How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?

It depends on the state. Across the 50 states and the District of Columbia where Seayora holds a published statute, the answer ranges from 14 days to 60 days. The table below gives the figure for each, with the statute it comes from.

Deadline to return the deposit, state by state

StateDeadline to return the depositSource
Alabama60 daysAla. Code § 35-9A-201
Alaska30 daysAlaska Stat. § 34.03.070
Arizona14 daysA.R.S. § 33-1321
Arkansas60 daysArk. Code § 18-16-305
California21 daysCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5
Colorado30 daysC.R.S. § 38-12-103
Connecticut21 daysConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21
Delaware20 days25 Del. C. § 5514
District of Columbia45 days14 DCMR § 308–311
Florida30 daysFla. Stat. § 83.49
Georgia30 daysO.C.G.A. § 44-7-34
Hawaii14 daysHaw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
Idaho21 daysIdaho Code § 6-321
Illinois45 days765 ILCS 710/1; 765 ILCS 715/1
Indiana45 daysInd. Code § 32-31-3-12
Iowa30 daysIowa Code § 562A.12
Kansas30 daysK.S.A. § 58-2550
Kentucky60 daysKRS § 383.580
Louisiana30 daysLa. R.S. 9:3251
Maine30 days14 M.R.S. § 6032–6033
Maryland45 daysMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203
Massachusetts30 daysM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B
Michigan30 daysMCL 554.602–554.609
Minnesota21 daysMinn. Stat. § 504B.178
Mississippi45 daysMiss. Code § 89-8-21
Missouri30 daysMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300
Montana30 daysMont. Code § 70-25-202
Nebraska14 daysNeb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416
Nevada30 daysNRS 118A.242
New Hampshire30 daysRSA 540-A:6–7
New Jersey30 daysN.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-21.1
New Mexico30 daysN.M. Stat. § 47-8-18
New York14 daysN.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)
North Carolina30 daysN.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51–42-52
North Dakota30 daysN.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1
Ohio30 daysOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16
Oklahoma45 days41 O.S. § 115
Oregon31 daysORS 90.300
Pennsylvania30 days68 P.S. § 250.511a–250.512
Rhode Island20 daysR.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19
South Carolina30 daysS.C. Code § 27-40-410
South Dakota14 daysSDCL § 43-32-24
Tennessee30 daysTenn. Code § 66-28-301
Texas30 daysTex. Prop. Code § 92.103
Utah30 daysUtah Code § 57-17-3
Vermont14 days9 V.S.A. § 4461
Virginia45 daysVa. Code § 55.1-1226
Washington30 daysRCW 59.18.280
West Virginia60 daysW. Va. Code § 37-6A-2
Wisconsin21 daysWis. Stat. § 704.28; ATCP 134.06
Wyoming30 daysWyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

Only states where Seayora holds a published statute appear above. Where no statute is recorded, no figure is shown rather than a guess.

The answer in full, for the biggest rental markets

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in California?

In California, a landlord has 21 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. This is Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5.

More on California

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Texas?

In Texas, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. This is Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103.

More on Texas

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Florida?

In Florida, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. 15 days to return when no claim is made; 30 days to give written notice of a claim by certified mail. This is Fla. Stat. § 83.49.

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How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New York?

In New York, a landlord has 14 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. New York also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: Buildings of six or more units must hold the deposit in an interest-bearing New York account; the owner may keep 1 % as an administrative fee. This is N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a).

More on New York

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. Pennsylvania also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: Deposits over $100 must be escrowed; interest (less a 1 % fee) is paid after the second year. This is 68 P.S. § 250.511a–250.512.

More on Pennsylvania

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Illinois?

In Illinois, a landlord has 45 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. 30 days to deliver the itemized statement, 45 days to return the balance (buildings with 5+ units). Illinois also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: Interest required on buildings with 25+ units held 6+ months; Chicago RLTO applies its own rate. This is 765 ILCS 710/1; 765 ILCS 715/1.

More on Illinois

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Ohio?

In Ohio, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. Ohio also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: 5 % per year on the portion over $50 or one month's rent when held six months or longer. This is Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16.

More on Ohio

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Georgia?

In Georgia, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. This is O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34.

More on Georgia

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora computes the deadline this rule sets from the tenancy’s own dates, shows it on the lease and the deposit statement, and reminds the landlord before it falls due — so the answer above is not reference material sitting beside the product, it is the rule the product enforces.

Other rules compared across states

Every rule for one state

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