When is my deposit due back?
Pick your state and move-out date. You get the deadline, what has to happen first, and the statute that says so. 36 of 51 jurisdictions are checked against official statute text; the rest say so instead of guessing.
When is my deposit due back?
Deposit ClockDue back by Nov 23, 2026
21 calendar days after you move out, with an itemized list of anything kept.
Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h)(1)- Starts whenYou vacate
- PreconditionNone
- Counts21 calendar days
- DeadlineNov 23
California, in four numbers
After: you vacate.
“No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated the premises…”
Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h)(1)If deductions came without receipts, you can ask for the documents within 14 days of receiving the itemized statement.
Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h)(5)“…may subject the landlord or the landlord’s successors in interest to statutory damages of up to twice the amount of the security, in addition to actual damages.”
Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(m)Small claims is for when you think the other side owes you less than $12,500 (or $6,250 if you're suing as a business).
California Courts Self-Help GuideThe deposit deadline in all 51 jurisdictions
Each verified row quotes its statute. Rows we haven't verified stay blank instead of guessing.
| State | Deadline | Clock starts | Counts | Before it runs | Your own deadline | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKAlaska | 14 / 30 | Tenancy ends and you hand back possession | Calendar | 14 days if proper notice was given and nothing is deducted for damage | None found | Alaska Stat. §34.03.070(g) | Review pending |
| AZArizona | 14 | Possession returned + your demand | Business days | You must make the demand | 60 days to act | A.R.S. §33-1321 | Review pending |
| CACalifornia | 21 | You vacate | Calendar | Optional initial inspection, no earlier than 2 weeks before the end | 14 days to act | Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(h)(1) | Review pending |
| CTConnecticut | 21 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | Your written forwarding address (it can push the date later) | None found | Conn. Gen. Stat. §47a-21(d)(2) | Review pending |
| DEDelaware | 20 | Lease ends | Calendar | Give a written forwarding address at or before the end | 10 days to act | 25 Del. C. §5514(f) | Review pending |
| FLFlorida | 15 / 30 | You vacate | Calendar | 15 to refund with no claim; 30 to mail a notice of claim | 15 days to act | Fla. Stat. §83.49(3) | Review pending |
| IDIdaho | 21 | Lease ends and you surrender the unit | Calendar | 21 days, unless your lease fixes a time (never more than 30) | None found | Idaho Code §6-321(2) | Review pending |
| ILIllinois | 30 / 45 | You vacate (or possession ends, if later) | Calendar | Itemized statement by day 30, or full refund by day 45 | None found | 765 ILCS 710/1 | Review pending |
| IAIowa | 30 | Tenancy ends + your mailing address | Calendar | Your mailing address or delivery instructions | None found | Iowa Code §562A.12(3) | Review pending |
| KSKansas | 30 | Possession returned + your demand | Calendar | Your demand for the deposit | None found | Kan. Stat. §58-2550(b) | Review pending |
| MEMaine | 30 | Tenancy ends or you surrender, whichever is later | Calendar | Lease: the time it states (30 at most). At will: 21 days | None found | 14 M.R.S. §6033(2) | Review pending |
| MDMaryland | 45 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | Certified-mail notice 15 days before moving, to be at the inspection | None found | Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-203(e) | Review pending |
| MAMassachusetts | 30 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | Sworn itemized list within the same 30 days | None found | M.G.L. c. 186, §15B(4) | Review pending |
| MIMichigan | 30 | Occupancy ends | Calendar | Your address within 4 days of leaving | 7 days to act | MCL 554.609 | Review pending |
| MNMinnesota | 21 | Tenancy ends + your mailing address | Calendar | Your mailing address or delivery instructions | None found | Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 3 | Review pending |
| MOMissouri | 30 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | None | None found | Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(3) | Review pending |
| MTMontana | 10 / 30 | Tenancy ends or you surrender, whichever is first | Calendar | 10 days if nothing is owed; 30 with deductions | None found | Mont. Code Ann. §70-25-202 | Review pending |
| NENebraska | 14 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | None | None found | Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416(2) | Review pending |
| NVNevada | 30 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | None | None found | NRS 118A.242(4) | Review pending |
| NHNew Hampshire | 30 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | Tell the landlord your new address | None found | N.H. Rev. Stat. §540-A:7(I) | Review pending |
| NYNew York | 14 | You vacate | Calendar | Itemized statement required | None found | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108(1-a) | Review pending |
| NCNorth Carolina | 30 | Tenancy ends and you hand back possession | Calendar | Interim accounting allowed; final one by day 60 | None found | N.C. Gen. Stat. §42-52 | Review pending |
| NDNorth Dakota | 30 | Lease ends and you hand back possession | Calendar | None | None found | N.D. Cent. Code §47-16-07.1(3) | Review pending |
| OHOhio | 30 | Lease ends and you hand back possession | Calendar | Give a written forwarding address | None found | Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16(B) | Review pending |
| OROregon | 31 | Tenancy ends and you hand back possession | Calendar | None | None found | ORS 90.300(12)–(13) | Review pending |
| RIRhode Island | 20 | Tenancy ends, possession returned, or address given, whichever is last | Calendar | Your forwarding address | None found | R.I. Gen. Laws §34-18-19(b) | Review pending |
| SCSouth Carolina | 30 | Possession + your demand, whichever is later | Calendar | Your demand, and a written forwarding address | None found | S.C. Code §27-40-410(a) | Review pending |
| SDSouth Dakota | 21 | Tenancy ends + your mailing address | Calendar | Your mailing address or delivery instructions | None found | S.D. Codified Laws §43-32-24 | Review pending |
| TXTexas | 30 | You surrender the unit | Calendar | Your written forwarding address | None found | Tex. Prop. Code §92.103, §92.107 | Review pending |
| UTUtah | 30 | You vacate and return possession | Calendar | None | None found | Utah Code §57-17-3(2) | Review pending |
| VTVermont | 14 | You vacate (with notice of the date) | Calendar | Tell the landlord the date you're leaving | None found | 9 V.S.A. §4461(c) | Review pending |
| VAVirginia | 45 | Tenancy ends or you vacate, whichever is last | Calendar | Ask in writing to be at the move-out inspection | None found | Va. Code §55.1-1226(A) | Review pending |
| WAWashington | 30 | Lease ends and you vacate | Calendar | A signed move-in checklist must exist | None found | RCW 59.18.280 | Review pending |
| WVWest Virginia | 60 | Tenancy ends | Calendar | Or 45 days after a new tenant moves in, if sooner | None found | W. Va. Code §37-6A-2(a), §37-6A-1(7) | Review pending |
| WIWisconsin | 21 | Lease ends (if you leave on that date) | Calendar | None | None found | Wis. Stat. §704.28(4) | Review pending |
| WYWyoming | 30 | Lease ends | Calendar | Tell the landlord where to send it within 30 days | None found | Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208(a) | Review pending |
| ALAlabama | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| ARArkansas | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| COColorado | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| DCDistrict of Columbia | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| GAGeorgia | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| HIHawaii | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| INIndiana | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| KYKentucky | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| LALouisiana | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| MSMississippi | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| NJNew Jersey | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| NMNew Mexico | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| OKOklahoma | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| PAPennsylvania | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
| TNTennessee | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not started |
Why one number per state gives wrong dates
The clock starts differently
Moving out, handing back possession, the end of the lease, a written demand, or the day the landlord receives your address. Texas owes nothing until you give a forwarding address; Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota count from the day they receive it.
Some states count business days
Arizona's fourteen days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, so the deadline lands about six days later than a 14-calendar-day count, and later still when a holiday falls inside the window.
You have deadlines too
Florida gives you 15 days to object to a notice of claim; Michigan, 7 days to answer a notice of damages; Arizona, 60 days to dispute the itemized list. Miss them and you can lose the argument.
Information, not legal advice. Every rule carries the date its statute text was checked. No named legal reviewer has signed these rules yet; see legal review.