How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?

It depends on the state. Many states cap the deposit at one or two months rent, some distinguish furnished from unfurnished units, and a number of states set no limit at all, leaving it to the market. Cities can add their own caps on top. Always check your specific state, because this is one of the most variable rules in landlord-tenant law.

Does the deposit limit include pet and other deposits?

Usually yes. In most states that cap deposits, the limit applies to the total of all refundable deposits combined, so a pet deposit and a cleaning deposit count against the same cap as the security deposit. Non-refundable fees, where a state allows them, are sometimes treated separately. See our guide on pet rent versus deposit for how pet money is handled.

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit?

In some states, yes. A number of states require the deposit to be held in a separate escrow account and interest to be paid to the tenant, often annually or at move-out. Many states have no such requirement. Where interest is required, failing to pay it can carry its own penalty.

How long does a landlord have to return the deposit?

Most states set a deadline between 14 and 45 days after you move out. By that deadline the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions, and often both. Missing the deadline can forfeit the landlord's right to keep any of it and may trigger extra damages.

What can a landlord deduct from the deposit?

Unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, and in some states cleaning to restore the unit to move-in condition. A landlord cannot deduct for ordinary wear or use the deposit for upgrades. Deductions must be itemized. See our guide on normal wear and tear versus damage for where the line falls.

Security Deposit Limits: How Much a Landlord Can Charge

How much a landlord can take as a security deposit is one of the most state-specific rules in all of renting. Some states cap it tightly, some leave it wide open, and a few add strings like separate accounts and interest. Here is how deposit limits actually work, what counts toward the cap, and when the money has to come back.

How deposit caps work

Most states that limit deposits express the cap as a multiple of the monthly rent, commonly one or two months. Some set a higher cap for furnished units or for tenants with pets or a weak rental history. A meaningful number of states set no statutory cap at all, which means the deposit is whatever the market and the lease allow. And some cities impose stricter local caps than the state. The result is a patchwork, so the only reliable answer is to check your own state and city.

What counts toward the limit

Where a cap exists, it usually applies to all refundable deposits added together, not just the one labeled security deposit. So a pet deposit, a cleaning deposit, and a key deposit typically share the same ceiling. Non-refundable fees are sometimes treated separately where a state permits them. This is why a landlord cannot simply rename part of the deposit to get around the cap. For how pet money specifically is classified, see pet rent vs deposit vs assistance animals.

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Separate accounts and interest

Several states go beyond a cap and regulate how the deposit is held. Common requirements include:

Keeping the deposit in a separate escrow account, not commingled with the landlord's own money.
Paying the tenant interest on the deposit, sometimes annually and sometimes at move-out.
Telling the tenant, in writing, where the deposit is held.

Where these rules apply, ignoring them can carry a penalty even if the deposit itself is eventually returned in full.

Getting the deposit back

The cap is only half the story. Most states require the landlord to return the deposit, minus lawful deductions and with an itemized statement, within a set deadline, commonly 14 to 45 days after move-out. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. Miss the deadline or withhold in bad faith, and many states let the tenant recover two or three times the amount. See our guides on the move-out walkthrough and deposit timeline and normal wear and tear vs damage.

For landlords: set it correctly from the start

Charge within your state cap, combine all refundable deposits under that cap, follow any account and interest rules, and document the unit's condition at move-in so deductions are defensible later. Getting the deposit right at signing prevents the most common deposit dispute of all.

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