The rule
- Deposit limit
- 1 month’s rent; 2 months for qualifying small landlords
- Return deadline
- 21 days
- Interest owed
- Not required
- Itemized deductions
- Required
- The limit
- Applies to deposits taken on or after July 1, 2024. A natural-person landlord (or LLC of natural persons) owning no more than 2 rental properties with 4 or fewer units may take 2 months, except from service members.
- The deadline
- Within 21 days after the tenant vacates, with an itemized statement; receipts are required for deductions over $125.
- Interest
- No statewide interest requirement; some cities require interest on deposits.
- Deductions
- The landlord must give you an itemized list of anything kept from the deposit.
- If it isn’t returned
- Bad-faith retention: statutory damages of up to twice the deposit, plus actual damages.
Last reviewed September 30, 2026
Not legal advice. Statutes change; check the linked section.