By state
Security deposit law by state
The return deadline, the statute, and the penalty for wrongful withholding in each state — pick yours for a tailored demand letter. Figures are verified against the statutes; confirm your state’s current law before relying on it.
| State | Deadline | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 14 business days after you move out and demand it | 2× the amount wrongfully withheld |
| California | 21 days | Up to 2× the deposit for bad-faith retention, plus actual damages |
| Colorado | 30 days (the lease may extend it to 60) | 3× (treble) the wrongfully-withheld amount + attorney’s fees (willful) |
| Florida | 15 days to return (no deductions), or 30 days to mail a notice of claim | No multiplier — but a missing notice of claim forfeits the deduction; the prevailing party gets attorney’s fees |
| Georgia | 30 days (one month) | 3× the sum wrongfully withheld + attorney’s fees (bad faith) |
| Illinois | 30 days to itemize, 45 days to return | 2× the deposit + court costs + attorney’s fees (bad faith) |
| Maryland | 45 days | Up to 3× the wrongfully-withheld amount + attorney’s fees |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | 3× (treble) the deposit + interest + costs + attorney’s fees |
| Michigan | 30 days | 2× the amount wrongfully retained (bad faith) |
| Minnesota | 21 days | The amount withheld + interest, plus punitive damages up to $500 (not a multiplier) |
| New Jersey | 30 days | 2× (double) the wrongfully-withheld amount + court costs + (discretionary) fees |
| New York | 14 days | Landlord forfeits the right to keep any of it; up to 2× for a willful violation, plus actual damages |
| North Carolina | 30 days (up to 60 if the exact amount can’t be determined in 30) | No multiplier — a willful failure forfeits all deductions, plus actual damages + fees |
| Ohio | 30 days | 2× the wrongfully-withheld amount + attorney’s fees |
| Oregon | 31 days | 2× the wrongfully-withheld amount |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days | Failing to itemize forfeits the withholding; 2× the wrongfully-withheld amount |
| Tennessee | No single fixed return-day count; a 60-day reclaim rule applies | No statutory multiplier — return of the deposit plus available damages |
| Texas | 30 days | $100 + 3× the wrongfully-withheld amount + attorney’s fees (bad faith) |
| Virginia | 45 days | Actual damages + attorney’s fees (confirm the bad-faith penalty in the statute) |
| Washington | 30 days | Full deposit back; the court may award up to 2× for an intentional refusal, plus fees |
Don’t see your state? The full state table has more detail, and you can search “[your state] security deposit return statute” for others. Then send the formal demand letter or use the deposit calculator.