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MoveOutReport

Landlord reference · 2026

Security deposit laws by state.

Quick reference for landlords: return deadlines, itemization rules, deposit caps, and penalties. Pick your state.

  • Deadline:30 days
    Max:No statutory limit
    Penalty:Three times the wrongfully withheld amount, plus $100 and reasonable attorney fees, if landlord acts in bad faith.
  • Deadline:21 days
    Max:1 month's rent (effective July 1, 2024 under AB 12)
    Penalty:Up to twice the deposit amount in statutory damages for bad-faith withholding, plus actual damages and attorney fees.
  • Deadline:15 (no claim) / 30 (with claim)
    Max:No statutory limit
    Penalty:Loss of right to make any claim against the deposit if the landlord fails to send the required notice within 30 days.
  • Deadline:14 days
    Max:1 month's rent (HSTPA, 2019)
    Penalty:Forfeiture of the right to retain any portion of the deposit if itemization is not provided within 14 days.
  • Deadline:30 (with itemization) / 45 (without)
    Max:No statewide limit (Chicago has rules)
    Penalty:Twice the wrongfully withheld amount plus court costs and attorney fees for buildings of 5+ units (Security Deposit Return Act).
  • Deadline:30 days
    Max:2 months' rent (year 1); 1 month (year 2+)
    Penalty:Double the amount wrongfully withheld for failure to provide a written list of damages within 30 days.
  • Deadline:30 days
    Max:No statutory limit
    Penalty:Double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees.
  • Deadline:30 days
    Max:No statutory limit
    Penalty:Three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees.
  • Deadline:30 days
    Max:1.5 months (month-to-month) / 2 months (term lease) / 2 weeks (week-to-week)
    Penalty:Forfeiture of the right to retain any portion of the deposit for failure to comply with notice and accounting requirements.
  • Deadline:30 days
    Max:No statutory limit
    Penalty:Up to 2× the deposit amount plus court costs and attorney fees for intentional wrongful withholding.
  • Deadline:14 days
    Max:1.5 months' rent
    Penalty:Twice the wrongfully withheld amount.
  • Deadline:30 (or up to 60 if lease specifies)
    Max:No statutory limit
    Penalty:Three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees if landlord acts in bad faith.

Summaries are for orientation, not legal advice. Verify each rule against the linked statute before relying on it. Local ordinances (Chicago RLTO, NYC, San Francisco, etc.) may impose stricter requirements than state law.

Don’t see your state?

We’re adding the next 20 states this quarter. In the meantime, the deduction letter template format works in every U.S. jurisdiction.