State reference
Security deposit return deadlines by state
How long does your landlord have to return your deposit — or send an itemized list of deductions? It depends on your state. Here's the deadline and the governing statute.
A missed deadline is one of the strongest things a tenant can have on their side. In many states, a landlord who blows the deadline forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit. All 50 states are listed below — find yours, then check the official statute linked beside it.
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| State | Return deadline | Governing statute |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60 days to mail the refund or itemized accounting, from termination of tenancy and delivery of possession (verified Jun 2026) | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 — view |
| Alaska | 14 days if you gave proper notice and no deductions are made; 30 days if deductions are made or you didn't give proper notice (verified Jun 2026) | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 — view |
| Arizona | 14 business days (excludes weekends and legal holidays), after termination of tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant (verified Jun 2026) | A.R.S. § 33-1321 — view |
| Arkansas | 60 days to return the deposit or provide an itemized list and remainder, from termination of tenancy (verified Jun 2026) | Ark. Code § 18-16-305 — view |
| California | 21 calendar days after move-out (verified Jun 2026) | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 — view |
| Colorado | 30 days (one month) unless the lease specifies a longer period, capped at 60 days, from termination or surrender — whichever is last (verified Jun 2026) | C.R.S. § 38-12-103 — view |
| Connecticut | 21 days after termination, or 15 days after you give written forwarding-address notice — whichever is later (calendar days). Deposit must be returned with interest. (verified Jun 2026) | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) — view |
| Delaware | 20 calendar days, from termination or expiration of the rental agreement (verified Jun 2026) | 25 Del. C. § 5514(f) — view |
| Florida | If no deductions: 15 days to return the full deposit. If making a claim: 30 days to send written notice of intent to claim; tenant then has 15 days to object, and the balance is due within 30 days of the notice (calendar days). (verified Jun 2026) | Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3) — view |
| Georgia | 30 calendar days, from when the landlord obtains possession (after you vacate and surrender the premises) (verified Jun 2026) | Ga. Code § 44-7-34(a) — view |
| Hawaii | 14 calendar days from termination of the rental agreement. If the landlord keeps any portion without a written itemized accounting within those 14 days, they forfeit the right to retain any of it. (verified Jun 2026) | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 — view |
| Idaho | 21 calendar days if the agreement fixes no time; up to 30 days maximum if the agreement sets a longer period. Partial refunds require a signed itemized statement. From surrender of the premises. (verified Jun 2026) | Idaho Code § 6-321(2) — view |
| Illinois | 30 days to furnish an itemized statement of damages (with receipts) if withholding; if no compliant statement is provided, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days (calendar days). From the date you vacated or your right of possession ended, whichever is later. (verified Jun 2026) | 765 ILCS 710/1 — view |
| Indiana | 45 calendar days from termination and delivery of possession — but the landlord has no liability until you provide a written mailing address. (verified Jun 2026) | Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 — view |
| Iowa | 30 calendar days, tied to both termination of the tenancy and receipt of your mailing address or delivery instructions. (verified Jun 2026) | Iowa Code § 562A.12(3) — view |
| Kansas | 14 days after the landlord determines the amount, but no more than 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant (calendar days). (verified Jun 2026) | K.S.A. § 58-2550(b) — view |
| Kentucky | No fixed short return deadline like most states. Instead, the landlord must notify you of any refund due; if you don't respond within 60 days of that notice, the landlord may keep it. (A separate 30-day rule applies if you owe last month's rent and don't demand the deposit.) Calendar days. (verified Jun 2026) | KRS § 383.580 — view |
| Louisiana | One month from termination of the lease or tenancy (provide a forwarding address). Calendar days. (verified Jun 2026) | La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251(A) — view |
| Maine | Written lease: the time stated in the agreement, up to 30 days maximum. Tenancy at will: 21 days from termination or surrender, whichever is later. Calendar days. (verified Jun 2026) | 14 M.R.S. § 6033(2) — view |
| Maryland | 45 calendar days to return the deposit (with interest) or send an itemized list of damages, from the end of the tenancy. (verified Jun 2026) | Md. Real Prop. § 8-203(e), (g) — view |
| Massachusetts | 30 calendar days to return the deposit or balance; if deducting for damage, a sworn itemized list with cost evidence is required within the same 30 days. From termination of occupancy or the end of the lease. (verified Jun 2026) | M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B(4) — view |
| Michigan | 30 calendar days to mail an itemized list of damages with any balance. Conditional: you must give a written forwarding address within 4 days of termination. From termination of occupancy. (verified Jun 2026) | MCL §§ 554.609, 554.611 — view |
| Minnesota | 3 weeks (21 calendar days) after termination and receipt of your mailing address; 5 days if you leave due to legal condemnation. (verified Jun 2026) | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 subd. 3 — view |
| Mississippi | 45 calendar days to return the remaining deposit, triggered by termination, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant. (verified Jun 2026) | Miss. Code § 89-8-21 — view |
| Missouri | 30 calendar days to return the full deposit or furnish a written itemized list of damages with the balance. From termination of the tenancy. (verified Jun 2026) | RSMo § 535.300(3) — view |
| Montana | 30 calendar days to provide a written list of charges and return any balance; 10 days if inspection shows no damages, cleaning, or unpaid rent/utilities. From termination or surrender, whichever is first. (verified Jun 2026) | Mont. Code § 70-25-202 — view |
| Nebraska | 14 calendar days to deliver or mail the balance plus a written itemization, from termination of the tenancy. (verified Jun 2026) | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2) — view |
| Nevada | 30 calendar days to provide an itemized accounting and return any remaining portion, from termination of the tenancy. (verified Jun 2026) | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(4) — view |
| New Hampshire | 30 calendar days to return the deposit (with interest, if any) or provide a written itemized list of damages, from termination of the tenancy. (verified Jun 2026) | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:7(I) — view |
| New Jersey | 30 calendar days from termination of the lease (faster rules apply in some cases: 5 business days for displaced tenants, 15 business days for certain domestic-violence terminations). (verified Jun 2026) | N.J. Stat. § 46:8-21.1 — view |
| New Mexico | 30 calendar days to provide an itemized list of deductions and return the balance, from termination of the rental agreement or departure, whichever is later. (verified Jun 2026) | N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18(C) — view |
| New York | 14 calendar days to return the deposit with an itemized statement of any amount retained; missing the deadline forfeits the right to keep any of it. From when the tenant vacates. (Applies to non-rent-stabilized units.) (verified Jun 2026) | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e) — view |
| North Carolina | 30 calendar days to itemize damages and return the balance; if damages can't be determined in time, an interim accounting within 30 days and a final one within 60 days. From termination and delivery of possession. (verified Jun 2026) | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 — view |
| North Dakota | 30 calendar days to deliver or mail the itemization and any amount due, from termination of the lease and delivery of possession. (verified Jun 2026) | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 — view |
| Ohio | 30 calendar days to deliver a written itemized notice of deductions and any amount due. Conditional: you must give a written forwarding address. From termination and delivery of possession. (verified Jun 2026) | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B) — view |
| Oklahoma | 45 calendar days to return the balance, triggered by termination, delivery of possession, and written demand by the tenant. (No written demand within 6 months forfeits the deposit to the landlord.) (verified Jun 2026) | 41 O.S. § 115(B) — view |
| Oregon | 31 calendar days to give a written accounting for any amount claimed and return any unclaimed portion, from when the tenancy terminates and you deliver possession. (verified Jun 2026) | ORS § 90.300(12)–(13) — view |
| Pennsylvania | 30 calendar days to return the deposit or provide a written list of damages with the balance. Conditional: you must give a written forwarding address. From the end of the lease or surrender, whichever is first. (verified Jun 2026) | 68 P.S. § 250.512 — view |
| Rhode Island | 20 calendar days to deliver an itemized notice and any amount due, from the later of termination, delivery of possession, or your providing a forwarding address. (verified Jun 2026) | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(b) — view |
| South Carolina | 30 calendar days to provide an itemized notice and any amount due, from the later of termination, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant. (verified Jun 2026) | S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a) — view |
| South Dakota | 2 weeks (14 calendar days) to return the deposit or give a written reason for withholding; if you request an itemized accounting, it's due within 45 days. From termination and receipt of your mailing address. (verified Jun 2026) | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24 — view |
| Tennessee | No fixed short return deadline like most states. The landlord must notify you of any refund due; if you don't respond within 60 days of that notice, the landlord may keep it. (Some sources cite "30 days," but that isn't a confirmed general return deadline in the statute.) Calendar days. (verified Jun 2026) | Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 — view |
| Texas | 30 calendar days after surrender of the premises (deadline starts once you give a written forwarding address) (verified Jun 2026) | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103 — view |
| Utah | 30 calendar days to mail or deliver the balance and an itemized notice of deductions, from the day the renter vacates and returns possession. (verified Jun 2026) | Utah Code § 57-17-3 — view |
| Vermont | 14 calendar days to return the deposit with an itemized statement of deductions (60 days for seasonal/non-primary residences). From when the landlord learns you vacated or the date you gave notice of vacating. (verified Jun 2026) | 9 V.S.A. § 4461(c) — view |
| Virginia | 45 calendar days to provide an itemized written notice of deductions and return any amount due, from the later of termination or the date you vacate. (verified Jun 2026) | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 — view |
| Washington | 30 calendar days to give a specific statement of the basis for any retained amount, with documentation and any refund. From termination and vacating (or from when the landlord learns of abandonment). (verified Jun 2026) | RCW § 59.18.280(1) — view |
| West Virginia | Within the "notice period": 60 days after termination, or 45 days after a new tenant occupies — whichever is shorter. An extra 15 days applies if a third-party contractor is needed for damages exceeding the deposit. Calendar days. (verified Jun 2026) | W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2 — view |
| Wisconsin | 21 calendar days to deliver or mail the deposit (with an itemized statement if deducting). The trigger date depends on whether you leave on time, early, or after the termination date. (verified Jun 2026) | Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4) — view |
| Wyoming | The later of 30 days after termination or 15 days after you give your new mailing address; extended by 30 days if there is damage to the unit. Calendar days. (verified Jun 2026) | Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208 — view |
How to use this: deadlines and statutes change, and some run from move-out while others run from when you give a forwarding address. Always confirm against the official statute linked above before relying on a date. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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