Security Deposit Limit Checker
Make sure the deposit you're charging - or being charged - is within your state's legal cap. Protect yourself from deposit disputes before they start.
Enter the total security deposit amount - not including first/last month's rent, which are collected separately.
How This Checker Works
Enter your state, monthly rent, and the deposit being charged. The checker will:
- Look up your state's security deposit cap (if one exists).
- If the cap is set in months of rent, multiply it by your monthly rent to get the dollar limit.
- Compare the deposit being charged against that limit and flag whether it's over or within the cap.
- Show the return deadline, interest requirements, separate account rules, and pet deposit guidance for your state.
Note: State laws change. Always verify the current rules in your state before collecting or paying a security deposit.
Draft a State-Compliant Lease Agreement
The best way to avoid security deposit disputes is to start with a lease that clearly spells out the deposit amount, permitted deductions, and return procedure - all aligned with your state's law. Get a completed, ready-to-sign document for your state in minutes - $7.99.
Create Your Lease Agreement - $7.99 →Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your state. About half of US states cap security deposits at 1 - 3 months of monthly rent. The other half have no statutory cap - but courts can still void a deposit that is clearly unreasonable or punitive. As a landlord, staying at or below two months' rent is a safe general practice even in uncapped states.
In states with a cap, collecting an excess deposit can expose the landlord to penalties - often 2 - 3× the excess amount plus attorney's fees. The tenant may also have the right to apply the overcharge toward rent or sue in small claims court. Landlords should verify their state's current cap before collecting any deposit.
Most states require return within 14 - 30 days after the tenant vacates and provides a forwarding address. Some states use calendar days, others business days. Missing the deadline - even by one day - can forfeit the landlord's right to make any deductions and may trigger penalties of 2× or 3× the deposit.
Only in certain states. States like Illinois, New York, and New Jersey require landlords to hold deposits in interest-bearing accounts and pay that interest to tenants annually or at move-out. In most other states, interest is not required. Check the result for your state to see if interest applies.
In many states, yes. Some states require deposits to be held in a dedicated escrow or trust account - and prohibit the landlord from commingling deposit funds with personal or business money. Failure to maintain a separate account can result in losing the right to withhold any portion of the deposit.
Generally yes, but rules vary widely by state. Some states treat a pet deposit as part of the overall security deposit cap - so a landlord cannot use a "pet deposit" label to get around the limit. Others allow a separate nonrefundable pet fee on top of the security deposit. Check your state's specific rules in the tool above.
Most states require security deposits to be fully refundable (minus documented deductions for damage and unpaid rent). Calling a charge "nonrefundable" does not necessarily make it legal - courts often reclassify nonrefundable "fees" as deposits if they serve the same purpose. True nonrefundable charges (like a one-time cleaning fee) usually must be clearly labeled and agreed to in writing.
Landlords can generally deduct: unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, cleaning costs if the unit was left significantly dirtier than move-in condition, and sometimes early termination costs if spelled out in the lease. Normal wear and tear - scuff marks, minor paint fading, small nail holes - cannot be deducted. Most states require an itemized written statement of any deductions.