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State law · Michigan

Michigan security deposit law

How long your landlord has to return your deposit, what they can deduct, and what happens if they get it wrong.

Checked against MCL 554.601-554.616 (Security Deposits Act) on October 30, 2026 · By Michael

Short answer: Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit or sue the tenant for the damages it claims. The landlord must mail an itemized list of damages within 30 days after the tenant moves out, if the tenant gave a forwarding address in writing within 4 days of moving out.

Return deadline45 days (30 for the itemized list)
Possible penaltyDouble the deposit retained
Small-claims limit$7,000
Deposit limit1.5 months' rent

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

Return deadline
Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit or sue the tenant for the damages it claims.MCL 554.613
Itemized list
The landlord must mail an itemized list of damages within 30 days after the tenant moves out, if the tenant gave a forwarding address in writing within 4 days of moving out.MCL 554.609
Forwarding address
The tenant must give a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after moving out. Without it, the landlord does not have to send the itemized list, but the tenant can still claim the deposit.MCL 554.611

Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.

What happens if a Michigan landlord misses the deadline?

If the landlord misses it
A landlord who does not send the itemized list within 30 days is treated as agreeing that no damages are due and must return the full deposit.MCL 554.610
Penalty
A landlord who neither returns the deposit nor sues within 45 days waives its damage claims and owes the tenant double the deposit it kept.MCL 554.613

What can a Michigan landlord deduct from your deposit?

What can be deducted: Only actual damages that are the direct result of conduct not reasonably expected in the normal course of living in a home, plus unpaid rent, rent due for early termination, and unpaid utility bills. (MCL 554.607)

Normal wear and tear: Only damage from conduct not reasonably expected in normal living may be charged. (MCL 554.607(a))

What the itemized list must include: An itemized list of damages with the estimated cost of repair for each item and the amounts and bases of each charge. (MCL 554.609)

More on common charges: normal wear and tear, cleaning, painting, and a missing itemized list.

Is there a limit on security deposits in Michigan?

A deposit may not exceed one and one-half months' rent. (MCL 554.602)

Deadlines and steps on your side

Michigan also sets rules for tenants. Missing one of these can cost you part of your claim, so check them early.

Objecting to the landlord's charges: The tenant must respond by ordinary mail within 7 days after receiving the landlord's notice of damages, saying in detail whether they agree or disagree with each charge. The notice must warn, in large bold type, that otherwise the tenant forfeits the amount claimed; if the notice lacked that warning, the 7-day rule may not apply. (MCL 554.612; MCL 554.609)

Move-in condition report: The landlord must give two blank move-in inventory checklists, which the tenant returns within 7 days, and must complete a move-out checklist. (MCL 554.608)

Taking a deposit case to small claims court in Michigan

Small-claims limit: Michigan small claims covers claims up to $7,000. (MCL 600.8401)

Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.

Good to know

  • Michigan landlords may keep deposit money for damages only after a court judgment, a written agreement, or a few listed exceptions (MCL 554.613). A landlord that simply kept the money without suing is in a weak position.
Sample letterSee a Michigan demand letterNo list of damages, and no lawsuit. A full letter the Demand Letter Companion wrote for a fictional tenant, built on these rules.Read the Michigan letter →

What to do if your Michigan landlord kept your deposit

  1. Pin down your dates. When you moved out, returned the keys, and gave a forwarding address in writing. Compare them with the deadline above.
  2. 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.
  3. Send a demand letter by certified mail. Ask for the money, cite Michigan's rules, and give a deadline to pay. What a demand letter does.
  4. If they still don't pay, consider small claims court. You don't need a lawyer there.

Get a demand letter built on Michigan's rules

Upload your lease, answer plain questions, and approve a letter that cites Michigan's deposit law. About 20 minutes.

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Not sure yet? Check your case free →

Sources

These rules come from the same verified table the Demand Letter Companion uses, checked against the sources below on October 30, 2026. Laws change; check the current official text before relying on a date.

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 Michigan.