Deposit laws by state › Pennsylvania
State law · Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania 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 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the unit, the landlord must return the deposit minus any damages on the written list.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
- Return deadline
- Within 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the unit, the landlord must return the deposit minus any damages on the written list.68 P.S. § 250.512(a)
- Itemized list
- Any deduction requires a written list of damages within the same 30 days.68 P.S. § 250.512(a)
- Forwarding address
- A tenant who does not give the landlord a new address in writing when the lease ends loses the right to the forfeiture and double-damages remedies.68 P.S. § 250.512(e)
Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.
What happens if a Pennsylvania landlord misses the deadline?
- If the landlord misses it
- A landlord who does not provide the written list within 30 days forfeits all rights to withhold any part of the deposit and the right to sue the tenant for damage. This depends on the tenant having given a new address in writing (§ 250.512(e)).68 P.S. § 250.512(b)
- Penalty
- A landlord who does not pay back the difference within 30 days owes double the amount by which the deposit exceeded actual damages. This depends on the tenant having given a new address in writing.68 P.S. § 250.512(c)
- Burden of proof
- The landlord has the burden of proving actual damage caused by the tenant.68 P.S. § 250.512(c)
What can a Pennsylvania landlord deduct from your deposit?
What can be deducted: The actual amount of damage to the premises caused by the tenant, and unpaid rent. (68 P.S. § 250.512(a))
What the itemized list must include: A written list of damages the landlord claims the tenant is liable for. (68 P.S. § 250.512(a))
Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania?
During the first year of a lease, a deposit may not exceed two months' rent; from the second year on, it may not exceed one month's rent. (68 P.S. § 250.511a)
If you rented for more than a year, the limit after the first year was one month's rent.
Taking a deposit case to small claims court in Pennsylvania
Small-claims limit: A magisterial district judge hears claims up to $12,000. (Pennsylvania magisterial district court guidance)
Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.
Good to know
- Philadelphia cases go to Philadelphia Municipal Court rather than a magisterial district judge.
What to do if your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania'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.
- 68 P.S. § 250.512: lyco.org
- Pennsylvania magisterial district court guidance: delcopa.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 Pennsylvania.