Landlord security deposit return letter
26 states citedItemize the deductions, get the refund math done, and cite your state's deadline — including how your state requires it to be sent, where it says.
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Also called a disposition letter, a transmittal, or a settlement statement
Depending on your state, your management company, or whoever trained you, the document below goes by security deposit disposition letter or disposition form, security deposit transmittal, security deposit settlement statement, plain security deposit statement, itemized statement of deductions, or — when you are keeping some of it — security deposit withholding letter. They are the same thing: a dated statement listing what you kept and why, what you are returning, and the arithmetic between the two. This makes that, under whichever name your paperwork uses.
If you are the tenant rather than the landlord and the letter never arrived, you want the security deposit demand letter instead — same statutes, opposite direction. Where the deposit earns interest, the deposit interest calculator works out what has accrued and prints the periods behind it.
Deposit return deadline by state
Every deadline below is tied to its statute and carries the date we last checked it. States we haven't verified are left out on purpose — the tool tells you to check your own statute rather than showing a number we can't stand behind.
| State | Deadline | Statute | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | within 14 business days of move-out | A.R.S. § 33-1321(D) | Jul 2026 |
| California | within 21 days of the tenant moving out | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 | Jul 2026 |
| Colorado | within one month, or up to 60 days if the lease allows | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103 | Jul 2026 |
| Connecticut | within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, or 15 days after receiving a written forwarding address, whichever is later | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) | Aug 2026 |
| Florida | within 15 days if no deductions, or 30 days after written notice of a claim | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 | Jul 2026 |
| Georgia | within one month of tenancy ending | O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34 | Jul 2026 |
| Illinois | generally within 30–45 days, depending on itemization and building size | 765 ILCS 710 | Jul 2026 |
| Indiana | within 45 days of tenancy ending | Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 | Jul 2026 |
| Kansas | within 30 days of tenancy ending | K.S.A. 58-2550 | Jul 2026 |
| Kentucky | generally 30–60 days depending on circumstances | KRS 383.580 | Jul 2026 |
| Maryland | within 45 days of tenancy ending | Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 | Jul 2026 |
| Massachusetts | within 30 days of tenancy ending | M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B | Jul 2026 |
| Michigan | within 30 days of move-out | MCL 554.609 | Jul 2026 |
| Minnesota | within 21 days of tenancy ending | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 | Jul 2026 |
| Montana | within 30 days (10 days if there are no deductions) | Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202 | Jul 2026 |
| Nevada | within 30 days of tenancy ending | NRS 118A.242 | Jul 2026 |
| New Hampshire | within 30 days of move-out | RSA 540-A:7 | Jul 2026 |
| New Jersey | within 30 days of move-out | N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 | Jul 2026 |
| New York | within 14 days of move-out | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 | Jul 2026 |
| Ohio | within 30 days of tenancy ending | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | Jul 2026 |
| Oregon | within 31 days of tenancy ending | ORS 90.300 | Jul 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | within 30 days of move-out | 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.512 | Jul 2026 |
| Texas | within 30 days of surrender, once a forwarding address is provided | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103 | Jul 2026 |
| Virginia | within 45 days of lease termination | Va. Code § 55.1-1226 | Jul 2026 |
| Washington | within 30 days of tenancy ending | RCW 59.18.280 | Jul 2026 |
| Wisconsin | within 21 days of tenancy ending | Wis. Stat. § 704.28 | Jul 2026 |
Questions
Do deductions have to be itemized?
In nearly every state, yes — an itemized statement within the state deadline (commonly 14–60 days). Missing it often forfeits the right to deduct anything. Pick your state in the tool and the letter cites the deadline where we have it verified.
Can I deduct normal wear and tear?
Generally no — deductions cover damage beyond normal wear, unpaid rent, and lease-permitted charges. Worn carpet and faded paint from ordinary living are usually the landlord's cost.
Where is my data stored?
On your device. Nothing reaches our servers unless you choose to email the letter — then only that letter is sent, to the address you enter.
Before and after this letter
Not sure what's legally chargeable? Prorate each deduction by useful life with the Security Deposit Deduction Calculator, then bring the numbers back here. For the next tenancy, document the unit before move-in with the Move-In Condition Report. Chasing unpaid rent instead? A dated Late Rent Notice makes deductions provable instead of arguable.
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Last reviewed July 2026. This free tool helps you prepare a deposit statement and is not legal advice — deadlines, interest, and deduction rules vary by state and change. Verify your state's current statute. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.