Study · statute-sourced · 2026
Security Deposit Limits in All 50 States
In 22 states, there is no legal cap on what a landlord can ask as a security deposit — and once you move out, the deadline to give it back ranges from14 days to 60.Every figure is cited to the state statute.
22
states with no cap at all
29
states with a statutory cap
14–60
days to return it, by state
51
jurisdictions, all cited
Deposit cap and return deadline, state by state
Sorted by return deadline (fastest first). Tap a state for its fillable lease with these rules built in.
cap: 2 months' rent (waived if rent over $2,000/mo) · source: Alaska Stat. §34.03.070
cap: 1.5 months' rent · source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §33-1321
cap: 1 month's rent · source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44
cap: 1 month's rent (1.25 if pets) · source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416
cap: 1 month's rent · source: N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108
cap: 1 month's rent · source: S.D. Codified Laws §43-32-6.1 & §43-32-24
cap: No statutory limit · source: 9 V.S.A. §4461
cap: 1 month's rent (leases over 1 yr; no cap on month-to-month) · source: 25 Del. C. §5514
cap: 1 month's rent · source: R.I. Gen. Laws §34-18-19
cap: 1 month's rent · source: Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5 (AB 12, eff. 7/1/2024)
cap: No statutory limit · source: Idaho Code §6-321
cap: No statutory limit · source: Minn. Stat. §504B.178
cap: No statutory limit · source: Wis. Stat. §704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06
cap: 2 months' rent · source: C.R.S. §38-12-102.5
cap: 2 months' rent (1 month if tenant 62+) · source: Conn. Gen. Stat. §47a-21
cap: No statutory limit · source: Fla. Stat. §83.49
cap: No statutory limit · source: Ga. Code §44-7-34
cap: 2 months' rent · source: Iowa Code §562A.12
cap: 1 month's rent (1.5 if furnished) · source: Kan. Stat. §58-2550
cap: No statutory limit · source: Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580
cap: No statutory limit · source: La. Rev. Stat. §9:3251
cap: 2 months' rent · source: 14 M.R.S. §6033
cap: 1 month's rent · source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 §15B
cap: 1.5 months' rent · source: Mich. Comp. Laws §554.602
cap: 2 months' rent · source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300
cap: No statutory limit · source: Mont. Code §70-25-202
cap: 3 months' rent · source: Nev. Rev. Stat. §118A.242
cap: 1 month's rent or $100 (whichever is greater) · source: N.H. Rev. Stat. §540-A:6
cap: 1.5 months' rent · source: N.J. Stat. §46:8-19
cap: 1 month's rent (leases under 1 yr; no cap on longer) · source: N.M. Stat. §47-8-18
cap: 2 months' rent (1.5 if term under 1 yr) · source: N.C. Gen. Stat. §42-51
cap: 1 month's rent (2 if pets) · source: N.D. Cent. Code §47-16-07.1
cap: No statutory limit · source: Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16
cap: 2 months' rent (1st year; 1 month thereafter) · source: 68 Pa. Stat. §250.511a & §250.512
cap: No statutory limit · source: S.C. Code §27-40-410
cap: No statutory limit · source: Tenn. Code §66-28-301
cap: No statutory limit · source: Tex. Prop. Code §92.103
cap: No statutory limit · source: Utah Code §57-17-3
cap: No statutory limit · source: Rev. Code Wash. §59.18.280 (30-day rule eff. 7/23/2023)
cap: No statutory limit · source: Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208
cap: No statutory limit · source: Or. Rev. Stat. §90.300
cap: 1 month's rent · source: D.C. Code §42-3502.17; 14 DCMR 308-311
cap: No statutory limit · source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)
cap: No statutory limit · source: Ind. Code §32-31-3-12
cap: 1 month's rent · source: Md. Real Prop. §8-203 (Renters' Rights Act, eff. 10/1/2024)
cap: No statutory limit · source: Miss. Code §89-8-21
cap: No statutory limit · source: Okla. Stat. tit. 41 §115
cap: 2 months' rent · source: Va. Code §55.1-1226
cap: 1 month's rent · source: Ala. Code §35-9A-201
cap: 2 months' rent · source: Ark. Code §18-16-305
cap: No statutory limit · source: W. Va. Code §37-6A-1
The 22 states with no deposit cap
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. In these states the deposit is whatever the lease says — which is exactly why it should be in writing, with the amount and return terms spelled out.
How to read these numbers (methodology)
Base rules for standard residential tenancies as of 2026, from each state's landlord-tenant statute (cross-referenced against at least two authoritative sources; audit trail in our lease sources doc). Furnished units, senior-tenant rules, small-landlord exemptions and city ordinances can vary the numbers — the statute linked on each row is authoritative. This is a comparison, not legal advice.
Free to cite and reproduce (CC BY 4.0) — we only ask for a link tohttps://sealforms.com/us/security-deposit-limits/.
Putting a tenancy in writing? Every state page has afillable lease agreement with that state's deposit rules built in — and at move-out, document payments with arent receipt.