Clause pillar · security-deposit

Security-deposit caps and return timelines

The maximum security deposit a landlord can collect, and how many days they have to return it (with itemized deductions) after move-out.

Why this clause matters

Security-deposit law is the single most-regulated area in residential tenancy. Caps, return windows, itemization requirements, and interest-payment rules vary widely. California's AB 12 (2024) caps deposits at 1× monthly rent in nearly all cases.

The dominant doctrine

State-statute caps + return-window statutes + itemization requirements; substantial-compliance doctrine in most states.

What the clause looks like in a lease

“Three months' rent due as security deposit.”
“Deposit forfeit if tenant moves out before lease end.”
“60 days for landlord to return deposit.”

Your lease

Check your own security-deposit caps and return timelines language

Paste the clause from your lease — it never leaves your browser — and read the rule for your state.

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50-state enforceability

What each state says

Verified states light up on the map; states still pending verification stay grey — never guessed. The detail table below links each state to its full clause-by-clause view.

Restricted
Void
Conditional
Enforceable
Pending

CaliforniaState-restricted
Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5; AB 12 (2023) · source verified 2026-05-08
ColoradoState-restricted
Colo. Rev. Stat. §38-12-103 · source verified 2026-05-08
District of ColumbiaState-restricted
D.C. Code §42-3502.17 (regulations at 14 DCMR §308-309) · source verified 2026-05-08
FloridaState-restricted
Fla. Stat. §83.49 · source verified 2026-05-08
IllinoisState-restricted
765 ILCS 710/, 765 ILCS 715/ · source verified 2026-05-08
MassachusettsState-restricted
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B · source verified 2026-05-08
New YorkState-restricted
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 · source verified 2026-05-08
OregonState-restricted
Or. Rev. Stat. §90.300 · source verified 2026-05-08
PennsylvaniaState-restricted
68 Pa. Stat. §250.511a, §250.511b · source verified 2026-05-08
TexasState-restricted
Tex. Prop. Code §92.103, §92.109 · source verified 2026-05-08
WashingtonState-restricted
Wash. Rev. Code §59.18.270, §59.18.280 · source verified 2026-05-08
AlabamaPending verification
Verification pending
AlaskaPending verification
Verification pending
ArizonaPending verification
Verification pending
ArkansasPending verification
Verification pending
ConnecticutPending verification
Verification pending
DelawarePending verification
Verification pending
GeorgiaPending verification
Verification pending
HawaiiPending verification
Verification pending
IdahoPending verification
Verification pending
IndianaPending verification
Verification pending
IowaPending verification
Verification pending
KansasPending verification
Verification pending
KentuckyPending verification
Verification pending
LouisianaPending verification
Verification pending
MainePending verification
Verification pending
MarylandPending verification
Verification pending
MichiganPending verification
Verification pending
MinnesotaPending verification
Verification pending
MississippiPending verification
Verification pending
MissouriPending verification
Verification pending
MontanaPending verification
Verification pending
NebraskaPending verification
Verification pending
NevadaPending verification
Verification pending
New HampshirePending verification
Verification pending
New MexicoPending verification
Verification pending
North CarolinaPending verification
Verification pending
North DakotaPending verification
Verification pending
OhioPending verification
Verification pending
OklahomaPending verification
Verification pending
Rhode IslandPending verification
Verification pending
South CarolinaPending verification
Verification pending
South DakotaPending verification
Verification pending
TennesseePending verification
Verification pending
UtahPending verification
Verification pending
VermontPending verification
Verification pending
VirginiaPending verification
Verification pending
West VirginiaPending verification
Verification pending
WisconsinPending verification
Verification pending
WyomingPending verification
Verification pending

Per-state residential lease enforceability of Security-deposit caps and return timelines, with primary state-legislature citations.
State	Disposition	Statute / cite	Verified
California	State-restricted	Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5; AB 12 (2023) · source	2026-05-08
Colorado	State-restricted	Colo. Rev. Stat. §38-12-103 · source	2026-05-08
District of Columbia	State-restricted	D.C. Code §42-3502.17 (regulations at 14 DCMR §308-309) · source	2026-05-08
Florida	State-restricted	Fla. Stat. §83.49 · source	2026-05-08
Illinois	State-restricted	765 ILCS 710/, 765 ILCS 715/ · source	2026-05-08
Massachusetts	State-restricted	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B · source	2026-05-08
New York	State-restricted	N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 · source	2026-05-08
Oregon	State-restricted	Or. Rev. Stat. §90.300 · source	2026-05-08
Pennsylvania	State-restricted	68 Pa. Stat. §250.511a, §250.511b · source	2026-05-08
Texas	State-restricted	Tex. Prop. Code §92.103, §92.109 · source	2026-05-08
Washington	State-restricted	Wash. Rev. Code §59.18.270, §59.18.280 · source	2026-05-08
Alabama	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Alaska	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Arizona	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Arkansas	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Connecticut	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Delaware	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Georgia	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Hawaii	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Idaho	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Indiana	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Iowa	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Kansas	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Kentucky	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Louisiana	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Maine	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Maryland	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Michigan	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Minnesota	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Mississippi	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Missouri	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Montana	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Nebraska	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Nevada	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
New Hampshire	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
New Mexico	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
North Carolina	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
North Dakota	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Ohio	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Oklahoma	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Rhode Island	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
South Carolina	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
South Dakota	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Tennessee	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Utah	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Vermont	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Virginia	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
West Virginia	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Wisconsin	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—
Wyoming	Pending verification	[verification pending]	—

Not legal advice. This page summarizes the dominant doctrine and per-state rules in plain English. State landlord-tenant law changes annually; verify any rule with the linked primary state-legislature source before acting. For active disputes, consult a licensed real-property or tenant-rights attorney in your state. Read the full disclaimer.