Ohio Security Deposit Return Law & Letter
In Ohio, the deposit and an itemized statement are generally due within 30 days of tenancy ending (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16). Build the letter below — deductions listed line by line and the refund math done.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 — the deadline to return the deposit and send the itemized statement
Ohio provides for the deposit’s return within 30 days of tenancy ending (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16). 30 days sits mid-range: 6 of the 26 states verified here are shorter, 6 are longer.
| Tenancy ends | Letter must be sent by |
|---|---|
| January 31, 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
| April 15, 2026 | May 15, 2026 |
| July 31, 2026 | August 30, 2026 |
| November 30, 2026 | December 30, 2026 |
What the Ohio letter has to contain
- Every deduction on its own line. Ohio requires an itemized statement rather than a lump sum (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16).
- The arithmetic, shown. Deposit held, each deduction, and the balance refunded or still owed — so nothing has to be taken on trust.
- Where the refund went. The forwarding address you sent it to, and how.
Proving you sent it in time
The deadline is about when the letter left, and in a dispute that is the fact in question. Email gives you a timestamp for nothing; certified mail gives you a receipt. Either beats posting it second class and hoping. Whatever you use, keep the copy you sent — a Ohio deadline you met but cannot evidence is not much better than one you missed.
Working out what you can defensibly deduct is a separate job from writing the letter — that lives on the Ohio deduction page, which prorates each item by its remaining useful life.
Other states: Oregon · Pennsylvania · Texas · All states
Ohio rule last checked 2026-07-23 against Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16. General information, not legal advice — verify the current statute before you rely on it.
Everything else we’ve researched about Ohio
Same state, the problems either side of this one. Each carries its own statute and the date we last checked it.