Georgia Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Georgia, a landlord has 30 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: Ga. Code §44-7-34). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
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Georgia deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- No statutory limit
As of 2026. Source: Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Georgia landlord have to return the deposit?
30 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: Ga. Code §44-7-34). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.
Is there a limit on how much deposit a Georgia landlord can charge?
Georgia sets no statutory cap on the security deposit (as of 2026; source: Ga. Code §44-7-34), so the amount is whatever the lease says. The return deadline still applies to the full amount.
How much can I sue for in Georgia if the landlord ignores this?
Civil claims up to $15,000; NO dollar limit applies in dispossessory (eviction) proceedings, which magistrate courts also hear. A plaintiff with a larger claim may still file in magistrate court but waives any recovery above $15,000. The court is the Magistrate Court (Georgia's small claims court - there is no separately named small claims division), and the filing fee is Varies by county, roughly $50-$110 all-in (e.g. DeKalb County: $104 filing + $35 service per defendant); fees are set under O.C.G.A. §15-10-80. As of 2026; source: O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5).
Do I need a lawyer in Georgia small claims?
Attorneys are allowed (not required). Source: O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5) (as of 2026).
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Georgia compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Georgia: Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗.
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Alabama (60 days), Florida (30 days), North Carolina (30 days), South Carolina (30 days), Tennessee (30 days).
The rest of what Georgia requires
The figures below are Georgia's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Georgia page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Ga. Code §44-7-34 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50 (HB 404, eff. 7/1/2024); § 44-7-7 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $15,000 O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Magistrate Court (Georgia's small claims court - there is no separately named small claims division) · filing fee Varies by county, roughly $50-$110 all-in (e.g. DeKalb County: $104 filing + $35 service per defendant); fees are set under O.C.G.A. §15-10-80 O.C.G.A. §15-10-2(5) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Georgia Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Georgia DOR (Form T-7) / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required · 1 witness Ga. Code §10-6B-5 (form §10-6B-70) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules O.C.G.A. § 14-11-101(18) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- Clerk of Superior Court (county) · 1 witness O.C.G.A. § 44-5-30 ↗
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Georgia legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →