Security Deposit Limits by State (2026)
The maximum security deposit a landlord can collect, and the deadline to return it, in all 50 states and DC. Caps verified against state statutes, July 2026. City ordinances can add rules on top of state law.
| State | Maximum deposit | Return deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month (pet/risk add-ons allowed) | 60 days |
| Alaska | 2 months (+1 month pet) | 14 days if rent over $2,000/mo; 30 days with deductions |
| Arizona | 1.5 months | 14 business days |
| Arkansas | 2 months | 60 days (larger landlords) |
| California | 1 month (since Jul 2024) | 21 days |
| Colorado | 2 months | 30 days (lease may extend to 60) |
| Connecticut | 2 months (1 month if tenant 62+) | 21 days |
| Delaware | 1 month (leases of 1 year+) | 20 days |
| District of Columbia | 1 month | 45 days |
| Florida | No statutory limit | 15 days; 30-day claim notice with deductions |
| Georgia | 2 months (since Jul 2024) | 30 days |
| Hawaii | 1 month (+1 month pet) | 14 days |
| Idaho | No statutory limit | 21 days (lease may set 30) |
| Illinois | No statutory limit (Chicago differs) | 45 days |
| Indiana | No statutory limit | 45 days |
| Iowa | 2 months | 30 days |
| Kansas | 1 month (1.5 furnished; +half-month pet) | 30 days |
| Kentucky | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Louisiana | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Maine | 2 months | 30 days (21 for at-will) |
| Maryland | 1 month (since Oct 2024) | 45 days |
| Massachusetts | 1 month | 30 days |
| Michigan | 1.5 months | 30 days |
| Minnesota | No statutory limit (Minneapolis: 1 month) | 21 days |
| Mississippi | No statutory limit | 45 days |
| Missouri | 2 months | 30 days |
| Montana | No statutory limit | 10 days; 30 with deductions |
| Nebraska | 1 month (+quarter-month pet) | 14 days |
| Nevada | 3 months (highest in the US) | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 1 month or $100 (whichever is greater) | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 1.5 months | 30 days |
| New Mexico | 1 month (leases of 1 year or less) | 30 days |
| New York | 1 month | 14 days |
| North Carolina | 2 weeks / 1.5 mo / 2 mo (by tenancy type) | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 1 month (+pet: $2,500 or 2 months) | 30 days |
| Ohio | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Oklahoma | No statutory limit | 45 days (after written demand) |
| Oregon | No statutory limit | 31 days |
| Pennsylvania | 2 months year one; 1 month after | 30 days |
| Rhode Island | 1 month | 20 days |
| South Carolina | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| South Dakota | 1 month | 2 weeks; balance within 45 days |
| Tennessee | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Texas | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Utah | No statutory limit | 30 days |
| Vermont | No statutory limit (Burlington: 1 month) | 14 days |
| Virginia | 2 months | 45 days |
| Washington | No statutory limit (Seattle: 1 month) | 30 days |
| West Virginia | No statutory limit | 60 days (45 if new tenant moves in) |
| Wisconsin | No statutory limit | 21 days |
| Wyoming | No statutory limit | 30 days |
General information, not legal advice. Legislatures amend these rules; confirm your state's current statute before acting. Missing the return deadline usually forfeits the landlord's right to deduct, and about 20 states add double damages; Texas, South Carolina, and Massachusetts allow up to triple.
Get your deposit back
Read the full security deposit guide for the move-in photo routine, what landlords can deduct, and the demand-letter ladder when money does not come back.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the highest security deposit limit?
Nevada, at 3 months' rent, the highest statutory cap in the country. California and New York are among the lowest at 1 month.
Which states have no security deposit limit?
Roughly half the states set no statutory cap, including Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. In those states the lease controls the amount, though deposits must still be reasonable.
How fast must a landlord return my deposit?
It ranges from 10 days (Montana) to 60 days (Alabama, West Virginia). Most states require 14 to 45 days. Missing the deadline often forfeits the landlord's right to deduct, and many states add double or triple damages.
Can a landlord charge more than the state limit?
No. The statutory cap is a ceiling; lease language demanding more is unenforceable. Some states allow add-ons for pets or furnished units within the stated rules.