Arizona Security Deposit Law: Limits, Deadlines, and Penalties
What Arizona landlords can charge, when deposits must be returned, and what it costs to get it wrong. Last reviewed 2026-08-12.
How much can a landlord charge in Arizona?
Arizona caps total security — including security deposits and required prepaid rent, however labeled — at one and one-half months' rent. A tenant may voluntarily pay more, but the landlord cannot demand it. Nonrefundable fees (such as cleaning or pet fees) are outside the cap but must be designated as nonrefundable in writing.
Refundable pet deposits count toward the 1.5-month cap; nonrefundable pet fees are allowed outside the cap only if their purpose and nonrefundable status are stated in writing.
When must the deposit be returned?
The landlord has 14 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, to refund the deposit with an itemized list of deductions. The clock starts at termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant — in practice, roughly three calendar weeks after move-out.
The landlord must provide an itemized list of all deductions together with the amount due to the tenant within the 14-business-day window. The tenant then has 60 days to dispute the deductions in writing before they become final.
What happens if a landlord misses the deadline?
A tenant may recover the wrongfully withheld property and money plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Interest and holding requirements
Arizona does not require interest on residential security deposits, and no Arizona city imposes its own deposit-interest rule. (A separate statute, A.R.S. § 33-1431, governs mobile home park deposits.)
No statutory requirement. Arizona landlords are not required to keep deposits in a separate account, escrow, or bond.
What Arizona landlords get wrong
Arizona builds inspections into the statute: at move-in the landlord must furnish a signed lease copy, a move-in condition form, and written notice that the tenant may be present at the move-out inspection — skipping these weakens any later deduction. Any fee not designated nonrefundable in writing is refundable by default, a common trap with 'cleaning fees' mentioned only verbally. The 14-day return deadline counts business days only, so it usually runs about three calendar weeks. Deductions the tenant does not dispute within 60 days become final.
The law itself
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Arizona?
No more than one and one-half months' rent, counting the security deposit and any required prepaid rent together. On a $1,500 monthly rental, the most a landlord can demand is $2,250. You can voluntarily pay more if you choose, but it cannot be required. Nonrefundable fees like pet or cleaning fees sit outside this cap, provided they are labeled nonrefundable in writing.
How long does an Arizona landlord have to return a security deposit?
Fourteen business days — excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays — after the tenancy ends, you deliver possession, and you request the refund. That works out to roughly three calendar weeks. Within that window the landlord must send your refund plus an itemized list of any deductions. If you disagree with deductions, dispute them in writing within 60 days or they become final.
Can I be present at the move-out inspection in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona law requires landlords to notify you in writing at move-in that you have the right to be present at the move-out inspection, and to tell you when the inspection will happen if you ask. The only exception is when the landlord is evicting for a material and irreparable breach with reasonable cause to fear violence or intimidation. Attend and photograph the unit — it is your best defense against deductions.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Arizona?
Unpaid rent and the cost of repairing damage beyond normal wear and tear, plus other charges the lease allows. The landlord must list every deduction on an itemized statement sent within 14 business days of move-out. Fees never designated nonrefundable in writing must be refunded. If the landlord wrongfully withholds money, you can sue for the amount owed plus twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Keep reading
Deposit deadlines are easy to miss — until they cost you triple.
Vantric tracks your leases, deposits, and move-out dates in one place, built for landlords with 1–10 units.
Start Free TrialThis page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes change — verify against the official text linked above or consult a local attorney before acting.