Deposit laws by state › Minnesota
State law · Minnesota
Minnesota 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 three weeks (21 days) after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give a written statement of the specific reasons for keeping any of it.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Minnesota?
- Return deadline
- Within three weeks (21 days) after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give a written statement of the specific reasons for keeping any of it.Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3
- Itemized list
- The written statement is due within the same three weeks.Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3
- Forwarding address
- The three-week clock starts only once the landlord has the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions.Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3
Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.
What happens if a Minnesota landlord misses the deadline?
- If the landlord misses it
- Minnesota's remedy is a penalty equal to the amount withheld rather than a stated forfeiture.Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 4
- Penalty
- A landlord who misses the three-week requirement owes the amount withheld, plus a penalty equal to that amount, plus interest. Bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500; bad faith is presumed if the landlord missed the deadline and does not return the deposit within two weeks after a lawsuit starts.Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subds. 4, 7
- Burden of proof
- The landlord must prove the reason for withholding by a fair preponderance of the evidence.Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3(c)
- Interest
- The deposit earns 1% simple interest per year.Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 2
What can a Minnesota landlord deduct from your deposit?
What can be deducted: Only amounts reasonably necessary for unpaid rent or other money due under an agreement, and restoring the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3(b))
Normal wear and tear: Ordinary wear and tear is excepted. (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3(b))
What the itemized list must include: A written statement showing the specific reason for withholding. (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3(a))
More on common charges: normal wear and tear, cleaning, painting, and a missing itemized list.
Taking a deposit case to small claims court in Minnesota
Small-claims limit: Minnesota conciliation court (small claims) covers money claims of $15,000 or less. (Minnesota Judicial Branch guidance)
Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.
What to do if your Minnesota 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 Minnesota'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.
- Minn. Stat. § 504B.178: revisor.mn.gov
- Minnesota Judicial Branch guidance: mncourts.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 Minnesota.