Hawaii Security Deposit Law: Limits, Deadlines, and Penalties
What Hawaii 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 Hawaii?
HRS § 521-44 caps the security deposit at one month's rent. A landlord may collect an additional pet deposit of up to one month's rent, but only if the tenant actually keeps a pet — and never for service or assistance animals, which are not pets under the law.
An additional pet deposit of up to one month's rent is allowed on top of the standard deposit, but cannot be charged for service or assistance animals.
When must the deposit be returned?
The landlord must return the full deposit, or the balance plus a written itemized accounting of every deduction, within 14 days after the rental agreement terminates and the tenant vacates. There are no statutory extensions.
Any retained portion must be accompanied, within the 14-day window, by written notice itemizing the grounds for retention and the amounts withheld. Missing the window forfeits the right to keep anything.
What happens if a landlord misses the deadline?
A landlord who fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized notice within 14 days forfeits the right to retain any portion. In court, wrongful retention costs the landlord the amount withheld plus costs; retention that is wrongful and wilful can cost three times the amount withheld plus costs of suit.
Interest and holding requirements
Hawaii does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits, and no county imposes its own interest requirement.
No statutory requirement — Hawaii does not require deposits to be kept in a separate or escrow account, though the deposit remains the tenant's money held in trust for the tenancy.
What Hawaii landlords get wrong
Fourteen days is one of the shortest return windows in the country — schedule the move-out inspection for the day the tenant hands back keys and send the accounting immediately. Deposit disputes are heard in small claims court, where neither landlord nor tenant may be represented by an attorney, so documentation decides the case. Tenants may not apply the deposit toward their last month's rent without the landlord's written consent.
The law itself
Frequently asked questions
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Hawaii?
Fourteen days after the tenancy ends and you move out. Within that window the landlord must either return the full deposit or send the balance with a written, itemized accounting of every deduction. A landlord who misses the deadline forfeits the right to keep any portion of the deposit, even for legitimate damage, and can be sued in small claims court.
How much can a landlord charge for a deposit in Hawaii?
No more than one month's rent as a security deposit. If you keep a pet, the landlord may collect an additional pet deposit of up to one month's rent, but that charge is prohibited for service or assistance animals. Hawaii landlords may also collect the first month's rent in advance, so the most you should pay to move in is roughly two months' rent plus any pet deposit.
What penalty does a Hawaii landlord face for wrongfully keeping a deposit?
If a court finds the retention wrongful, the landlord owes the amount withheld plus court costs. If the retention was wrongful and wilful — deliberate, not a mistake — the court may award up to three times the amount withheld plus costs. These cases go to small claims court, where neither side may bring an attorney, so keep your move-out photos and correspondence.
Can my Hawaii landlord use my deposit as last month's rent?
Not unless the landlord agrees. The statute bars tenants from applying the security deposit to the final month's rent without the landlord's written consent. If you skip the last month's rent expecting the deposit to cover it, the landlord can treat the rent as unpaid, deduct it from the deposit, and pursue you for any damage costs the depleted deposit no longer covers.
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.