Free tool
Security deposit return: deadline and letter
Pick your state and enter the date you moved out. See the day the legal deadline to return your deposit falls on, the law's own words, and a letter in Spanish and English to print. A summary of the law, not legal advice.
Free, no sign-up. What you type stays on your phone.
- Deadlines for 42 states, each with its statute citation
- Rules verified as of October 24, 2026.
Pick your state and enter the day you moved out. You get the deadline and a letter ready to print.
Your move-out
The state and date stay in this browser. "Start over" clears them.
Let's do the math
Deadline to return your deposit
Pick your state to see the deadline.
A summary of state law, not legal advice. Your city may have more rules.
Show contents
How is it calculated?
We read each state's deadline in its law; you only pick the state and the date.
The formula
Deadline = move-out date + your state's period, counted the way the law counts it: calendar days, business days (no Saturdays or Sundays) or months. Where the law only says "days", we count calendar days and say so.
Example with the numbers for the United States
How each state counts its deadline, in the law records we verified (42 states):
- States with a verified deadline
- 42
- Laws that say which kind of days count
- 2
- Laws that give the deadline in months
- 2
- Laws whose deadline depends on the case
- 1
Computed from the page's data when it was built; in the tool you replace every number with your own.
What moves the result?
Six things that change the number more than anything else.
-
The deposit
Keep your deposit receipt and lease at hand: they show what you paid.
-
The deadline
Each state sets its own days. Write down the day you moved out and the day you send the letter.
-
Photos and papers
Take photos and videos of the home when you move in and out. Keep a copy of everything you send.
-
Your state's law
What the landlord may deduct, and what they must give you in writing, changes from state to state.
-
Deductions
If the landlord deducts anything, ask for a written list of each deduction.
-
Your city
Some cities have extra deposit rules. Ask legal aid in your area.
The official numbers behind the tool
Official data the tool uses, so you can compare.
Security-deposit cap by state
| State | Deposit cap | Days to return it | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month of rent | 60 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Alaska | — | — | October 24, 2026 |
| Arizona | 1.5 months of rent | 14 days | October 16, 2026 |
| Arkansas | 2 months of rent | 60 days | October 24, 2026 |
| California | 1 month of rent | 21 days | October 16, 2026 |
| Colorado | 2 months of rent | 1 day | October 23, 2026 |
| Connecticut | 2 months of rent | — | October 23, 2026 |
| Delaware | 1 month of rent | — | October 24, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | 1 month of rent | — | October 24, 2026 |
| Florida | No cap in the law | 15 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Georgia | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Hawaii | 1 month of rent | 14 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Idaho | No cap in the law | 21 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Illinois | No cap in the law | 45 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Indiana | — | 45 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Iowa | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Kansas | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Kentucky | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | 1 day | October 24, 2026 |
| Maine | 2 months of rent | — | October 24, 2026 |
| Maryland | 1 month of rent | 45 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Michigan | 1.5 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Minnesota | No cap in the law | 21 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Mississippi | — | 45 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Missouri | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | 1 month of rent | 14 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Nevada | 3 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| New Jersey | 1.5 months of rent | 30 days | October 16, 2026 |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| New York | 1 month of rent | 14 days | October 16, 2026 |
| North Carolina | No cap in the law | 30 days | October 16, 2026 |
| North Dakota | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Ohio | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | — | 45 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Oregon | No cap in the law | 31 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Puerto Rico | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | 1 month of rent | 20 days | October 24, 2026 |
| South Carolina | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| South Dakota | 1 month of rent | 21 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Tennessee | — | — | — |
| Texas | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Utah | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Vermont | — | 14 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Virginia | 2 months of rent | 45 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Washington | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | 21 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Wyoming | — | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
- Alabama 1 month of rent60 days
- Alaska ——
- Arizona 1.5 months of rent14 days
- Arkansas 2 months of rent60 days
- California 1 month of rent21 days
- Colorado 2 months of rent1 day
- Connecticut 2 months of rent—
- Delaware 1 month of rent—
- District of Columbia 1 month of rent—
- Florida No cap in the law15 days
- Georgia 2 months of rent30 days
- Hawaii 1 month of rent14 days
- Idaho No cap in the law21 days
- Illinois No cap in the law45 days
- Indiana —45 days
- Iowa 2 months of rent30 days
- Kansas 1 month of rent30 days
- Kentucky ——
- Louisiana —1 day
- Maine 2 months of rent—
- Maryland 1 month of rent45 days
- Massachusetts 1 month of rent30 days
- Michigan 1.5 months of rent30 days
- Minnesota No cap in the law21 days
- Mississippi —45 days
- Missouri 2 months of rent30 days
- Montana ——
- Nebraska 1 month of rent14 days
- Nevada 3 months of rent30 days
- New Hampshire 1 month of rent30 days
- New Jersey 1.5 months of rent30 days
- New Mexico ——
- New York 1 month of rent14 days
- North Carolina No cap in the law30 days
- North Dakota 1 month of rent30 days
- Ohio No cap in the law30 days
- Oklahoma —45 days
- Oregon No cap in the law31 days
- Pennsylvania 2 months of rent30 days
- Puerto Rico ——
- Rhode Island 1 month of rent20 days
- South Carolina No cap in the law30 days
- South Dakota 1 month of rent21 days
- Tennessee ——
- Texas No cap in the law30 days
- Utah No cap in the law30 days
- Vermont —14 days
- Virginia 2 months of rent45 days
- Washington No cap in the law30 days
- West Virginia ——
- Wisconsin —21 days
- Wyoming —30 days
Source: State laws cited; verified on the date in each row
HUD-approved housing counselors by state
| State | HUD counselors | Serve in Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| California | 81 | 57 |
| Texas | 51 | 39 |
| Florida | 98 | 57 |
| New York | 93 | 38 |
| Pennsylvania | 75 | 32 |
| Illinois | 81 | 29 |
| Ohio | 54 | 14 |
| Georgia | 42 | 12 |
- California 8157
- Texas 5139
- Florida 9857
- New York 9338
- Pennsylvania 7532
- Illinois 8129
- Ohio 5414
- Georgia 4212
Source: HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026)
— means the source publishes no value.
Want your county's numbers?
Type your county or ZIP code: the tool loads its numbers and keeps them in your browser for the other tools.
Frequently asked questions
When does the deadline start?
It depends on your state's law: when you hand over the home, when the lease ends, or another moment. Read your state's summary and statute; here we count from the move-out date you enter.
What if the deadline passes and I get nothing back?
Many laws say what happens then, and each state is different. Keep your letter and photos, and ask for free legal help in your state.
Do I have to give my new address?
In several states the law counts the deadline, or where the deposit goes, from when you give the landlord your new address. Write it on the blank line of the letter.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a summary of state law, with the exact text and its citation. Your city may have more rules, and the details of your case can change the answer.
How we calculate and sources
- Each deadline comes from the state statute or an official page that cites it, with the exact text copied from that page and the date we verified it.
- We count from the day after you move out. For business days we skip Saturdays and Sundays, but not holidays; if there is a holiday in between, the deadline can fall later.
- The letter does not ask for your name or address: it leaves blank lines for you to write in by hand after printing. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Program rules
- Alabama: Ala. Code §35-9A-201(b)-(c) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Alaska: Alaska Stat. §34.03.070(g) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Arizona: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §33-1321(D) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Arkansas: Ark. Code §18-16-305 · Verified on October 24, 2026
- California: Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5 · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Colorado: C.R.S. §38-12-103(1) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Florida: Fla. Stat. §83.49(3)(a) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Georgia: O.C.G.A. §44-7-34 · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44(c) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Idaho: Idaho Code §6-321(2) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Illinois: Illinois Security Deposit Return Act · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Indiana: Ind. Code §32-31-3-12(a) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Iowa: Iowa Code §562A.12(3)(a) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Kansas: K.S.A. 58-2550(b) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Louisiana: La. R.S. 9:3251(A) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Maryland: Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-203(e)(1) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Massachusetts: M.G.L. c. 186, §15B(4) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Michigan: MCL 554.609(1) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Minnesota: Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 3(a) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Mississippi: Miss. Code Ann. §89-8-21(3) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300.3 · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416(2) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Nevada: NRS 118A.242(4) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §540-A:7, I · Verified on October 24, 2026
- New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 · Verified on October 16, 2026
- New York: N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108(1-a)(e) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 · Verified on October 16, 2026
- North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code §47-16-07.1(3) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16(B) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Oklahoma: Okla. Stat. tit. 41, §115(B) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Oregon: ORS 90.300(13) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Pennsylvania: 68 P.S. §250.512(a) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws §34-18-19(b) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- South Carolina: S.C. Code §27-40-410(a) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws §43-32-24 · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Texas: Tex. Prop. Code §92.103(a) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Utah: Utah Code §57-17-3(2) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Vermont: 9 V.S.A. §4461(c) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Virginia: Va. Code §55.1-1226(A) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Washington: RCW 59.18.280(1)(a) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. §704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06(2) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208(a) · Verified on October 24, 2026
What comes next?
For your next home, add up the money you need to move in, or check your other tenant rights in your state.
Want someone to go over it with you? A HUD-approved counselor does it for free or at low cost. Find a counselor
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