Security Deposit Laws by State (2026)

Deposit law is state law. The federal government doesn't regulate security deposits, which means the rules that actually govern your money — how much can be charged, how fast it must come back, whether it earns interest, and what happens when a landlord keeps it wrongly — are all set in your state's statutes, and they differ more than most renters expect.

This table compares all 50 states and the District of Columbia at a glance. Every state name links a full guide with the statute citation, the exceptions (pet deposits, furnished units, military clauses), city-level rules, and the penalties for wrongful withholding. Numbers marked verify change periodically — typically interest rates announced by a state banking department — and are flagged where that applies.

How to read the two columns that matter most

Max deposit. "1 month's rent" means a $2,000 apartment can't ask for more than $2,000 as deposit. "No cap" doesn't mean unlimited in practice — it means the lease sets the number, so read that clause before signing. Caps often carry exceptions (furnished units, pets, owner-occupied buildings); state pages list them.

Return deadline. The days start when you give up possession — normally when you return the keys, not when the lease ends. Many states also require an itemized written statement of deductions, and several states split the deadline (faster when everything is refunded, slower when deductions are itemized). The state pages show those splits.

Interest. "No statewide rule" doesn't always mean no interest: rent-controlled cities and some large buildings add local requirements — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City's bigger buildings are the famous ones. Each state guide notes the local exceptions.

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