Security Deposit Deductions List by State (2024)

Last Updated: October 13, 2023 by Ashley Porter

Landlords in all states can make deductions from security deposits for unpaid rent and the cost of damage (but not for normal wear and tear). However, each state has their own laws about what further deductions can be made.

State	Additional Allowable Deductions
Alabama	None
Alaska	Cleaning costs
Arizona	Unpaid utilities and late fees Damages due to the tenant’s noncompliance Other charges outlined in the lease agreement
Arkansas	Late fees Costs due to noncompliance with the lease agreement
California	Cleaning costs Restoration costs listed in the lease agreement
Colorado	Unpaid utilities Damages due to abandonment Unpaid cleaning services Any other reasonable deductions
Connecticut	Unpaid utilities and late fees
Delaware	Late fees Costs due to early termination of the lease agreement
Florida	Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Other charges outlined in the lease agreement Cleaning costs
Georgia	Unpaid utilities, late fees, and pet fees Costs due to abandonment Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Cleaning and repair costs
Hawaii	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs of early termination of the lease agreement Failure to return keys Cleaning costs
Idaho	Reasonable charges outlined in the lease agreement
Illinois	Unpaid utilities Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Charges outlined in the lease agreement Other actual costs not listed in the lease agreement
Indiana	Unpaid utilities Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Damages due to a violation of the law
Iowa	Eviction expenses Unpaid funds or fees outlined in the lease agreement
Kansas	Unpaid late fees Charges outlined in the lease agreement
Kentucky	Unpaid utilities and late fees
Louisiana	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement
Maine	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs of storing and disposing of unclaimed property Cleaning costs
Maryland	Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement
Massachusetts	Unpaid water bills Unpaid real estate taxes outlined in the lease agreement
Michigan	Unpaid utilities
Minnesota	Unpaid utilities, late fees, and other bills
Mississippi	Unpaid late fees Costs due to the tenant’s default Cleaning costs
Missouri	Unpaid late fees Damages due to early termination Carpet cleaning
Montana	Unpaid utilities and late fees Charges outlined in the lease agreement Cleaning costs including labor
Nebraska	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Cleaning costs
Nevada	Unpaid late fees Cleaning fees included in the lease agreement
New Hampshire	Unpaid utilities and late fees Unpaid real estate taxes Charges outlined in the lease agreement
New Jersey	Unpaid utilities and late fees
New Mexico	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Cleaning costs
New York	Unpaid utilities Costs of moving and storing tenant’s belongings
North Carolina	Unpaid utilities, late fees, and other bills Damages due to early termination Costs of re-renting due to a breach of the lease agreement Costs of moving and storing tenant’s belongings Court costs
North Dakota	Cleaning costs
Ohio	Unpaid late fees Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Cleaning costs
Oklahoma	Unpaid utilities and late fees Charges outlined in the lease agreement
Oregon	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Carpet cleaning costs
Pennsylvania	Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement
Rhode Island	Trash disposal Cleaning costs Other charges outlined in the lease agreement
South Carolina	Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement
South Dakota	Unpaid utilities and late fees Other charges outlined in the lease agreement
Tennessee	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement
Texas	Costs due to a breach of the lease agreement Other charges outlined in the lease agreement
Utah	Charges outlined in the lease agreement Cleaning costs
Vermont	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs to remove abandoned property Cleaning costs
Virginia	Unpaid late fees Damages due to early termination of the lease agreement Other charges outlined in the lease agreement
Washington	Reasonable charges outlined in the lease agreement
Washington D.C.	Unpaid utilities and late fees Cleaning costs
West Virginia	Unpaid utilities and late fees Costs due to the tenant’s noncompliance Costs of moving and storing tenant’s property Other charges outlined in the lease agreement
Wisconsin	Unpaid utilities Monthly municipal permit fees Other charges outlined in the lease agreement
Wyoming	Unpaid rent Cleaning costs Other charges outlined in the lease agreement

Can a Security Deposit Be Used for Rent?

All states allow landlords to make deductions from the security deposit for unpaid rent. Landlords can do this after the lease ends and the tenant moves out, yet there is still rent owed.

However, that doesn’t mean the tenant can withhold the last month’s rent because they provided a security deposit. Landlords must give tenants the opportunity to pay the rent first. If they don’t, then landlords can generally deduct rent from the security deposit.

Can a Landlord Charge for Carpet Replacement?

Landlords in all states can charge for damages, so if the tenant damages the carpet, landlords can charge for the cost to replace the damaged area. However, landlords cannot charge for normal wear and tear such as carpets that are gently worn from daily use or faded from sun exposure.

Furthermore, landlords should take into account the age of the carpet. A tenant shouldn’t be charged for the replacement of a 20-year-old carpet after they only lived in the unit for one year.

Examples of a damaged carpet include tears, burn marks, or holes. In these situations, landlords can charge to replace the damaged area.

Can a Landlord Charge for Nail Holes?

Landlords can charge a tenant for nail holes if they damage the walls in a way that is not a result of normal wear and tear. Examples of damage include large holes from drilling and holes made for hanging heavy objects. However, tenants shouldn’t be charged for normal wear and tear, like small nail holes created from hanging photos and posters.

Can a Landlord Charge for Cleaning Fees?

The types of cleaning fees that landlords can charge vary by state. However, landlords in all states can make deductions from the security deposit for cleaning if the tenant caused damage that requires cleaning (e.g., wine stains on the carpet).

State	Which Cleaning Fees Are Allowed?
Alabama	For damage
Alaska	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Arizona	Non-refundable fee For damage
Arkansas	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
California	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Colorado	For damage Unpaid cleaning services requested by tenant
Connecticut	For damage
Delaware	For damage
Florida	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Georgia	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Hawaii	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Idaho	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Illinois	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Indiana	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Iowa	For damage
Kansas	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Kentucky	For damage
Louisiana	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Maine	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Maryland	For damage
Massachusetts	For damage
Michigan	Non-refundable fee (can’t be taken from security deposit) For damage
Minnesota	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Mississippi	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Missouri	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Montana	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Nebraska	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Nevada	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
New Hampshire	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
New Jersey	For damage
New Mexico	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
New York	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
North Carolina	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
North Dakota	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Ohio	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Oklahoma	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Oregon	Carpet cleaning requiring more than a common vacuum For damage
Pennsylvania	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Rhode Island	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
South Carolina	For damage
South Dakota	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Tennessee	For damage
Texas	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Utah	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Vermont	To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Virginia	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Washington	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Washington D.C.	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
West Virginia	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage
Wisconsin	For damage
Wyoming	Non-refundable fee To restore unit to its original condition For damage

Can a Landlord Charge for Painting Costs?

Landlords can make deductions for painting costs if the tenant:

Causes damage beyond normal wear and tear
Repaints the wall but is not permitted to do so under the lease agreement
Repaints the wall in an unprofessional way
Repaints the wall but doesn’t follow landlord instructions (e.g., type of paint, color)

Normal wear includes minor scrapes from daily use, fading due to sunlight, or minor cracks in the original paint. Landlords can charge for repainting due to damage such as stains, large or deep scratches, and water damage.