Primary Statutory Authority50-State Comparative ResearchUpdated September 2026
Security Deposit Limits by State (2026 Statutory Guide)
State laws heavily regulate residential security deposits. Limits range from strict 1-month caps (such as California under AB 12 and New York under the HSTPA) to states with no statutory cap (such as Florida and Texas). Refund deadlines range from 14 to 60 days.
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State-by-State Statutory Breakdown
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50 of 50 states
| State | Maximum Deposit Limit | Return Deadline | Banking Escrow & Interest Rule | Governing Statute | Statute Citation | Free Template |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALAlabama | 1 month's rent (pets/hazards excluded) | 60 days | Not required | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 | Free Form |
AKAlaska | 2 months' rent (if rent < $2,000/mo) | 14 days (30 if notice omitted) | Trust account required | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 | Free Form |
AZArizona | 1.5 months' rent | 14 days (excluding weekends) | Not required | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 | Free Form |
ARArkansas | 2 months' rent (landlords with 6+ units) | 60 days | Not required | Ark. Code § 18-16-304 | Ark. Code § 18-16-304 | Free Form |
| 1 month's rent (AB 12, eff. 7/1/2024; up to 2 for qualifying small landlords) | 21 days | Not required by state (some cities require) | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 | Free Form | |
COColorado | No statutory limit | 30 days (up to 60 if in lease) | Not required | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 | Free Form |
| 2 months' rent (1 month if age 62+) | 30 days (or 15 days after notice) | Escrow + statutory interest required | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 | Free Form | |
DEDelaware | 1 month's rent (unfurnished, 1-year lease) | 20 days | Escrow account in federally insured bank | Del. Code tit. 25 § 5514 | Del. Code tit. 25 § 5514 | Free Form |
FLFlorida | No statutory limit | 15 days (30 days if claiming deductions) | Separate bank account + written notice in 30 days | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 | Free Form |
GAGeorgia | No statutory limit | 30 days | Escrow account required (10+ units) | Ga. Code § 44-7-31 | Ga. Code § 44-7-31 | Free Form |
HIHawaii | 1 month's rent (plus pet deposit if applicable) | 14 days | Not required | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 | Free Form |
IDIdaho | No statutory limit | 21 days (up to 30 if in lease) | Not required | Idaho Code § 6-321 | Idaho Code § 6-321 | Free Form |
ILIllinois | No statutory limit | 30 days (itemized) / 45 days (full) | Interest required for 25+ unit properties | 765 ILCS 710/1 | 765 ILCS 710/1 | Free Form |
INIndiana | No statutory limit | 45 days | Not required | Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 | Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 | Free Form |
IAIowa | 2 months' rent | 30 days | Bank account required (interest to landlord) | Iowa Code § 562A.12 | Iowa Code § 562A.12 | Free Form |
KSKansas | 1 month's rent (unfurnished) / 1.5 months (furnished) | 30 days | Bank or trust account required | Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 | Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 | Free Form |
KYKentucky | No statutory limit | 30–60 days | Separate bank account required | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580 | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580 | Free Form |
| No statutory limit | 30 days | Not required | La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 | La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 | Free Form | |
MEMaine | 2 months' rent | 30 days (tenancy at will: 21 days) | Separate bank account required | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 § 6032 | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 § 6032 | Free Form |
MDMaryland | 2 months' rent | 45 days | Federally insured bank + statutory interest | Md. Code Real Prop. § 8-203 | Md. Code Real Prop. § 8-203 | Free Form |
| 1 month's rent | 30 days | Separate interest-bearing account + annual 5% or bank interest | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B | Free Form | |
MIMichigan | 1.5 months' rent | 30 days | Regulated bank account or surety bond | Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.602 | Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.602 | Free Form |
| No statutory limit | 21 days | Simple interest of 1% per year required | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 | Free Form | |
| No statutory limit | 45 days | Not required | Miss. Code § 89-8-21 | Miss. Code § 89-8-21 | Free Form | |
MOMissouri | 2 months' rent | 30 days | Bank account in financial institution | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 | Free Form |
MTMontana | No statutory limit | 10 days (30 days if deductions made) | Not required | Mont. Code § 70-25-201 | Mont. Code § 70-25-201 | Free Form |
NENebraska | 1 month's rent (plus 0.25 mo. for pets) | 14 days | Not required | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 | Free Form |
NVNevada | 3 months' rent | 30 days | Surety bond or bank account | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 | Free Form |
| 1 month's rent or $100 (whichever is greater) | 30 days | Bank account in NH + interest if held 1+ year | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:6 | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:6 | Free Form | |
| 1.5 months' rent (increases capped at 10%/yr) | 30 days | Interest-bearing account in NJ bank | N.J. Stat. § 46:8-19 | N.J. Stat. § 46:8-19 | Free Form | |
| 1 month's rent (for leases under 1 year) | 30 days | Interest required if deposit exceeds 1 month | N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 | N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 | Free Form | |
NYNew York | 1 month's rent (HSTPA) | 14 days | Interest-bearing account for 6+ units | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103 | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103 | Free Form |
| 2 weeks (weekly) / 1.5 mo. (month-to-month) / 2 mo. (longer) | 30 days (interim) / 60 days (final) | Trust account in NC bank or licensed surety bond | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51 | Free Form | |
| 1 month's rent (or $2,500 / 2 months for pets) | 30 days | Interest-bearing savings/checking account | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 | Free Form | |
OHOhio | No statutory limit | 30 days | 5% interest per year if deposit > $50 and held 6+ months | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | Free Form |
OKOklahoma | No statutory limit | 45 days | Escrow account in federally insured institution (misdemeanor to commingle) | Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115 | Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115 | Free Form |
OROregon | No statutory limit | 31 days | Not required by state statute | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300 | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300 | Free Form |
| 2 months' rent (1st year) / 1 month (subsequent years) | 30 days | Escrow account in PA bank for deposits held 2+ years | 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.511a | 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.511a | Free Form | |
| 1 month's rent | 20 days | Not required | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 | Free Form | |
| No statutory limit | 30 days | Notice required if landlord collects differing amounts from different units | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 | Free Form | |
| 1 month's rent (higher allowed for special conditions) | 14 days | Not required | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-6.1 | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-6.1 | Free Form | |
| No statutory limit | 30 days | Separate bank account used only for security deposits | Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 | Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 | Free Form | |
TXTexas | No statutory limit | 30 days | Not required | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103 | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103 | Free Form |
UTUtah | No statutory limit | 30 days (or 14 days after notice) | Not required | Utah Code § 57-17-3 | Utah Code § 57-17-3 | Free Form |
VTVermont | No statutory limit (some towns cap at 1 month) | 14 days | Not required by state statute | Vt. Stat. tit. 9 § 4461 | Vt. Stat. tit. 9 § 4461 | Free Form |
VAVirginia | 2 months' rent | 45 days | Not required to be held in separate account | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 | Free Form |
| No statutory limit | 30 days (eff. July 2023) | Trust account in WA financial institution + written disclosure of bank | Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.270 | Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.270 | Free Form | |
| No statutory limit | 60 days (or 45 days after next tenant) | Not required | W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2 | W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2 | Free Form | |
| No statutory limit | 21 days | Not required | Wis. Stat. § 704.28 | Wis. Stat. § 704.28 | Free Form | |
WYWyoming | No statutory limit | 30 days (or 15 days after forwarding address) | Not required | Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208 | Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208 | Free Form |
Legal Context & Practical Analysis
Key Statutory Insights Across All 50 States
In the American federal system, state legislatures exercise broad police powers over private property, commercial contracting, and probate procedure. Consequently, uniform national legal templates almost never satisfy statutory prerequisites in all 50 jurisdictions.
When drafting agreements, landlords, business owners, and individuals must navigate three distinct layers of legal authority:
- State Statutes: Establish mandatory statutory ceilings, notice durations, and required disclosure language that parties cannot waive by private contract.
- Local Municipal Ordinances: Cities (such as San Francisco, New York City, or Chicago) frequently enact tenant protections and rent stabilization codes that are stricter than state minimums.
- Statutory Execution Formalities: Failure to comply with state-specific signing, notary, or attesting witness rules can render an instrument completely void in probate or civil court.
Questions & Answers
Security Deposit Limits — Frequently Asked Questions
Which states cap security deposits at one month of rent?
California (under AB 12, effective July 2024), New York (under the HSTPA), Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Alabama (for residential portions) strictly limit residential security deposits to one month of rent for most landlords.
What is the fastest security deposit refund deadline?
The fastest post-tenancy refund deadlines are 14 days, required in Arizona, Hawaii, New York, South Dakota, and Vermont. California requires refund within 21 days.
Do landlords have to keep deposits in a separate bank account?
Yes, states including Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, and Oklahoma legally require deposits to be held in designated escrow or trust accounts without commingling personal funds.
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