subds. 2-3

Missouri

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
RSMo § 535.300

Montana

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • 30 days is the latest date, counted from when the tenancy ends or the landlord accepts your surrender of the home, whichever comes first.
  • If the inspection finds no damage, no cleaning needed and no unpaid rent, and you can show no utilities are unpaid, the deposit is due within 10 days.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
MCA §§ 70-25-101, 70-25-103, 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-203, 70-25-204

Nevada

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
NRS 118A.242

New York

Return deadline
14 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 7-103, 7-108

North Carolina

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • The landlord may extend to 60 days by sending an interim accounting.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
N.C.G.S. §§ 42-51, 42-52

North Dakota

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • Counted from when the lease ends and you hand back possession. The itemized statement goes to the last address you gave the landlord.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1

Ohio

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • Give your forwarding address in writing to get the itemized statement.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16

Oregon

Return deadline
31 days
Conditions apply
  • Counted from when the tenancy ends and you deliver possession.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
ORS 90.300(12)-(13)

Pennsylvania

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.511b, 250.512

South Carolina

Return deadline
30 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410

South Dakota

Return deadline
21 days
Conditions apply
  • The 21 days start once the tenancy has ended and the landlord has your mailing address or delivery instructions, so give it in writing.
  • 21 days applies from July 1, 2026 (SB 4); before that the deadline was two weeks.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
SDCL §§ 43-32-6.1, 43-32-24

Tennessee

Return deadline
See state page
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301

Texas

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • You must give the landlord a written forwarding address to get your deposit back.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.104, 92.107

Utah

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • If the deposit isn't returned in time, serve the statutory 'Tenant's Notice to Provide Deposit Disposition'. If the owner then fails to comply within 5 business days, you can recover the full deposit plus a $100 penalty.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Utah Code §§ 57-17-2, 57-17-3, 57-17-5

Virginia

Return deadline
45 days
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
Va. Code §§ 55.1-1226(A), 55.1-1208(A)(7)

Washington

Return deadline
30 days
Conditions apply
  • Missing the 30-day statement makes the landlord liable for the full deposit.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
RCW 59.18.260, 59.18.270, 59.18.280, 59.18.285, 59.18.610

West Virginia

Return deadline
60 days
Conditions apply
  • 60 days is the latest date: if a new tenant moves in sooner, the deadline is 45 days after they move in, whichever comes first.
  • If damage costs more than the deposit and a contractor is needed, the landlord may send written notice within that period and then gets 15 more days to itemize.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2, 37-6A-3, 37-6A-5

Wyoming

Return deadline
60 days
Conditions apply
  • 60 days is the latest date when the landlord deducts for damage. With no damage, the refund and itemized list are due within 30 days after the lease ends.
  • If the landlord gets your new mailing address late, the deadline becomes 15 days after they receive it (plus 30 days if there is damage), whichever is later. Send your forwarding address within 30 days.
Itemized list required
Yes
Source
W.S. 1-21-1207, 1-21-1208
StateReturn deadlineItemized list requiredSource
Alaska
30 days
Conditions apply
  • 30 days is the latest date. If you gave proper written notice to end the tenancy and nothing is deducted for damage, the refund is due within 14 days after the tenancy ends and you hand back possession.
  • The 30-day limit applies when the landlord deducts for damage or you didn't give the required notice.
YesAS 34.03.070
Arizona
14 business days
Conditions apply
  • Counted in business days: Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays don't count. We skip weekends only, so add a day for each holiday in the window.
  • The clock starts once the tenancy has ended, you've handed back possession, and you've asked for the deposit.
YesA.R.S. § 33-1321
California
21 days
YesCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5
Colorado
1 month
Conditions apply
  • The statute says one month after the lease ends or you hand back the home, whichever is later. The lease may set a longer period, but never more than 60 days.
YesC.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026)
Delaware
20 days
YesDel. Code tit. 25, § 5514(a)-(g), (i)
District of Columbia
45 days
Yes14 DCMR §§ 308.2-308.3, 309.1-309.2, 311.1-311.2; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(c)
Florida
15 days
Conditions apply
  • 15 days applies when the landlord keeps nothing. If they intend to make a claim on the deposit, they must send written notice of the claim within 30 days.
YesFla. Stat. § 83.49
Georgia
30 days
YesO.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30.1, 44-7-34
Illinois
45 days
Conditions apply
  • If the landlord deducts for damage, they must send an itemized statement within 30 days; otherwise the full deposit is due within 45 days.
Yes765 ILCS 710/1; 765 ILCS 715
Iowa
30 days
YesIowa Code § 562A.12(1)-(4)
Kansas
30 days
YesK.S.A. 58-2550(a)-(c)
Kentucky
See state page
YesKRS 383.580
Louisiana
1 month
Conditions apply
  • Louisiana's deadline is one month after the lease ends, sent to the forwarding address you must provide.
  • These rules don't apply if you abandon the unit without the notice the lease requires.
YesLa. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252, 9:3254
Maine
30 days
Yes14 M.R.S. §§ 6032, 6033, 6034, 6038, 6022-A
Maryland
45 days
YesMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b), (e), (g)
Minnesota
21 days
YesMinn. Stat. § 504B.178, subds. 2-3
Missouri
30 days
YesRSMo § 535.300
Montana
30 days
Conditions apply
  • 30 days is the latest date, counted from when the tenancy ends or the landlord accepts your surrender of the home, whichever comes first.
  • If the inspection finds no damage, no cleaning needed and no unpaid rent, and you can show no utilities are unpaid, the deposit is due within 10 days.
YesMCA §§ 70-25-101, 70-25-103, 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-203, 70-25-204
Nevada
30 days
YesNRS 118A.242
New York
14 days
YesN.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 7-103, 7-108
North Carolina
30 days
Conditions apply
  • The landlord may extend to 60 days by sending an interim accounting.
YesN.C.G.S. §§ 42-51, 42-52
North Dakota
30 days
Conditions apply
  • Counted from when the lease ends and you hand back possession. The itemized statement goes to the last address you gave the landlord.
YesN.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1
Ohio
30 days
Conditions apply
  • Give your forwarding address in writing to get the itemized statement.
YesOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16
Oregon
31 days
Conditions apply
  • Counted from when the tenancy ends and you deliver possession.
YesORS 90.300(12)-(13)
Pennsylvania
30 days
Yes68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.511b, 250.512
South Carolina
30 days
YesS.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410
South Dakota
21 days
Conditions apply
  • The 21 days start once the tenancy has ended and the landlord has your mailing address or delivery instructions, so give it in writing.
  • 21 days applies from July 1, 2026 (SB 4); before that the deadline was two weeks.
YesSDCL §§ 43-32-6.1, 43-32-24
Tennessee
See state page
YesTenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301
Texas
30 days
Conditions apply
  • You must give the landlord a written forwarding address to get your deposit back.
YesTex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.104, 92.107
Utah
30 days
Conditions apply
  • If the deposit isn't returned in time, serve the statutory 'Tenant's Notice to Provide Deposit Disposition'. If the owner then fails to comply within 5 business days, you can recover the full deposit plus a $100 penalty.
YesUtah Code §§ 57-17-2, 57-17-3, 57-17-5
Virginia
45 days
YesVa. Code §§ 55.1-1226(A), 55.1-1208(A)(7)
Washington
30 days
Conditions apply
  • Missing the 30-day statement makes the landlord liable for the full deposit.
YesRCW 59.18.260, 59.18.270, 59.18.280, 59.18.285, 59.18.610
West Virginia
60 days
Conditions apply
  • 60 days is the latest date: if a new tenant moves in sooner, the deadline is 45 days after they move in, whichever comes first.
  • If damage costs more than the deposit and a contractor is needed, the landlord may send written notice within that period and then gets 15 more days to itemize.
YesW. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2, 37-6A-3, 37-6A-5
Wyoming
60 days
Conditions apply
  • 60 days is the latest date when the landlord deducts for damage. With no damage, the refund and itemized list are due within 30 days after the lease ends.
  • If the landlord gets your new mailing address late, the deadline becomes 15 days after they receive it (plus 30 days if there is damage), whichever is later. Send your forwarding address within 30 days.
YesW.S. 1-21-1207, 1-21-1208

Not yet covered (coming soon): Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin.

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