Ohio Security Deposit Law: Limits, Deadlines, and Penalties
What Ohio 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 Ohio?
Ohio law does not cap how much a landlord can charge as a security deposit. However, any amount above the greater of $50 or one month's rent triggers a 5% annual interest obligation if the tenant stays six months or more, which in practice discourages deposits above one month's rent.
Ohio has no specific pet deposit statute; a refundable pet deposit is treated as part of the security deposit and follows the same 30-day return, itemization, and interest rules.
When must the deposit be returned?
The landlord must return the deposit, or the balance with an itemized deduction notice, within 30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. The clock starts when the tenant actually vacates and returns possession, not when notice is given. The tenant must provide a forwarding address in writing to preserve the right to double damages and attorney fees.
Any deduction must be itemized and identified in a written notice delivered to the tenant, together with the amount due, within the 30-day window. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent and damages from the tenant's breach of statutory obligations.
What happens if a landlord misses the deadline?
Under ORC 5321.16(C), a tenant may recover the money due plus damages equal to the amount wrongfully withheld — effectively double the wrongfully withheld amount — and reasonable attorney fees. The tenant must have given a forwarding address to qualify.
Interest and holding requirements
Interest is required only in a narrow case: any portion of the deposit exceeding the greater of $50 or one month's rent earns 5% per year on that excess, if the tenant remains in possession six months or more. Interest must be computed and paid to the tenant annually. Deposits of one month's rent or less earn no interest.
No statutory requirement. Ohio does not require a separate bank account, escrow, or bond for security deposits.
What Ohio landlords get wrong
The forwarding-address rule cuts both ways: a tenant who never gives a written forwarding address loses the double-damages and attorney-fee remedy, but the landlord still must comply with the 30-day itemization rule. Ohio courts award attorney fees tied to the wrongfully withheld amount, and fee awards frequently exceed the deposit itself in small-claims disputes. Keep the deposit at or below one month's rent to avoid the 5% interest obligation entirely.
The law itself
Frequently asked questions
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Ohio?
Thirty days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant delivers possession. Within that window you must return the full deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions along with any balance owed. The 30 days run from actual move-out, not from the notice date or the lease-end date on paper.
Is there a limit on security deposits in Ohio?
No. Ohio sets no maximum security deposit. But if you charge more than one month's rent (or more than $50, whichever is greater), the excess earns 5% annual interest payable to the tenant once they have lived there six months. Most Ohio landlords charge exactly one month's rent to stay under that threshold.
What happens if an Ohio landlord doesn't return the deposit in 30 days?
The tenant can sue for the amount due plus damages equal to the amount wrongfully withheld — effectively double — plus reasonable attorney fees under ORC 5321.16(C). The catch for tenants: you must have given the landlord a forwarding address in writing, or you lose the double damages and fee award.
Do Ohio landlords have to pay interest on security deposits?
Only in a narrow case. Interest at 5% per year applies solely to the portion of the deposit that exceeds $50 or one month's rent, whichever is greater, and only if the tenant stays six months or longer. A deposit equal to one month's rent earns no interest. When interest is owed, it must be paid annually.
Keep reading
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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.