Deposit laws by state › District of Columbia
State law · District of Columbia
District of Columbia security deposit law
How long your landlord has to return your deposit, what they can deduct, and what happens if they get it wrong.
Short answer: Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, or give written notice of intent to withhold, delivered personally or by certified mail.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- Return deadline
- Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, or give written notice of intent to withhold, delivered personally or by certified mail.14 DCMR § 309.1
- Itemized list
- The written notice of intent to withhold is due within 45 days. The balance and an itemized statement of repairs are then due within 30 days after that notice (14 DCMR § 309.2).14 DCMR § 309.1
Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.
What happens if a District of Columbia landlord misses the deadline?
- If the landlord misses it
- Secondary sources describe a presumption that the full deposit is owed when the deadlines are missed; that text was not confirmed in the official regulation, so it is not applied automatically.14 DCMR § 309
- Penalty
- A landlord who refuses in bad faith to return a deposit can be liable for treble damages. Bad faith means a frivolous or unfounded refusal for a fraudulent, deceptive, dishonest or unreasonably self-serving purpose, not simple negligence or an honest belief.14 DCMR § 311
- Interest
- For tenancies of 12 months or longer, the deposit earns interest at the passbook rate of the DC escrow bank, reset each January 1 and July 1.14 DCMR § 311
Penalties that depend on bad faith or willfulness are possible, not automatic. Only a judge can make that finding.
What can a District of Columbia landlord deduct from your deposit?
What can be deducted: Expenses properly incurred under the terms of the security deposit agreement. (14 DCMR § 309)
What the itemized list must include: A statement of the repairs and other uses the money was applied to, and the cost of each. (14 DCMR § 309)
District of Columbia's deposit statute does not separately define normal wear and tear. See what counts as normal wear and tear for how it is generally treated.
More on common charges: normal wear and tear, cleaning, painting, and a missing itemized list.
Is there a limit on security deposits in District of Columbia?
A deposit may not exceed one month's rent and must be held in an interest-bearing DC escrow account. (14 DCMR § 308)
Taking a deposit case to small claims court in District of Columbia
Small-claims limit: DC Superior Court's Small Claims Branch hears claims up to $10,000. (DC Courts)
Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.
Good to know
- From August 14, 2026, D.C. Law 26-156 adds a separate notice process (45 days, with documentation) for post-tenancy debts such as unpaid rent or damage. A deposit itemization alone may not satisfy it.
What to do if your District of Columbia landlord kept your deposit
- Pin down your dates. When you moved out, returned the keys, and gave a forwarding address in writing. Compare them with the deadline above.
- Gather your evidence. Move-in and move-out photos, the lease, the landlord's list of deductions, receipts and messages. The case checklist covers what matters.
- Send a demand letter by certified mail. Ask for the money, cite District of Columbia's rules, and give a deadline to pay. What a demand letter does.
- If they still don't pay, consider small claims court. You don't need a lawyer there.
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Sources
These rules come from the same verified table the Demand Letter Companion uses, checked against the sources below on October 25, 2026. Laws change; check the current official text before relying on a date.
- D.C. Code § 42-3502.17; 14 DCMR §§ 308-311: code.dccouncil.gov
- DC Courts: dccourts.gov
Other states: see the guides for all 50 states and DC
This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Local ordinances can add rules, and your lease and facts matter. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in District of Columbia.