Before Tenants Hand Back The Keys, Check These 10 State Security Deposit Rules, Because Return Deadlines Can Differ By Weeks Depending On Where The Rental Sits

Handing back the keys feels like the finish line. You scrub the oven, patch the nail holes, and wait for the check that is supposed to follow. The catch is that the date that check is due depends heavily on the state where the rental sits.

Black and brown wooden doors line the entrance of a rental building.

Landlords in some places must return a deposit in two weeks. In others they get two full months. A tenant who moves from one state to another can easily assume the clock works the same way, and that assumption can cost patience and cash.

Here are 10 state deadlines drawn from the Nolo state-by-state deposit chart, which was updated in November 2023, and checked against a 2026 table from iPropertyManagement. Laws change, so always confirm with your state’s statute.

New York Landlords Face The Shortest Clock At 14 Days (Nolo, 2023)

Nolo’s chart lists New York at 14 days. The iPropertyManagement table for 2026 says the same, and adds that the clock starts when the tenant moves out.

That is one of the quickest turnarounds in the country. A tenant in New York who has not heard anything two weeks after leaving has a fair reason to start asking questions.

Hawaii Also Sets A 14 Day Deadline, And A Postmark Counts (iPropertyManagement, 2026)

Nolo’s 2023 chart puts Hawaii at 14 days. The 2026 iPropertyManagement table agrees and notes that a mailing postmarked by the deadline counts as compliant.

That detail matters for tenants watching the mailbox. A check that arrives a few days late may still be on time if the envelope carries the right date.

California Gives Landlords 21 Days After Move Out (Nolo, 2023)

Nolo lists California at 21 days, and iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table says the same, starting when the tenant moves out.

Three weeks is a common middle ground. It leaves time for a walk-through and repairs, but not so long that a tenant is left waiting for the next month’s rent money.

Wisconsin Sets 21 Days Too, With The Clock Starting At Move Out Or Eviction (iPropertyManagement, 2026)

Wisconsin is listed at 21 days on both Nolo’s 2023 chart and iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table. The newer source adds that the clock starts at move-out or eviction.

A tenant who leaves on the first of the month can mark a date three weeks later on the calendar and know when to follow up.

Minnesota Counts Three Weeks From The Day You Leave And Share An Address (Nolo, 2023)

Nolo’s chart describes Minnesota’s rule as 3 weeks after the tenant leaves and the landlord receives a forwarding address. iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table lists 21 days and notes that the clock starts when the lease ends and the tenant provides delivery instructions.

The lesson is simple. Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing, because in this state the countdown is tied to it.

Oregon Allows 31 Days, And Only 14 If The Unit Is Deemed Unsafe (iPropertyManagement, 2026)

Nolo’s 2023 chart lists Oregon at 31 days. iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table adds a shorter 14 days if the unit is deemed unsafe.

A month and a day is more than double New York’s window. Tenants who plan a move across state lines should not assume the same pace applies.

Texas Landlords Get 30 Days, But Nothing Is Owed Until You Give An Address (Nolo, 2023)

According to Nolo’s chart, Texas allows 30 days, and no refund is required until the tenant provides a forwarding address. The chart also says any advance-notice condition must appear in the lease in underlined or bold print.

iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table repeats the forwarding address rule. A tenant who skips that step can wait indefinitely for a refund that nobody is required to send.

Florida Splits Its Deadline Between 15 And 60 Days (Nolo, 2023)

Nolo describes Florida as 15 to 60 days, depending on whether the tenant disputes deductions. iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table gives 15 days without deductions and up to 60 days with them.

The same table explains that with deductions, the landlord sends a list and then has 30 days after sending it. In a worst-case timeline, a tenant could be waiting two months.

Maryland Allows 45 Days, Nearly Three Times New York’s Wait (Nolo, 2023)

Maryland is listed at 45 days on Nolo’s chart, and iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table shows the same, starting when the lease ends.

Forty-five days is a month and a half. Compare that with New York’s 14, and you can see how the difference stretches to a full month.

Alabama Sits At The Long End With 60 Days (Nolo, 2023)

Alabama is listed at 60 days after termination of tenancy and delivery of possession, according to Nolo’s chart. iPropertyManagement’s 2026 table also lists 60 days.

That is two months of waiting, and it is more than four times the 14 days in New York and Hawaii. A tenant counting on that money for a new apartment’s deposit may need a backup plan.

What can a tenant do with all this? Start by taking dated photos of the rental on move-out day, because they back up your side if deductions are claimed. Put your forwarding address in writing and keep a copy.

Then mark the deadline on a calendar based on your own state’s rule, not the state you moved from. Nolo’s chart and the iPropertyManagement table both point readers back to each state’s statute and local rules, because city or town laws may set shorter deadlines.

If the date passes with no check and no itemized list, a polite written reminder is a sensible next step. iPropertyManagement notes that missing the deadline can cause a landlord to forfeit the right to keep any part of the deposit or lead to financial penalties, depending on the state. A local legal aid office can explain what applies where you live.

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