Security Deposit Limit Calculator
Enter your monthly rent and state: the statutory maximum deposit, the landlord's return deadline, and whether interest is owed. 29 states + DC cap the deposit; 21 don't cap it at all.
Caps are multiples of one month's rent. Several depend on lease length, furnishing, tenant age, or pets, the state note spells out the condition. Cities can be stricter (Portland, OR caps at 1 month; Chicago requires interest).
All 51 jurisdictions, caps, deadlines, interest
| State | Max deposit | Return | Interest |
|---|
Fastest return windows: Montana 10 days; Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nebraska, New York, South Dakota, Vermont 14. Longest: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia 60. Interest required in 12 jurisdictions: CT, DC, IL, MD, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, PA.
Missing the deadline is expensive: several states forfeit the landlord's claim to any deduction and add double (MA, MD, TX bad faith) or treble damages plus attorney's fees. Deadlines typically run from the day the tenant surrenders the unit or provides a forwarding address.
Data verified Sept 2026 against statute per row: Ala. Code §35-9A-201, Alaska Stat. §34.03.070, A.R.S. §33-1321, Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5 (AB 12 small-landlord 2-month cap eff. 7/1/2024), Colo. Rev. Stat. §38-12-102.5 (pet deposit ≤$300), Conn. Gen. Stat. §47a-21, 25 Del. C. §5514, Fla. Stat. §83.49, Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44, 765 ILCS 710, Iowa Code §562A.12, Kan. Stat. §58-2550, Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580, 14 M.R.S. §6032, Md. RP §8-203, M.G.L. c.186 §15B, Mich. Comp. Laws §554.602, Minn. Stat. §504B.178, Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300, Mont. Code §70-25-201, Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416, NRS §118A.242, N.H. RSA 540-A:6, N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2, N.M. Stat. §47-8-18, N.Y. GOL §7-108, N.C. G.S. §42-51, N.D.C.C. §47-16-07.1, Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16, Okla. Stat. tit.41 §115, ORS 90.300, 68 P.S. §250.511a, R.I. Gen. Laws §34-18-19, S.C. Code §27-40-410, S.D.C.L. §43-32-6.1, Tenn. Code §66-28-301, Tex. Prop. Code §92.102, Utah Code §57-17-1, 9 V.S.A. §4461, Va. Code §55.1-1226, RCW 59.18.260, W. Va. Code §37-6A-1, Wis. Stat. §704.28, Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208.
Frequently asked
What is the highest security deposit allowed?
It depends on the state: 1 month's rent in California, New York, Texas has no cap, Nevada allows 3 months, Arizona 1.5, Colorado and Virginia 2. Where there's no cap (21 states incl. FL, TX, WA, OR) the lease decides.
How fast must a landlord return the deposit?
From 10 days (Montana) to 60 (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia). New York and California are 14 and 21 days. The clock usually starts when you move out and give a forwarding address.
Can a landlord keep the deposit for normal wear?
No, deductions are for damage beyond ordinary wear, unpaid rent, and cleaning to move-out condition in most states. If the landlord misses the itemized-statement deadline, most states forfeit the deduction right entirely; several double your deposit as a penalty.