Chart: Deadline for Returning Security Deposits, State-by-State
State deadlines for itemizing and returning tenants' security deposits.
Here's the amount of time landlords have to return a tenant's security deposit after the tenant leaves. For details on your state's specific procedures for returning security deposits, see your state's landlord-tenant statutes.
| State |
Deadline for Returning Security Deposit |
| Alabama |
No statutory deadline |
| Alaska |
14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice |
| Arizona |
14 days |
| Arkansas |
30 days |
| California |
Three weeks |
| Colorado |
One month, unless lease agreement specifies longer period of time (which may be no more than 60 days); 72 hours (not counting weekends or holidays) if a hazardous condition involving gas equipment requires tenant to vacate |
| Connecticut |
30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later |
| Delaware |
20 days |
| District of Columbia |
45 days |
| Florida |
15 to 60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Georgia |
One month |
| Hawaii |
14 days |
| Idaho |
21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree |
| Illinois |
30-45 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Indiana |
45 days |
| Iowa |
30 days |
| Kansas |
30 days |
| Kentucky |
30-60 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Louisiana |
One month |
| Maine |
30 days (if written rental agreement) or 21 days (if tenancy at will) |
| Maryland |
30-45 days, depending on whether tenant has been evicted or has abandoned the premises |
| Massachusetts |
30 days |
| Michigan |
30 days |
| Minnesota |
Three weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing address; five days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation |
| Mississippi |
45 days |
| Missouri |
30 days |
| Montana |
30 days (10 days if no deductions) |
| Nebraska |
14 days |
| Nevada |
30 days |
| New Hampshire |
30 days; for shared facilities, if the deposit is more than 30 days' rent, landlord must provide written agreement acknowledging receipt and specifying when deposit will be returned -- if no written agreement, 20 days after tenant vacates |
| New Jersey |
30 days; five days in case of fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation |
| New Mexico |
30 days |
| New York |
Reasonable time |
| North Carolina |
30 days |
| North Dakota |
30 days |
| Ohio |
30 days |
| Oklahoma |
30 days |
| Oregon |
31 days |
| Pennsylvania |
30 days |
| Rhode Island |
20 days |
| South Carolina |
30 days |
| South Dakota |
Two weeks to return entire deposit or a portion, and supply reasons for withholding; 45 days for a written, itemized accounting, if tenant requests it |
| Tennessee |
No statutory deadline |
| Texas |
30 days |
| Utah |
30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later |
| Vermont |
14 days |
| Virginia |
45 days |
| Washington |
14 days |
| West Virginia |
No statutory deadline |
| Wisconsin |
21 days |
| Wyoming |
30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later; 60 days if there is damage |
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