How much you can charge, how fast you must return it, and what a mistake costs — for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Every guide cites the statute so you can verify the law yourself.
Deposit rules are the most commonly violated landlord-tenant law in the country, and the penalties are usually multiples of the deposit. Find your state below.
| State | Max Deposit | Return Deadline | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month's rent | 60 days after move-out | Not required |
| Alaska | 2 months' rent | 14 days after move-out | Not required |
| Arizona | 1.5 months' rent | 14 business days after move-out | Not required |
| Arkansas | 2 months' rent | 60 days after tenancy terminates | Not required |
| California | 1 month's rent | 21 days after move-out | Not required |
| Colorado | 2 months' rent | 30 days after move-out (lease can extend to 60) | Not required |
| Connecticut | 2 months' rent (1 month if tenant is 62+) | 21 days after move-out (or 15 days after receiving forwarding address, whichever is later) | Required |
| Delaware | 1 month's rent (leases of 1 year or more) | 20 days after move-out | Not required |
| Florida | No statutory limit | 15 days (no deductions) or 30 days to send an itemized claim notice | Not required |
| Georgia | 2 months' rent | One month (30 days) after the tenancy ends | Not required |
| Hawaii | 1 month's rent (plus optional pet deposit up to 1 month) | 14 days after the tenancy ends | Not required |
| Idaho | No statutory limit | 21 days by default; up to 30 days if the lease says so | Not required |
| Illinois | No statutory limit (state); 1.5 months' rent in suburban Cook County | 30 days for an itemized statement of deductions; 45 days to return the deposit | Not required |
| Indiana | No statutory limit | 45 days after termination and delivery of possession | Not required |
| Iowa | 2 months' rent | 30 days after termination and receipt of the tenant's mailing address | Not required |
| Kansas | 1 month's rent (unfurnished); 1.5 months (furnished); +0.5 month for pets | 14 days after determining deductions, and never more than 30 days after termination | Not required |
| Kentucky | No statutory limit | No fixed refund deadline; deposit stays claimable for 60 days after the refund notice | Not required |
| Louisiana | No statutory limit | 1 month after the lease ends and tenant vacates | Not required |
| Maine | 2 months' rent | 30 days (written lease); 21 days for tenancy at will | Not required |
| Maryland | 1 month's rent | 45 days after the tenancy ends | Required |
| Massachusetts | 1 month's rent | 30 days after the tenancy ends | Required |
| Michigan | 1.5 months' rent | 30 days after the tenant moves out | Not required |
| Minnesota | No statutory limit | 3 weeks after move-out and receipt of forwarding address | Required |
| Mississippi | No statutory limit | 45 days after the tenancy ends | Not required |
| Missouri | 2 months' rent | 30 days after the tenancy ends | Not required |
| Montana | No statutory limit | 30 days; 10 days if nothing is owed | Not required |
| Nebraska | 1 month's rent | 14 days after the tenancy ends | Not required |
| Nevada | 3 months' rent | 30 days after the tenancy ends | Not required |
| New Hampshire | 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is greater | 30 days after the tenancy ends | Required |
| New Jersey | 1.5 months' rent | 30 days after the tenancy ends | Required |
| New Mexico | 1 month's rent (leases under 1 year); no cap on annual leases | 30 days after the tenancy ends | Not required |
| New York | 1 month's rent | 14 days after the tenant vacates | Required |
| North Carolina | 2 weeks' to 2 months' rent, by tenancy type | 30 days after termination and delivery of possession | Not required |
| North Dakota | 1 month's rent | 30 days after the tenancy ends | Required |
| Ohio | No statutory limit | 30 days after move-out | Required |
| Oklahoma | No statutory limit | 45 days after the tenant's written demand | Not required |
| Oregon | No statewide statutory limit | 31 days after tenancy ends and possession is delivered | Not required |
| Pennsylvania | 2 months' rent in year one; 1 month after | 30 days after lease termination or surrender | Required |
| Rhode Island | 1 month's rent | 20 days after tenancy ends | Not required |
| South Carolina | No statutory limit | 30 days after termination, possession, and demand | Not required |
| South Dakota | 1 month's rent | 21 days after tenancy ends and address received | Not required |
| Tennessee | No statutory limit | No fixed statutory deadline; 30 days is standard practice | Not required |
| Texas | No statutory limit | 30 days after move-out | Not required |
| Utah | No statutory limit | 30 days after the renter vacates and returns possession | Not required |
| Vermont | No state limit; some cities cap at one month's rent | 14 days after the tenant vacates | Not required |
| Virginia | 2 months' rent maximum | 45 days after tenancy ends or tenant vacates, whichever is later | Not required |
| Washington | No statewide limit for standard rentals; local caps apply | 30 days after tenancy ends and tenant vacates | Not required |
| Washington, D.C. | 1 month's rent | 45 days after move-out | Required |
| West Virginia | No statutory limit | 60 days after tenancy ends, or 45 days after a new tenant moves in, whichever is shorter | Not required |
| Wisconsin | No statutory limit | 21 days after the tenant vacates (measured from lease end or landlord's knowledge) | Not required |
| Wyoming | No statutory limit | 30 days after the lease ends (or 15 days after receiving the tenant's new address, if later) | Not required |
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Start Free TrialThese guides are general information, not legal advice. Each page links to the official statute text so you can verify current law.