Guides / Security deposit return deadlines in seven states

Security deposit return deadlines in seven states

When a tenancy ends, a landlord has a deadline to return your deposit or explain what was kept. This page quotes the main rule from seven states and builds a letter you can send.

Start here. Find the state where you rented, read the deadline, then build a letter asking for your deposit or an itemized statement.

This site cannot say whether your landlord owes you money or how much. The statutes have exceptions and extra rules. This page is information, not legal advice. A legal aid office or a lawyer can tell you your options.

Jump to the state rules · Jump to the letter builder · Your state not listed?

Return deadlines in seven states

Each row shows the main return rule this site read in the state's law. Each statute has exceptions and extra conditions that this site did not summarize. The deadline and what the landlord must send differ by state.

State	Deadline in the statute	What the landlord is to send	Source
California	21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated, subject to the statute's conditions on the start date	Itemized statement and the remaining deposit. The statute also covers receipts and similar documents.	California Civil Code §1950.5
Florida	If the landlord does not intend to claim any of the deposit: 15 days to return it. If the landlord intends a claim: 30 days to give written notice by certified mail.	No claim: the deposit, with interest if otherwise required. Claim: written notice of the claim and the reason. The statute then covers the tenant's objection and the balance.	Florida Statutes §83.49
Michigan	30 days after the termination of occupancy, for the notice of damages	If the landlord claims damage or another obligation against the deposit: a notice of damages with an itemized list. The statute also sets a response time for the tenant.	Michigan Compiled Laws §554.609
New York	14 days after the tenant has vacated	Itemized statement and the remaining deposit. The statute says the landlord forfeits the right to keep any of it if the statement and deposit are late.	New York General Obligations Law §7-108
North Carolina	30 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. The statute allows more time in some cases.	Itemized damage in writing with the balance.	North Carolina General Statutes §42-52
Ohio	30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession	An itemized written notice of any deduction, with the amount due.	Ohio Revised Code §5321.16
Texas	On or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises, except as another section provides	The refund. If the landlord keeps any part, a written description and itemized list of deductions, with some exceptions.	Texas Property Code §§92.103 and 92.104

This site's reading: each statute names its own start. California and New York say the tenant has vacated. Florida says vacating for termination of the lease. Michigan says termination of occupancy. North Carolina and Ohio say termination of the tenancy or rental agreement and delivery of possession. Texas says the tenant surrenders the premises. This site's suggestion: keep proof of the day you left, the day you returned the keys and the address you gave the landlord.

California

California's deposit statute gives the landlord a deadline to send an itemized statement and return the rest.

“No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated the premises, but not earlier than the time that either the landlord or the tenant provides a notice to terminate the tenancy under Section 1946 or 1946.1, Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or not earlier than 60 calendar days prior to the expiration of a fixed-term lease, the landlord shall furnish the tenant, a copy of an itemized statement indicating the basis for, and the amount of, any security received and the disposition of the security, and shall return any remaining portion of the security to the tenant as follows:”
California Civil Code §1950.5, official text, read 14 November 2026.

The statute has more conditions, exceptions and documents the landlord must send. This site quoted the main rule and did not summarize the rest.

Florida

Florida's statute has two paths, depending on whether the landlord means to keep any of the deposit.

“Upon the vacating of the premises for termination of the lease, if the landlord does not intend to impose a claim on the security deposit, the landlord shall have 15 days to return the security deposit together with interest if otherwise required, or the landlord shall have 30 days to give the tenant written notice by certified mail to the tenant's last known mailing address of his or her intention to impose a claim on the deposit and the reason for imposing the claim.”
Florida Statutes §83.49, official text, read 14 November 2026.

The statute also covers the tenant's objection to a claim, the balance, a notice a tenant must give in some cases when leaving early, and kinds of housing it does not cover. This site quoted the first rule and did not summarize the rest.

Michigan

Michigan's rule is about a notice of damages.

“In case of damage to the rental unit or other obligation against the security deposit, the landlord shall mail to the tenant, within 30 days after the termination of occupancy, a notice of damages that contains an itemized list of damages claimed for which the security deposit may be used as provided in section 7, including the estimated cost of repair of each damaged property item and the amounts and bases on which the landlord intends to assess the tenant.”
Michigan Compiled Laws §554.609, official text, read 14 November 2026.

The statute continues with how payment is made and a time for the tenant to respond to the notice. This site quoted the first sentence and did not summarize the rest. Read the full text.

New York

New York's rule includes a consequence for a late statement.

“Within fourteen days after the tenant has vacated the premises, the landlord shall provide the tenant with an itemized statement indicating the basis for the amount of the deposit retained, if any, and shall return any remaining portion of the deposit to the tenant.”
New York General Obligations Law §7-108, official text, read 14 November 2026.

“If a landlord fails to provide the tenant with the statement and deposit within fourteen days, the landlord shall forfeit any right to retain any portion of the deposit.”
New York General Obligations Law §7-108, official text, read 14 November 2026.

This site quoted only these two sentences. The section has exceptions for some kinds of housing and other paragraphs that this site did not summarize.

North Carolina

North Carolina's rule sets a 30-day limit and allows for a longer time in some cases.

“In either case the landlord in writing shall itemize any damage and mail or deliver same to the tenant, together with the balance of the security deposit, no later than 30 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession of the premises to the landlord.”
North Carolina General Statutes §42-52, official text, read 14 November 2026.

The same statute says what happens if the landlord's claim cannot be determined within 30 days. This site quoted the first rule and did not summarize the rest.

Ohio

Ohio's rule is about an itemized notice of any deduction.

“Any deduction from the security deposit shall be itemized and identified by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount due, within thirty days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession.”
Ohio Revised Code §5321.16, official text, read 14 November 2026.

The statute says the tenant is to give a forwarding address in writing and states what follows if not. This site quoted this rule and did not summarize the rest.

Texas

Texas sets a refund deadline in one section and the itemized list in the next.

“Except as provided by Section 92.107, the landlord shall refund a security deposit to the tenant on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant surrenders the premises.”
Texas Property Code §§92.103 and 92.104, official text, read 14 November 2026.

“If the landlord retains all or part of a security deposit under this section, the landlord shall give to the tenant the balance of the security deposit, if any, together with a written description and itemized list of all deductions.”
Texas Property Code §§92.103 and 92.104, official text, read 14 November 2026.

“The landlord may not retain any portion of a security deposit to cover normal wear and tear.”
Texas Property Code §§92.103 and 92.104, official text, read 14 November 2026.

The first sentence says the deadline is subject to another section. The statute also lets a lease set a notice-of-surrender condition and excuses the itemized list in one case. This site did not summarize these.

Write your letter

This tool runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere. It builds a letter asking for your deposit or an itemized statement. You send the letter yourself.

After you send it

This site's suggestion: send it in a way that gives you a receipt, and keep a copy and photos of the place when you left.
If the deadline has passed and you have no answer, a legal aid office, a tenant organization or a lawyer can tell you your options. This site cannot.

What this site cannot do

It cannot tell you whether your landlord owes you money, or how much.
It does not send the letter. You send it.
It did not summarize the penalties, the exceptions or the court rules in these states, except where a quote above says so.
It is not a law firm. This page is information, not legal advice.

Not on this list

Your state is missing? That means this site has not checked it yet. Search your state's landlord and tenant law, or ask a tenant organization or legal aid office.

Sources

California Civil Code §1950.5, read 14 November 2026
Florida Statutes §83.49, read 14 November 2026
Michigan Compiled Laws §554.609, read 14 November 2026
North Carolina General Statutes §42-52, read 14 November 2026
New York General Obligations Law §7-108, read 14 November 2026
Ohio Revised Code §5321.16, read 14 November 2026
Texas Property Code §§92.103 and 92.104, read 14 November 2026

Quotations are copied word for word. Text outside a quotation is this site's reading. This is not legal advice.