Landlord Resource
Landlord laws, side by side.
64 jurisdictions, one table.
Security deposit limits, return deadlines, late fees, grace periods, entry notice, termination notice and rent control for every US state, DC and every Canadian province and territory. Each row links to its full page with sources.
Most recent statute review: 2026-07-17. Free to cite; please link to this page.
Download CSVUnited States (50 states and DC)
| Region | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Late fee rule | Grace period | Entry notice | Termination notice | Rent control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month's rent | 60 days | Must be reasonable; no statutory cap | None stated | 2 days' written notice | 30 days (month-to-month) | No state rent control; local rent control prohibited |
| Alaska | 2 months' rent (no cap if rent exceeds $2,000 a month) | 14 days (30 if deducting for damage) | Must be reasonable | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | None |
| ArizonaAriz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 | 1.5 months' rent | 14 business days | No fixed cap, must be reasonable and in the written lease | None statutory, rent is due on the lease date | 2 days | 30 days | Prohibited statewide |
| ArkansasArk. Code §§ 18-16-303 to 18-16-305 (2-month cap & 60-day return apply only to landlords with 6+ rental units) | 2 months' rent | 60 days | No statutory cap or standard, the lease controls | None statutory, rent is payable without demand at the agreed time (§ 18-17-401(b)); 5 days after the due date the landlord may terminate and start eviction (§§ 18-17-701(b), 18-17-901(b)) | None statutorily required | 30 days (month-to-month) | Prohibited |
| CaliforniaCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (AB 12) | 1 month's rent (as of July 2024) | 21 days | Must reflect actual damages; courts scrutinize excess fees | None statutory, the lease controls | 24 hours written | 30 days (60 if tenancy ≥ 1 year) | Statewide cap (AB 1482) + local ordinances |
| ColoradoColo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-102.5 (2-month cap, SB23-184) and § 38-12-103 (return, overhauled by HB25-1249, eff. Jan. 1, 2026) | 2 months' rent (since Aug. 7, 2023) | 30 days (lease may extend, max 60) | Capped at the greater of $50 or 5% of the past-due amount; no fee until rent is 7 days late | 7 calendar days before any late fee (§ 38-12-105(1)(a)) | None statutorily required | 21 days (tenancies < 6 months) | Prohibited at local level (as of 2024 debates ongoing) |
| ConnecticutConn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 | 2 months' rent (1 month if tenant ≥ 62) | 21 days (or 15 days after receiving the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later) | Capped: lesser of $5/day up to $50 total, or 5% of the overdue rent; one charge per late payment | 9 days (4 days for week-to-week tenancies) | Reasonable notice | 3-day notice to quit (lapse of time) | Fair rent commissions in some municipalities |
| Delaware | 1 month's rent (12-month+ leases) | 20 days | Capped at 5% of monthly rent | None stated | 48 hours | 60 days | None |
| District of Columbia | 1 month's rent | 45 days | Capped at 5% of monthly rent | None stated | 48 hours | 30 days | Yes (Rental Housing Act, most units built before 1975) |
| FloridaFla. Stat. § 83.49 | No statutory cap | 15 days (no deductions) / 30-day certified-mail notice to claim deductions | No statutory cap, must be in the lease and reasonable (~5–10% generally accepted) | None statutory, the lease controls | 24 hours (for repairs), 7:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. | 30 days (month-to-month, since July 2023) | Prohibited except in declared housing emergencies |
| GeorgiaO.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 (§ 44-7-30.1 cap, HB 404) | 2 months' rent (leases entered/renewed on or after July 1, 2024); no cap on older leases | 30 days | No statutory cap, must be in the lease and reasonable (~5–10% generally accepted) | None statutory, the lease controls | None statutorily required | 60 days from the landlord (30 from the tenant), tenancy at will | Prohibited |
| Hawaii | 1 month's rent (plus an agreed pet deposit) | 14 days | Capped at 8% of monthly rent | None stated | 48 hours | 45 days (landlord) / 28 days (tenant) | None statewide |
| Idaho | No cap | 21 days (30 if agreed) | Reasonable | None stated | None statutorily required | 30 days | Prohibited |
| Illinois765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act, all residential landlords since 1-1-2024); 765 ILCS 715 (Interest Act, 25+ units) | No state cap (suburban Cook County caps at 1.5 months; Chicago has no cap) | 45 days (itemized deduction statement within 30 days) | No state cap; Chicago: $10/mo + 5% of rent over $500; suburban Cook County: $10 + 5% over $1,000 | None statutory, rent is due on the lease date; the 5-day nonpayment demand (735 ILCS 5/9-209) is a cure window, not a grace period | None statewide (Chicago and suburban Cook County: 2 days) | 30 days | Prohibited at local level |
| IndianaInd. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 to 32-31-3-16 (45-day return & damages notice) | No cap | 45 days | No statutory cap, must be in the lease and reasonable | None statutory, the 10-day pay-or-quit notice (IC 32-31-1-6) is a cure window, not a grace period, and the lease may modify it | Reasonable notice | One month's written notice (month-to-month) | Prohibited |
| Iowa | 2 months' rent | 30 days | Capped: $12/day up to $60/month (rent < $700) or $20/day up to $100/month | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | Prohibited |
| Kansas | 1 month (unfurnished) / 1.5 months (furnished) | 30 days | Reasonable | None stated | Reasonable notice | 30 days | Prohibited |
| KentuckyKy. Rev. Stat. (KRS) § 383.580 (URLTA jurisdictions; separate account + signed move-in/move-out damage listings) | No cap | No fixed deadline, refund notice; unclaimed refunds forfeit 60 days after notice (URLTA jurisdictions) | No statutory cap, the lease governs | None statutory, rent is payable without demand or notice at the time agreed (KRS 383.565(2)); URLTA jurisdictions require a 7-day right-to-cure notice before terminating for nonpayment (KRS 383.660(2)) | 2 days (URLTA jurisdictions) | 30 days | Prohibited |
| LouisianaLa. R.S. 9:3251–3254 (Lessee's Deposit Act; tenant waiver null and void, § 9:3254) | No cap | 1 month | No cap, lease controls; enforceable as stipulated damages unless manifestly unreasonable | None statutory, rent is due at the beginning of each payment interval (La. Civ. Code art. 2703); any grace period comes from the lease | None statutorily required | 10 days (month-to-month, one of the shortest in the US) | Prohibited |
| Maine | 2 months' rent | 21–30 days | Capped at 4% of monthly rent; 15-day grace | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | Local ordinances only (Portland has it) |
| MarylandMd. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 (cap cut to 1 month by Ch. 124 of 2024, eff. Oct. 1, 2024) | 1 month's rent (since Oct. 1, 2024; up to 2 months only under the narrow § 8-203(b)(2) utility-assistance exception) | 45 days | Capped at 5% of the unpaid rent for the period (weekly tenancies: $3/week, max $12/month) | None statutory, but a failure-to-pay-rent case requires a written notice of intent to file and a 10-day cure window first (§ 8-401(c)(1)) | 24 hours' written notice, entry 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon–Sat (since Oct. 1, 2025) | 60 days' written notice (month-to-month, statewide); tenant may instead give 30 days' notice by parol outside Baltimore City | Local (Takoma Park, Mt. Rainier) |
| MassachusettsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B | 1 month's rent | 30 days | Cannot charge until rent is 30 days overdue | None statutory, no late fee or interest until rent is 30 days overdue (§ 15B(1)(c)), but a 14-day nonpayment notice to quit can issue immediately (§ 12) | None statutory, reasonable notice is practice, not law | 30 days or rental period (whichever is longer) | Prohibited statewide (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40P) |
| MichiganMich. Comp. Laws §§ 554.602, 554.609 | 1.5 months' rent | 30 days | No statutory cap, the lease sets it, subject to reasonableness | None statutory, the lease controls | None statutorily required (lease governs) | One month's notice (month-to-month) | Prohibited |
| MinnesotaMinn. Stat. § 504B.178 | No cap | 3 weeks (after tenancy ends + receipt of tenant's mailing address); 5 days if condemned | Capped at 8% of the overdue rent payment; only if a written agreement provides for it | None statutory, with a written agreement, a late fee may be imposed once rent is past the due date (§ 504B.177) | 24 hours (entry 8 a.m.–8 p.m.) | One rental period | Local (St. Paul has it) |
| MississippiMiss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 | No cap | 45 days | No statutory cap, enforceable only if in the written lease and reasonable | None statutory, the lease controls | None statutorily required | 30 days | Prohibited |
| MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 | 2 months' rent | 30 days | No statutory cap, must be reasonable and written into the lease | None statutory, the lease controls; nonpayment opens rent-and-possession remedies (§ 535.010) | None statutorily required, the lease governs entry | One month, to a rent-paying date (month-to-month); 60 days before the end of the lease year (year-to-year) | Prohibited statewide, state law also preempts local deposit caps |
| Montana | No cap | 10 days (no deductions) / 30 days (with deductions) | Reasonable | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | Prohibited |
| Nebraska | 1 month (+ 0.25 month for pets) | 14 days | Reasonable | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | Prohibited |
| NevadaNev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 | 3 months' rent | 30 days | Capped at 5% of periodic rent; no late fee until 3 calendar days after due date | 3 calendar days before any late fee, for tenancies longer than week-to-week (§ 118A.210(4)(a)); rent itself is still due on the agreed date | 24 hours | 30 days | Prohibited |
| New Hampshire | 1 month or $100 (whichever is greater) | 30 days | Reasonable | None stated | Reasonable notice | 30 days | Prohibited |
| New JerseyN.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26 (Rent Security Deposit Act) | 1.5 months' rent | 30 days | No statutory cap; 5-business-day grace for protected tenants (seniors on government pensions; SSDI/SSI/Work First NJ recipients) | None for most tenants, 5 business days for seniors on Social Security, railroad, or other government pensions and recipients of SSDI, SSI, or Work First NJ (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1, 6.3) | No statute, lease controls (1 day per DCA regs in 3+ unit buildings) | 30 days (limited by Anti-Eviction Act) | Local (Newark, Jersey City, many more) |
| New Mexico | 1 month (leases under 1 year) / no cap (leases of 1 year or more; interest owed on any amount over 1 month) | 30 days | Capped at 10% of monthly rent | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | Prohibited |
| New YorkN.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 (HSTPA 2019) | 1 month's rent | 14 days | Capped at $50 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is LESS; only after 5 days late | 5 days, mandatory before any late fee (RPL § 238-a) | Reasonable notice (no statutory period; AG guidance: ~1 week for repairs, 24 hours for inspections) | 30/60/90 days by occupancy length | Strong (NYC rent stabilization + statewide HSTPA) |
| North CarolinaN.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-50 to 42-52 (Tenant Security Deposit Act) | 1.5 months (month-to-month) / 2 months (longer) | 30 days (final accounting within 60 if deductions not final) | Capped at $15 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is greater; once per late payment | 5 days before a late fee may be charged (§ 42-46(a)) | None statutorily required | 2 days (week-to-week) / 7 days (month-to-month) | Prohibited |
| North Dakota | 1 month (2 in limited cases); pet deposit up to $2,500 or 2 months' rent, whichever is greater | 30 days | Reasonable | None stated | Reasonable notice | 30 days | Prohibited |
| OhioOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | No cap | 30 days (tenant must give a written forwarding address) | No statutory cap, must be in the lease and reasonable | None statutory, the lease controls | 24 hours (presumed reasonable) | 30 days | Prohibited at local level |
| Oklahoma41 O.S. § 115 (escrow account in an Oklahoma federally insured institution required) | No cap | 45 days (after tenancy ends, possession is delivered, and the tenant makes written demand) | Reasonable | None statutory, rent is due as the lease provides (§ 109); the 5-day nonpayment notice (§ 131) is a cure window, not a grace period | 1 day | 30 days | Prohibited |
| OregonORS 90.300 (no statutory cap; 31-day return with written accounting) | No explicit cap | 31 days | No fee until rent is 4+ days late; three permitted structures, reasonable flat fee, daily fee up to 6% of the flat fee, or 5% of rent per 5-day period | 4 days, a late charge may be imposed only if rent is not received by the fourth day of the rental period (ORS 90.260(1)(a)) | 24 hours (actual notice) | 30 days no-cause (first year only); after year 1, tenant cause or a qualifying landlord reason with 90 days' notice | Statewide cap, lesser of 10% or 7% + CPI (9.5% for 2026) |
| Pennsylvania68 P.S. §§ 250.511a–250.512 | 2 months (year 1) / 1 month (after year 1) | 30 days (after lease end + forwarding address) | No statewide cap, must be in the lease and reasonable (Philadelphia caps fees locally) | None statutory statewide (Philadelphia requires one locally) | None statutorily required (lease + quiet enjoyment govern) | 15 days (term ≤ 1 year / month-to-month) / 30 days (term > 1 year) | Prohibited |
| Rhode Island | 1 month's rent | 20 days | Reasonable; 15-day grace | None stated | 2 days | 30 days | Prohibited |
| South CarolinaS.C. Code § 27-40-410 (no cap; treble damages for wrongful withholding) | No cap | 30 days | Reasonable | None statutory, rent is due at the beginning of the month (§ 27-40-310); the 5-day nonpayment notice (§ 27-40-710(B)) is a cure window, not a grace period | 24 hours | 30 days | Prohibited |
| South Dakota | 1 month (more if negotiated) | 14–45 days | Reasonable | None stated | 24 hours | 1 month | Prohibited |
| TennesseeTenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (URLTA counties; no cap, dedicated deposit account required) | No cap | No fixed deadline, refund notice; unclaimed refunds forfeit after 60 days | Capped at 10% of rent overdue after 5-day grace (URLTA counties) | 5 days (URLTA counties), the due date counts as day one; extended to the next business day if day 5 falls on a Sunday or legal holiday (§ 66-28-201(d)) | No general notice requirement (URLTA); 24 hours for final-30-days showings | 30 days | Prohibited |
| TexasTex. Prop. Code § 92.101 et seq. | No cap | 30 days | Reasonable, in a written lease, after 2 full days late; safe harbor: 12% of rent (≤4 units) / 10% (>4 units) | 2 full days after the due date before any late fee (§ 92.019(a)) | None statutorily required | 30 days (or one rental period) | Prohibited |
| UtahUtah Code § 57-17-3 (30-day return and itemization; penalties § 57-17-5) | No cap | 30 days | Capped at the greater of 10% of the agreed rent or $75 | None statutory, rent is due on the lease date; the 3-business-day pay-or-vacate notice can be served as soon as rent is unpaid (§ 78B-6-802(1)(c)) | 24 hours (unless the rental agreement provides otherwise) | 15 days | Prohibited |
| Vermont | No statewide cap (Burlington caps at 1 month) | 14 days | Reasonable | None stated | 48 hours | Landlord, no cause: 60 days (90 after 2 years) without a written lease | None |
| VirginiaVa. Code § 55.1-1226 (VRLTA) | 2 months' rent | 45 days | Capped at the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due | None statutory, rent is due at the beginning of each month (§ 55.1-1204(D)); the nonpayment notice is currently 14 days (§ 55.1-1245(F)) | 72 hours (routine maintenance); reasonable notice otherwise | 30 days | None statewide; VRLTA supersedes local landlord-tenant ordinances (§ 55.1-1201(E)) |
| Washington | No statewide cap (Seattle caps at 1 month) | 30 days | Reasonable; 5-day grace for some localities | None stated | 48 hours (2 days entry / 24 showing) | 20 days (tenant) / just-cause only (landlord) | Statewide cap since May 2025 (HB 1217): 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less, per 12 months; Commerce publishes the yearly figure |
| West Virginia | No cap | 60 days | Reasonable | None stated | None statutorily required | 30 days | Prohibited |
| WisconsinWis. Stat. § 704.28 + Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 | No cap | 21 days | No cap, allowed only if specifically provided in the rental agreement | None statutory, rent is due on the lease date; a 5-day pay-or-vacate notice can follow immediately (§ 704.17) | 12 hours | 28 days | Prohibited |
| Wyoming | No cap | 30 days (60 if damage) | Reasonable | None stated | Reasonable notice | 30 days | Prohibited |
Canada (provinces and territories)
| Region | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Late fee rule | Grace period | Entry notice | Termination notice | Rent control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Last month's rent only (no damage deposit) | Applied to final month | Not permitted beyond NSF charges | None stated | 24 hours written | 60 days (month-to-month via N9/N11) | Yes (2026 guideline 2.1%, 2027 guideline 1.9%; units first occupied for residential purposes after Nov 15, 2018 are exempt) |
| Quebec | Prohibited (no deposit of any kind allowed) | N/A | Not permitted | None stated | 24 hours (between 9am–9pm) | 3–6 months before term for leases of 12+ months; 1–2 months for shorter or indefinite leases | Indirect (TAL fixes rent increases on request) |
| British Columbia | ½ month's rent (+ ½ month pet deposit) | 15 days after end of tenancy | Capped at $25 if in written agreement | None stated | 24 hours written | 1 month (tenant); landlord: 10 days (unpaid rent), 1 month (cause), 3 months (own or purchaser use), 4 months (demolition or conversion) | Yes (2.3% for 2026, 2.2% for 2027; 3 months' notice required) |
| Alberta | 1 month's rent | 10 days after tenancy ends | Must be in written lease; reasonable | None stated | 24 hours written | Monthly: 1 tenancy month (tenant), 3 tenancy months (landlord, only for reasons in the Act); a fixed term ends on its date | None (3 tenancy months' notice; once every 12 months) |
| Manitoba | ½ month's rent | 14 days | Limited by tenancy act | None stated | 24 hours written | 1 rental period | Yes (annual guideline; 3.0% for 2027; 3 months' notice) |
| Saskatchewan | 1 month's rent | 7 business days | Must be reasonable and in written lease | None stated | 24 hours written | 1 month (month-to-month) | No cap; 12 months' notice of an increase, none in the first 18 months, then once every 12 months |
| Nova Scotia | ½ month's rent | 10 days | Limited by RTA | None stated | 24 hours | 3 months (yearly) / 1 month (month-to-month) | Yes (5% cap, extended through Dec 2027) |
| New Brunswick | 1 week (weekly) / 1 month (monthly or longer) | Held by the tribunal; released after the tenancy ends | Must be in lease | None stated | 24 hours | 1 month (month-to-month) | Yes: increases capped at 3% since Feb 1, 2025 (landlord may apply to exceed); none in the first 12 months, then once per 12 months |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | ¾ month's rent (2 weeks' rent for weekly tenancies) | 10 days | Reasonable | None stated | 24 hours | 1 month | None |
| Prince Edward Island | 1 month's rent (1 week if rent is paid weekly) | 15 days (with interest) | Set by the Act and regulations | None stated | 24 hours | 2 months (yearly) / 1 month (month-to-month) | Yes (annual allowable increase set by the Director; by law no more than 3%) |
| Yukon | 1 month's rent | 15 days | Reasonable | None stated | 24 hours | 1 month | None |
| Northwest Territories | 1 month's rent | 10 days | Must be in lease | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | None |
| Nunavut | 1 month's rent | 10 days | Limited | None stated | 24 hours | 30 days | None |
Summaries of state and provincial law for general information, not legal advice. Cities and counties can add their own rules (Chicago, Seattle and Portland, for example), and statutes change. Check the linked statute or a local lawyer before relying on a figure.