Montana Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Montana, a landlord has 30 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: Mont. Code §70-25-202). 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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Montana deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- No statutory limit
As of 2026. Source: Mont. Code §70-25-202 ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Montana landlord have to return the deposit?
30 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: Mont. Code §70-25-202). 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 Montana landlord can charge?
Montana sets no statutory cap on the security deposit (as of 2026; source: Mont. Code §70-25-202), so the amount is whatever the lease says. The return deadline still applies to the full amount.
How much can I sue for in Montana if the landlord ignores this?
Max $7,000 exclusive of costs (MCA 25-35-502, last adjusted 2011 — not $7,500 as often reported). The defendant must be servable within the county where the action is begun. The court is the Small Claims Court (a division of Justice Court; some district courts also operate a small claims division), and the filing fee is $30 filing fee plus sheriff/process-server service costs; defendant pays $20 to contest or counterclaim (courts.mt.gov official Small Claims instructions). As of 2026; source: Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502.
Do I need a lawyer in Montana small claims?
Attorneys are Prohibited unless ALL parties are represented by an attorney (MCA 25-35-505). Source: Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502 (as of 2026).
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Montana compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Montana: Mont. Code §70-25-202 ↗.
- 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 — Idaho (21 days), North Dakota (30 days), South Dakota (14 days), Wyoming (30 days).
The rest of what Montana requires
The figures below are Montana'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 Montana page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Mont. Code §70-25-202 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Mont. Code §70-25-202 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Mont. Code §70-25-202 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-422, 70-24-441 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 14 days Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-422, 70-24-441 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $7,000 Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502 ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Court (a division of Justice Court; some district courts also operate a small claims division) · filing fee $30 filing fee plus sheriff/process-server service costs; defendant pays $20 to contest or counterclaim (courts.mt.gov official Small Claims instructions) Mont. Code Ann. § 25-35-502 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Montana Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Montana MVD (Form MV24) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Mont. Code §72-31-305 (form §72-31-353) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Mont. Code Ann. § 35-8-102(23) (definition); § 35-8-109 (effect of operating agreement) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Clerk and Recorder · no witnesses MCA 70-20-101 ↗
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Montana legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →