Short answer: Security deposit rules are set mostly by state law, and they vary widely. Caps range from one month's rent to three months (Nevada). Twenty-one states have no statewide cap, while Puerto Rico has no statutory cap. Return deadlines range from 14 days to 60 days, and in Kentucky and Puerto Rico there's no fixed statutory return deadline. When the deadline starts also differs: termination, move-out, delivery of possession or receipt of a forwarding address. Local laws can add further rules.

Many security deposit questions come down to two numbers: how much the landlord collected and how fast it was returned. Both are set by state law, and both change more often than many published charts reflect. Several states changed their rules in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Georgia added a cap, California lowered its cap, Maryland moved to one month, and South Dakota, Colorado, Louisiana, Utah and D.C. changed their return or notice rules.

This page compares the cap and the return deadline for every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico in one table, and links to RIOO's full guide for each jurisdiction. Use it to compare, then use the state guide before acting.

Must Read: How to Manage Security Deposit Accounting: Intake, Holding, and Reconciliation

Table of Contents

1. How to Read the Table

2. Security Deposit Caps and Return Deadlines by State

3. What the Comparison Shows

4. Recent Security Deposit Law Changes: 2024–2026

5. Why Published Charts Disagree

6. City and County Rules

7. Checklist for Multi-State Portfolios

8. FAQs

How to Read the Table

• Maximum deposit is the statewide cap on a residential security deposit. "No statewide cap" means state law sets no maximum, though local rules or the lease may.

• Return / accounting deadline is the statutory period for returning the deposit and/or providing the required itemized accounting or notice, depending on the jurisdiction. Several states set different deadlines depending on whether deductions are taken.

• Notes show the detail that most often changes the answer, usually when the clock starts. "30 days" from termination and "30 days" from receiving a forwarding address are different deadlines in practice.

Rules here cover residential tenancies. Commercial deposits often follow different rules, or none.

Security Deposit Caps and Return Deadlines by State

What the Comparison Shows

Which States Have No Statewide Security Deposit Cap?

Twenty-one states: Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Puerto Rico also has no statutory cap. The highest statewide cap is Nevada's, at three months' rent.

Which States Have the Shortest Return Deadlines?

New York, Nebraska, Hawaii, Vermont and Arizona set 14 days, as does Alaska where the tenant gave proper notice.

Which States Have the Longest Return Deadlines?

Alabama, Arkansas and West Virginia allow up to 60 days, and Colorado allows up to 60 days where the lease extends the period. Kentucky and Puerto Rico set no fixed statutory return deadline.

Does the Return Deadline Start at Move-Out?

Not always. Depending on the state, the clock can start at termination of the tenancy, move-out or surrender, delivery of possession, or receipt of the tenant's forwarding address, and some states require more than one of these.

Recent Security Deposit Law Changes: 2024–2026

Several states changed their rules recently, so older charts may be wrong for them:

• Georgia: The Safe at Home Act added a cap. Under HB 404 as passed, a landlord may not demand or receive a deposit exceeding two months' rent.

• California: Cap reduced to one month for most landlords in 2024.

• Maryland: Cap reduced from two months to one month per unit in October 2024.

• Utah: Return deadline changed in 2025.

• Colorado: HB25-1249, effective January 1, 2026, sets a 30-day default return deadline (up to 60 days if the lease says so) and new limits on deductions.

• Louisiana: Act 63 of 2026 adds 15 days for the itemized statement.

• South Dakota: 21-day return rule from July 1, 2026.

• District of Columbia: New notice and dispute process from August 2026.

Why Published Charts Disagree

If you've compared deposit charts online, you've probably seen different answers for the same state. Three reasons are common:

1. Charts aren't updated. Some still show Georgia with no cap, or California at two months.

2. They leave out the trigger. A deadline that runs from a forwarding address is a different deadline from one that runs from move-out.

3. They mix up state and local rules. City rules on interest or caps get presented as state law, or left out entirely.

The safest approach is to use a chart to compare, then check the statute or a current state guide before acting.

City and County Rules

Statewide rules are not always the complete answer. Some cities and counties add their own deposit rules on top of state law. RIOO's local guides cover:

• San Francisco: annual interest on deposits under Chapter 49 of the Administrative Code

• Chicago: the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance

• Minneapolis: local deposit caps, covered in the Minnesota guide

Check for local rules in every city where you operate, especially larger cities.

Checklist for Multi-State Portfolios

• Each property's deposit amount checked against the applicable state and local limits

• Pet deposits and other charges checked against the cap where they count toward it

• Return deadlines calendared from the correct trigger for each state

• Interest calculated where required, at the current rate (Connecticut, for example, publishes its deposit interest rate each year)

• Deposits held in the account type each state requires

• Move-in condition documentation completed where required

• Itemized statements prepared in the form and time each state requires

• Local city or county rules checked

• Deposit rules reviewed when taking over a portfolio in a new state (see the property management takeover plan)

For multi-state portfolios, the practical challenge isn't knowing one deadline. It's applying the correct cap, trigger, documentation requirement and local rule to every property, at every move-in and move-out.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which states have no limit on security deposits?
Twenty-one states set no statewide cap: Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Puerto Rico also has no statutory cap. Local rules may still apply.

2. Which state has the highest security deposit cap?
Nevada, which allows up to three months' rent.

3. Which states have the shortest deadline to return a security deposit?
New York, Nebraska, Hawaii, Vermont and Arizona set 14 days, and Alaska sets 14 days when the tenant gave proper notice.

4. Which states give landlords the longest to return a deposit?
Alabama, Arkansas and West Virginia allow up to 60 days, with West Virginia's shortened to 45 days after a new tenant moves in. Colorado allows up to 60 days only if the lease says so.

5. When does the security deposit return deadline start?
It depends on the state. The clock may start at termination, move-out, delivery of possession or receipt of a forwarding address, and some states combine more than one.

6. Do pet deposits count toward the security deposit cap?
It depends on the state. California counts pet deposits toward its cap, while states such as Nebraska and Alaska allow a separate pet deposit on top of the standard limit. Check the state guide before collecting one.

7. Which states changed their security deposit laws recently?
Georgia, California, Maryland, Utah, Colorado, Louisiana, South Dakota and the District of Columbia have all changed deposit rules between 2024 and 2026.

8. Do these rules apply to commercial leases?
Generally not. These are residential rules. Commercial deposits are often governed by the lease, though some states, such as Texas, set separate commercial rules.

Conclusion

Security deposit compliance isn't just a matter of knowing the maximum amount or counting days from move-out. The cap, the deadline trigger, interest, documentation and local rules can each change the answer for a given property. Use this table as a starting point, and verify the applicable state and local requirements before collecting, holding or returning a deposit.

Note: This page is general information, not legal advice. Deposit laws change and local rules may apply. Confirm current requirements for each property before acting.