Every state puts a clock on your landlord. The table below shows the return deadline, the penalty for blowing it, and the statute to cite — for all 50 states. Click your state for the full guide and a demand letter built on its exact law.
| State | Return deadline | Penalty for missing it | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60 days | See guide → | § 35-9A-201 |
| Alaska | 14 days (30 with deductions) | Up to 2x the amount withheld | AS § 34.03.070 |
| Arizona | 14 business days after termination, possession, and the tenant's demand | Failure to comply = recovery of the amount due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld | A.R.S. § 33-1321 |
| Arkansas | 60 days | 2x wrongfully withheld + fees | Ark. Code § 18-16-305 |
| California | 21 calendar days after vacating | Bad-faith retention adds up to twice the deposit in statutory damages on top of the principal | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 |
| Colorado | 1 month (lease may extend to 60 days) | See guide → | C.R.S. § 38-12-103 |
| Connecticut | 21 days | See guide → | C.G.S. § 47a-21 |
| Delaware | 20 days | Double the amount withheld | 25 Del. C. § 5514 |
| Florida | 15 days to return with no claim; 30 days to send a certified-mail Notice of Intent to claim | Missing the 30-day certified notice forfeits the right to impose any claim — full deposit must be returned | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 |
| Georgia | 30 days | See guide → | O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34 |
| Hawaii | 14 days | Total forfeiture; up to 3x for bad faith | HRS § 521-44 |
| Idaho | 21 days (lease max 30) | Up to 3x damages (court's discretion) | Idaho Code § 6-321 |
| Illinois | 30 days | See guide → | 765 ILCS 710 |
| Indiana | 45 days | See guide → | Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 to -15 |
| Iowa | 30 days from address receipt | Punitive up to 2x monthly rent | Iowa Code § 562A.12 |
| Kansas | 30 days after your demand | 1.5x on top — 2.5x total exposure | K.S.A. § 58-2550 |
| Kentucky | 30 days (60 with deductions) | Forfeiture of all deductions | KRS § 383.580 (KURLTA jurisdictions) |
| Louisiana | 30 days | See guide → | La. R.S. § 9:3251 |
| Maine | 30 days (21 for tenancy at will) | Double damages + fees after 7-day notice | 14 M.R.S. §§ 6033–6034 |
| Maryland | 45 days | See guide → | Real Prop. § 8-203 |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | See guide → | M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B |
| Michigan | 30 days | See guide → | MCL § 554.602 et seq. |
| Minnesota | 21 days | See guide → | § 504B.178 |
| Mississippi | 45 days after your demand | Up to $200 + actual damages | Miss. Code § 89-8-21 |
| Missouri | 30 days | See guide → | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 |
| Montana | 30 days (10 if no deductions) | Forfeiture; bad faith doubles it | Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 to -204 |
| Nebraska | 14 days after your demand | Full recovery + mandatory attorney fees | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 |
| Nevada | 30 days | See guide → | NRS § 118A.242 |
| New Hampshire | 30 days | Double damages | N.H. RSA 540-A:7, 540-A:8 |
| New Jersey | 30 days | See guide → | N.J.S.A. § 46:8-21.1 |
| New Mexico | 30 days | Four-part forfeiture cascade | NMSA 1978 § 47-8-18 |
| New York | 14 days after vacating | Strict-liability forfeiture of all deductions if the 14 days are missed, regardless of merit | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 (HSTPA 2019) |
| North Carolina | 30 days | See guide → | N.C.G.S. § 42-52 |
| North Dakota | 30 days | Treble damages — verbatim in the statute | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 |
| Ohio | 30 days | See guide → | ORC § 5321.16 |
| Oklahoma | 45 days after written demand | Full recovery + costs; misappropriation is a crime | 41 Okla. Stat. § 115 |
| Oregon | 31 days | See guide → | ORS § 90.300 |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days | See guide → | 68 P.S. § 250.512 |
| Rhode Island | 20 days | 2x wrongfully withheld + attorney fees | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 |
| South Carolina | 30 days | See guide → | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 |
| South Dakota | 14 days from address receipt | Total forfeiture; +$200 bad faith | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-24 |
| Tennessee | 30 days | See guide → | T.C.A. § 66-28-301 |
| Texas | By the 30th day after surrender of possession | Bad faith = $100 + three times the portion wrongfully withheld + attorney's fees | Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103, 92.109 |
| Utah | 30 days | Full deposit + prepaid rent + $100 + fees | Utah Code §§ 57-17-3, 57-17-5 |
| Vermont | 14 days | Forfeiture; willful = double + fees | 9 V.S.A. § 4461 |
| Virginia | 45 days | See guide → | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 |
| Washington | 30 days after termination and vacation (postmark rule) | Late or undocumented = forfeiture of the deposit, and the court may award up to twice the deposit plus fees | RCW 59.18.280 (as amended 2023) |
| West Virginia | 60 days (45 if re-rented) | 1.5x wrongfully withheld + fees | W. Va. Code § 37-6A-1 et seq. |
| Wisconsin | 21 days | See guide → | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 |
| Wyoming | 30 days (+30 for damage) | Full deposit + court costs | Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208 |
Deadlines and penalties are summarized from each state's statute as of June 2026; many run from your move-out date, your written demand, or your forwarding address — the state guides explain which. This is general information, not legal advice.
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