Security Deposit Penalty Checker
Pick your state and enter your deposit. You get the landlord's return deadline, the statutory penalty if it was wrongfully withheld, the exact statute to cite, and the small-claims ceiling, for all 50 states and DC. Every entry verified against the state's own statute text.
Return deadline
Statutory penalty
Statute to cite
Small-claims ceiling
Where deposit cases are usually filed
Penalty multipliers are statutory maximums. Courts apply them case by case, and most statutes require the withholding to be "willful," "wrongful," or in "bad faith" before the multiplier attaches. A missed deadline or a missing itemized statement is often what triggers it. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Want the 5-step checklist for getting it back? Free: how to calculate your state's deadline, what your landlord cannot deduct, and the demand-letter language that cites the statute. One email, no spam.
Deadline passed or deductions bogus? A demand letter that cites your state's statute and names the penalty is usually what gets a check written. Generate one with your specifics in about 10 minutes: $15, or $29 with the small-claims escalation kit.
Build my demand letterHow to read the numbers
The deadline is how many days your landlord has after move-out (or after receiving your forwarding address, in some states) to return the deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. Miss it, or send deductions the statute does not allow, and the penalty column is what a court can award on top of, or instead of, the deposit itself. The treble damages guide explains the trigger language state by state, and the deadline guide covers the clock in detail.
Security deposit return deadline and penalty, all 50 states and DC
The same figures the checker above uses, in one table. Deadlines run from move-out unless your state counts from when the landlord receives your forwarding address, which is called out in the deadline column. The penalty column is what a court can award on top of, or instead of, the deposit itself, and it generally applies only where the withholding was wrongful or wilful. Small-claims limits are the ceiling for filing without a lawyer.
| State | Return deadline | Statutory penalty | Small-claims limit | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 60-day deadline; wrongful withholding = 2x deposit per statute | $6,000 | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 |
| Alaska | 14 calendar daysTwo-tier: 14 days no-deduction / 30 days with deductions | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 14 days if no deductions; 30 days if deductions claimed. Willful non-compliance = up to 2x amount wrongfully withheld | $10,000 | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
| Arizona | 14 business daysCounts business days excluding weekends and holidays | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 14 business days (excluding weekends/holidays). 2x multiplier on amount wrongfully withheld | $3,500 | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 |
| Arkansas | 60 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 60-day deadline; penalty up to 2x amount withheld | $5,000 | Ark. Code § 18-16-305 |
| California | 21 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. | $12,500 | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 |
| Colorado | 30 calendar daysLease may extend to 60 days max | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30 days default; lease may extend up to 60 days. Willful retention = treble damages + attorney fees. 7-day pre-suit notice required | $7,500 | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 |
| Connecticut | 30 calendar daysLater of 30 days after vacate or 15 days after forwarding address | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30 days after vacate (or 15 days after receipt of forwarding address, whichever later). 2x penalty + attorney fees for non-compliance. Interest required on deposits held > 1 year | $5,000 | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 |
| Delaware | 20 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 20-day deadline; 2x penalty on full deposit for failure to return. JP Court civil jurisdiction $25,000 | $25,000 | Del. Code tit. 25, § 5514 |
| District of Columbia | 45 calendar days | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Statutory basis is § 42-3502.17; D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 309 is the implementing regulation | $10,000 | D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 |
| Florida | 15 calendar daysTwo-tier: 15 days no-deduction / 30 days with notice of intent | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 15 days if no deductions claimed. If deductions claimed, landlord has 30 days to notify tenant of intent. Failure to notify = forfeit of deduction right. Penalty is attorney's fees to prevailing party, not a multiplier | $8,000 | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 |
| Georgia | 30 calendar daysForfeit deduction rights if missed | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; 3x (treble) damages + reasonable attorney fees for improper withholding. Failure to provide itemized list = forfeit of withholding right | $15,000 | Ga. Code § 44-7-34 |
| Hawaii | 14 calendar days | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 14-day deadline; failure to provide itemization within 14 days = forfeit of right to retain. Up to 3x wrongfully withheld + attorney fees | $5,000 | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 |
| Idaho | 21 calendar days | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Refunds within 21 days if no time fixed by agreement, max 30 days after surrender. If landlord fails to comply, judge may award up to 3x security deposit plus attorney fees and court costs | $5,000 | Idaho Code § 6-321 |
| Illinois | 45 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 45-day deadline; 2x penalty + attorney fees for bad-faith retention or failure to provide itemized statement. Interest required only on buildings with 25+ units, held 6+ months | $10,000 | 765 ILCS 710/1 |
| Indiana | 45 calendar days | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 45-day deadline; no multiplier, tenant recovers the deposit owed + attorney fees | $10,000 | Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 |
| Iowa | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; bad-faith retention = punitive damages up to 2x monthly rent + actual damages + attorney fees (not 2x the deposit) | $6,500 | Iowa Code § 562A.12 |
| Kansas | 30 calendar days | 1.5× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline (14 days after damages determined, max 30 days total). 1.5x damages on amount wrongfully withheld | $4,000 | Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 |
| Kentucky | 60 calendar daysTwo-tier: 30 days no-deduction / 60 days with itemized deductions | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30 days if no deductions; up to 60 days if deductions claimed. Failure to follow procedure = forfeit of withholding right. No statutory multiplier, tenant recovers full deposit | $2,500 | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580 |
| Louisiana | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Willful failure = greater of $300 or 2x amount wrongfully retained. 30-day written demand triggers willful presumption | $5,000 | La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 |
| Maine | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 21 days for tenancies at will; up to 30 days for written agreements. Wrongful retention = 2x amount withheld + attorney fees. 7-day pre-suit notice required | $6,000 | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 6033 |
| Maryland | 45 calendar days | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 45-day deadline; treble damages (3x) + attorney fees for unreasonable withholding. Interest on deposits of $50+, rate = greater of 1.5% or 1-year Treasury yield | $5,000 | Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 |
| Massachusetts | 30 calendar daysStrict-liability treble damages no bad faith required | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; strict liability treble damages for violations, no bad-faith requirement. Itemized list must be signed under pains/penalties of perjury | $7,000 | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B |
| Michigan | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline for itemized list; landlord has 45 days to commence suit for damages or forfeit. Non-compliance = 2x original deposit amount | $7,000 | Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.613 |
| Minnesota | 21 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 21-day deadline; bad faith = penalty equal to amount withheld plus punitive damages up to $500. Interest = 1% simple noncompounded per year | $15,000 | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 |
| Mississippi | 45 calendar days | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 45-day deadline; penalty is up to $200 fine + actual damages + attorney fees. No multiplier in statute | $3,500 | Miss. Code § 89-8-21 |
| Missouri | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; wrongful withholding = 2x amount wrongfully withheld. Max deposit = 2 months' rent | $5,000 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 |
| Montana | 30 calendar daysTwo-tier: 10 days no-deduction / 30 days with damages | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30 days with damages/cleaning; 10 days if no deductions. Failure to provide itemized list = forfeit. No statutory multiplier | $7,000 | Mont. Code § 70-25-202 |
| Nebraska | 14 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Willful non-compliance: lesser of one month's rent or 2x the deposit | $3,900 | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 |
| Nevada | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Non-compliance = damages equal to entire deposit + court-awarded sum up to the entire deposit (effectively up to 2x) | $10,000 | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 |
| New Hampshire | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; violations = 2x deposit + interest. Interest required on deposits held 1+ year | $10,000 | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:7 |
| New Jersey | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; court shall award 2x amount wrongfully withheld + costs + attorney fees. Interest-bearing account required; interest belongs to tenant | $5,000 | N.J. Stat. § 46:8-21.1 |
| New Mexico | 30 calendar days | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. $250 civil penalty for bad-faith retention + attorney fees + forfeit. Interest required only on deposits > 1 month's rent (annual rental agreements) | $10,000 | N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 |
| New York | 14 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 2x multiplier is for willful violations (punitive damages under HSTPA 2019). Default non-compliance = forfeit of retention right | $10,000 | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 |
| North Carolina | 30 calendar daysInterim accounting at 30 days then final at 60 days when damages cannot be quantified | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline (or interim accounting at 30 days + final at 60 days if damages cannot be determined). Statute does not specify multiplier; landlord forfeits withholding right on non-compliance | $10,000 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 |
| North Dakota | 30 calendar days | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Interest required only on deposits held > 9 months, at Federal Reserve discount rate | $15,000 | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 |
| Ohio | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; non-compliance = amount wrongfully withheld + equal damages (2x total) + attorney fees. Interest required on deposits > $50 held 6+ months | $6,000 | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 |
| Oklahoma | 45 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 45-day deadline + written demand required. Willful failure = up to 2x amount wrongfully withheld + attorney fees. Misappropriation = criminal penalty up to 2x amount | $10,000 | Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115 |
| Oregon | 31 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 31-day deadline; willful non-compliance = up to 2x amount wrongfully withheld + attorney fees | $10,000 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300 |
| Pennsylvania | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; 2x penalty on amount improperly withheld. Failure to provide written list within 30 days = forfeit. Interest required on deposits held 2+ years | $12,000 | 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.512 |
| Rhode Island | 20 calendar daysLater of 20 days after termination possession delivery or forwarding address | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 20-day deadline after later of termination, possession delivery, or forwarding address. Penalty = amount due + 2x wrongfully withheld + attorney fees | $5,000 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 |
| South Carolina | 30 calendar days | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; bad-faith retention = up to 3x amount wrongfully withheld + attorney fees | $7,500 | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 |
| South Dakota | 14 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Bad-faith retention: punitive damages up to $200 + forfeit of withholding right. Multiplier represented as 2 for display simplicity | $12,000 | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24 |
| Tennessee | 30 calendar days | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; landlord may retain deposit after 60 days if tenant doesn't respond to notification. General Sessions Court civil jurisdiction $25,000 statewide | $25,000 | Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 |
| Texas | 30 calendar daysForwarding address required before duty to refund accrues | 3× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Bad-faith retention per § 92.109: $100 + 3x deposit amount wrongfully withheld + reasonable attorney's fees. Tenant must provide forwarding address first (§ 92.107) | $20,000 | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103 / § 92.109 |
| Utah | 30 calendar days | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30-day deadline; non-compliance = full refund + $100 flat penalty (no multiplier). 5-business-day cure period if tenant serves written notice | $15,000 | Utah Code § 57-17-3 |
| Vermont | 14 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 14-day deadline (60 days for seasonal rentals). Willful failure = 2x amount wrongfully withheld + attorney fees. Non-willful = forfeit of retention right | $5,000 | Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4461 |
| Virginia | 45 calendar days | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 45-day deadline; willful non-compliance = actual damages + attorney fees (no statutory multiplier). Interest required only on deposits held 13+ months | $5,000 | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 |
| Washington | 30 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Deadline amended 21→ 30 days in 2023 c 331 s 4. 2x multiplier only for intentional refusal | $10,000 | Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 |
| West Virginia | 60 calendar daysTwo-tier with itemized statement timing | 1.5× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. Deadline is the SHORTER of 60 days from termination OR 45 days from next tenant moving in. 1.5x multiplier per § 37-6A-5 | $10,000 | W. Va. Code § 37-6A-1 et seq. |
| Wisconsin | 21 calendar days | 2× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 21-day deadline; 2x amount wrongfully withheld + costs + attorney fees. No normal wear-and-tear deductions allowed | $10,000 | Wis. Stat. § 704.28 |
| Wyoming | 30 calendar daysLater of 30 days from termination or 15 days from forwarding address | 1× the wrongfully withheld amountItemized statement required. 30 days from termination OR 15 days from receiving forwarding address (whichever later). Extended 30 additional days if unit damaged. No interest required. Penalty is forfeit of withholding right | $6,000 | Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208 |
Figures reflect the statutes cited as of August 2026 and are provided for orientation, not as legal advice. Deadlines and multipliers turn on facts such as whether deductions were claimed, whether the withholding was wilful, and whether you gave a forwarding address. Read your own state's statute, or the treble damages guide and deadline guide, before relying on a number.
Writing about deposit law? Link this checker.
This lookup is free to cite and link. All 51 entries are verified against primary statute text, corrections and all (we caught six states' compiled values disagreeing with the actual statutes). Copy the link:
https://www.claimsmaximizer.com/deposit-recovery/penalty-checker/