Security deposit limits by state
How much a landlord can ask for, and how long they have to give it back, in all 50 states and DC. Every row links to the state’s rule and the statute behind it.
Security deposit limits by state
| State | Deposit limit | Return deadline | Interest owed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month’s rent | 60 days | Not required | Statute |
| Alaska | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Arizona | 1.5 months’ rent | 14 business days | Not required | Statute |
| Arkansas | 2 months’ rent | 60 days | Not required | Statute |
| California | 1 month’s rent; 2 months for qualifying small landlords | 21 days | Not required | Statute |
| Colorado | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Connecticut | 2 months’ rent; 1 month’s rent if the tenant is 62 or older | 21 days | Required | Statute |
| Delaware | 1 month’s rent (leases of 1 year or more) | 20 days | Not required | Statute |
| District of Columbia | 1 month’s rent | 45 days | Required | Official summary |
| Florida | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Georgia | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Hawaii | 1 month’s rent, plus up to 1 month’s rent as a pet deposit | 14 days | Not required | Statute |
| Idaho | No limit | 21 days | Not required | Statute |
| Illinois | No limit | 45 days | Required | Statute |
| Indiana | No limit | 45 days | Not required | Statute |
| Iowa | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Kansas | 1 month’s rent unfurnished; 1.5 months furnished | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Kentucky | No limit | No fixed deadline | Not required | Statute |
| Louisiana | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Maine | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Maryland | 1 month’s rent | 45 days | Required | Statute |
| Massachusetts | 1 month’s rent | 30 days | Required | Statute |
| Michigan | 1.5 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Minnesota | No limit | 21 days | Required | Statute |
| Mississippi | No limit | 45 days | Not required | Statute |
| Missouri | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Montana | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Nebraska | 1 month’s rent | 14 days | Not required | Statute |
| Nevada | 3 months’ rent | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| New Hampshire | 1 month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater | 30 days | Required | Statute |
| New Jersey | 1.5 months’ rent | 30 days | Required | Official summary |
| New Mexico | 1 month’s rent (leases under one year) | 30 days | Not required | Official summary |
| New York | 1 month’s rent | 14 days | Required | Statute |
| North Carolina | 2 weeks’ rent (week-to-week); 1.5 months’ (month-to-month); 2 months’ (longer terms) | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| North Dakota | 1 month’s rent (2 months’ rent for a tenant with a felony conviction or a prior judgment for violating a rental agreement) | 30 days | Required | Statute |
| Ohio | No limit | 30 days | Required | Statute |
| Oklahoma | No limit | 45 days | Not required | Statute |
| Oregon | No limit | 31 days | Not required | Statute |
| Pennsylvania | 2 months’ rent in the first year of the lease; 1 month’s rent from the second year on | 30 days | Required | Statute |
| Rhode Island | 1 month’s rent | 20 days | Not required | Statute |
| South Carolina | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| South Dakota | 1 month’s rent | 21 days | Not required | Statute |
| Tennessee | No limit | No fixed deadline | Not required | Statute |
| Texas | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Utah | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| Vermont | No limit | 14 days | Not required | Statute |
| Virginia | 2 months’ rent | 45 days | Not required | Statute |
| Washington | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
| West Virginia | No limit | 60 days | Not required | Statute |
| Wisconsin | No limit | 21 days | Not required | Statute |
| Wyoming | No limit | 30 days | Not required | Statute |
Rows marked “Official summary” come from a state agency or court guide rather than the statute text. Tap a column head to sort. Not legal advice. Statutes change; check the linked section.
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
From 14 to 60 days, depending on the state. 30 days is the most common deadline, in 25 states.
The shortest: Arizona (14 business days) and Hawaii, Nebraska, New York and Vermont (14 days). The longest: Alabama, Arkansas and West Virginia (60 days). Kentucky and Tennessee set no fixed deadline. In several states the clock waits for your forwarding address, so give it in writing when you move out.
Which states have no limit on security deposits?
21 states have no statutory cap on the amount: Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Everywhere else the cap is counted in months of rent: 14 states and DC start at one month’s rent and 10 states at two months’, many with exceptions for pets, furnished units or longer leases. The table has each rule.
Do landlords have to pay interest on a security deposit?
In 11 states and DC, yes, at least in some cases: Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Elsewhere state law doesn’t require it, though some cities do. The state page says when interest applies and at what rate.