Security Deposit Collection Laws by State

Last Updated: December 31, 2024 by Roberto Valenzuela

Find out how much a landlord can ask for a security deposit, what documentation they are (or aren’t) required to provide when collecting one, and other rules about the security deposit collection process.



alabama



alaska



arizona



arkansas



california



colorado



connecticut



D.C.



delaware



florida



georgia



hawaii



idaho



illinois



indiana



iowa



kansas



kentucky



louisiana



maine



maryland



massachusetts



michigan



minnesota



mississippi



missouri



montana



nebraska



nevada



new hampshire



new jersey



new mexico



new york



north carolina



north dakota



ohio



oklahoma



oregon



pennsylvania



rhode island



south carolina



south dakota



tennessee



texas



utah



vermont



virginia



washington



west virginia



wisconsin



wyoming

Maximum Security Deposit by State

Some states limit the maximum security deposit, like in Michigan, where the security deposit cannot be more than 1 and 1/2 months’ rent. However, many states have no limit to the maximum security deposit, which means landlords can collect any “reasonable” amount that they choose.

Most states with limits calculate their maximum as a multiplier of the monthly rent (such as 1x or 2x the monthly rent amount).

note

Some cities and counties may have regulations which are different from those which apply at the state level. Always check local laws.

State Maximum Security Deposit
Alabama
  • 1 month’s rent + pet deposit, property modification costs, and anything else that could add risk for the landlord (such as a tenant with prior evictions)
Alaska
  • 2 months’ rent + pet deposit
  • No limit if rent exceeds $2,000 per month
Arizona
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent
  • 2 months rent for mobile homes
Arkansas
  • 2 months’ rent
  • No limit for landlords who own fewer than 6 units and do not use a property management service
California
  • 1 month’s rent in most cases
  • + 1/2 month’s rent when tenant has a waterbed
  • 2 months’ rent for mobile homes
  • 2 months’ rent for landlords who meet the following qualifications:
    • Own no more than 2 rental properties, renting no more than 4 total units
    • Landlord is a natural person or an LLC whose members are all natural persons
    • Tenant is not a member of the state or national armed services
Colorado
  • 1 month’s rent for mobile homes
  • 2 months’ rent for all other housing types
  • +$300 (maximum) pet rent for any housing type
Connecticut
  • 2 months’ rent for tenants under 62)
  • 1 month’s rent for tenants 62 years old or older)
  • Additional deposit can be collected for a key or special equipment
Delaware
  • 1 month’s rent + pet deposit
  • No limit for furnished units
  • No limit for leases shorter than 1 year
Florida
  • No limit
Georgia
  • 2 months’ rent
Hawaii
  • 1 month’s rent + pet deposit
Idaho
  • No limit
Illinois
  • 1 month’s rent for mobile homes
  • No limit for all other housing types
Indiana
  • No limit
Iowa
  • 2 months’ rent
Kansas
  • 1 month’s rent for unfurnished units
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent for furnished units
  • 2 months’ rent for mobile homes
  • +1/2 month’s rent for pet deposit
Kentucky
  • No limit
Louisiana
  • No limit
Maine
  • 2 months’ rent
  • 3 months’ rent for mobile homes
Maryland
  • 1 month’s rent
Massachusetts
  • 1 month’s rent
Michigan
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent
Minnesota
  • No limit
Mississippi
  • No limit
Missouri
  • 2 months’ rent + pet deposit
Montana
  • No limit
Nebraska
  • 1 month’s rent + pet deposit
Nevada
  • 3 months’ rent
New Hampshire
  • 1 month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater
  • Exemption for:
    • Single family properties where the owner only has one property
    • Owner-occupied buildings with 5 or fewer units
New Jersey
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent
New Mexico
  • 1 month’s rent for leases shorter than 1 year
  • No limit for leases 1 year or longer
  • 1 month’s rent for standard mobile homes
  • 2 months’ rent for double-wide mobile homes
New York
  • 1 month’s rent (except owner-occupied cooperatives)
North Carolina
  • 2 weeks’ rent for week-to-week leases
  • 1½ months’ rent for month-to-month leases
  • 2 months for leases longer than month-to-month
North Dakota
  • 1 month’s rent + 2 months’ rent or $2,500 (whichever is greater) for a pet deposit
  • 2 months’ rent for tenants with felonies or judgments
Ohio
  • No limit
Oklahoma
  • No limit
Oregon
  • No limit
Pennsylvania
  • 2 months’ rent during the first year
  • 1 month’s rent for leases after the 1st year
Rhode Island
  • 1 month’s rent + up to 1 more month’s rent for rentals with furnishings valued over $5,000
South Carolina
  • No limit
South Dakota
  • 1 month’s rent + pet deposit (no limit where specialized conditions pose danger to maintenance)
Tennessee
  • No limit
Texas
  • No limit
Utah
  • No limit
Vermont
  • No limit
Virginia
  • 2 months’ rent
Washington
  • No limit
Washington D.C.
  • 1 month’s rent
West Virginia
  • No limit
Wisconsin
  • No limit
Wyoming
  • No limit

Maximum Pet Deposit by State

All states allow landlords to collect pet deposits. In many states, there is no limit to the pet deposit. However, in some states, the total security deposit including the pet deposit cannot exceed that state’s security deposit limit.

For example, in New York, the maximum security deposit is one month’s rent, which must include the pet deposit. Landlords cannot collect one month’s rent as a “security deposit” and a second month’s rent as a “pet deposit.”

State Maximum Pet Deposit
Alabama
  • No limit
Alaska
  • 1 month’s rent
Arizona Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 months’ rent for mobile homes
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent for other housing types
Arkansas Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 months’ rent
California Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent in most cases
  • 2 months’ rent for landlords who meet the following qualifications:
    • Own no more than 2 rental properties, renting no more than 4 total units
    • Landlord is a natural person or an LLC whose members are all natural persons
    • Tenant is not a member of the state or national armed services
Colorado Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent for mobile homes
  • 2 months’ rent for other housing types
Connecticut Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 months’ rent for tenants under 62
  • 1 month’s rent for tenants 62 years old or older
Delaware
  • 1 month’s rent
Florida
  • No limit
Georgia Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent
Hawaii
  • 1 month’s rent
Idaho
  • No limit
Illinois
  • No limit
Indiana
  • No limit
Iowa Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 months’ rent
Kansas
  • 1/2 month’s rent
Kentucky
  • No limit
Louisiana
  • No limit
Maine Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 3 months’ rent for mobile homes
  • 2 months’ rent for other housing types
Maryland Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 months’ rent
Massachusetts Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent
Michigan Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent
Minnesota
  • No limit
Mississippi
  • No limit
Missouri
  • No limit
Montana
  • No limit
Nebraska
  • 1/4 month’s rent
Nevada Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 3 months’ rent
New Hampshire Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater
New Jersey Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent
New Mexico Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent for leases shorter than 1 year
  • No limit for leases 1 year or longer
  • 1 month’s rent for standard mobile homes
  • 2 months’ rent for double-wide mobile homes
New York Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent
North Carolina Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 weeks’ rent for week-to-week
  • 1 and 1/2 months’ rent for month-to-month
  • 2 months’ rent for longer than month-to-month
North Dakota
  • $2,500 or 2 months’ rent, whichever is greater
Ohio
  • No limit
Oklahoma
  • No limit
Oregon
  • No limit
Pennsylvania Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 months’ rent
  • Except only 1 month’s rent for leases that are renewed beyond the 1st year
Rhode Island Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent
South Carolina
  • No limit
South Dakota
  • No limit
Tennessee
  • No limit
Texas
  • No limit
Utah
  • No limit
Vermont
  • No limit
Virginia Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 2 months’ rent
Washington
  • No limit
Washington D.C. Total of all deposits cannot exceed:
  • 1 month’s rent
West Virginia
  • No limit
Wisconsin
  • No limit
Wyoming
  • No limit

Do Landlords Have To Provide a Receipt for a Security Deposit?

Many states require that landlords provide documentation when collecting a security deposit, like a receipt. Some state laws require landlords to provide specific information on the receipt in addition to the amount of the deposit, like the name and address of the bank where the security deposit is held.

Read More

Do Landlords Have To Use Escrow for Security Deposits?

The following states require that landlords hold security deposits in escrow, sometimes separate from their own funds, to guarantee that the funds will not be spent before the lease term ends.

    Read More

    Do Landlords Owe Interest on Security Deposits?

    In some states, landlords are required to provide interest on security deposits. The specific interest rate may be established by law, for example, 1% interest is required in Missouri. Some states change the rate of interest every year or base the rate on typical interest rates in certain types of accounts.