U.S. states covered · USPS Certified Mail · From $49.99
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Security Deposit Deadline Calculator

Tell us your state and move-out date. We'll tell you whether your landlord's statutory window to return the deposit (or send written itemization) has passed — and what that means for your case.

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Why deadlines matter

Forty-seven U.S. states impose a hard statutory deadline on landlords. Within that deadline — typically 14 to 60 days after move-out — the landlord must either return the deposit in full or send you a written, itemized list of any deductions they're claiming. That's the rule, and it's not optional.

Miss the deadline, and most states impose real consequences. Common ones:

  • Forfeiture of the right to deduct. The landlord loses the legal basis to keep any portion of the deposit, even for legitimate damages. The full deposit becomes recoverable.
  • Statutory damages. Some states (Massachusetts, Oregon, others) add a 2x or 3x multiplier on top of the deposit when the landlord acted in bad faith.
  • Attorney's fees. Many states allow the prevailing tenant in a deposit lawsuit to recover their attorney's fees and court costs from the landlord.
  • Loss of standing in court. A landlord who missed the deadline starts any subsequent dispute in a much weaker position.

That's the leverage. The hard part is making your landlord understand they're past the deadline — which is what a certified demand letter does.

How the calculator works

The calculator uses a database of state-specific deadline rules. Each entry is sourced from the state's official landlord-tenant statute. When you enter your state and move-out date, the tool:

  1. Looks up your state's rule (e.g., Florida: 30 days after move-out for itemization);
  2. Adds the appropriate number of days to your move-out date to compute the deadline;
  3. Compares that deadline to today's date;
  4. Reports whether you're inside the window, on the deadline, or past it — and by how many days.

The result links you to your state's full rules page (deadline text, statutory remedies, citation, source URL) and, if you're past the deadline, to start a case.

What the calculator doesn't do

Three things to be clear about:

  1. It's not legal advice. The calculator tells you whether the statutory window has closed. It doesn't tell you whether your landlord's deductions were legitimate, whether your case is strong, or what you might recover. Those are case-specific judgments.
  2. It assumes a standard move-out trigger. A few states start the clock from the date you provide a forwarding address, not the date you moved out. If your situation is unusual (eviction, lease break, no forwarding address provided), the calculator may not capture the right trigger date.
  3. It uses calendar days. Most states use calendar days; a few use business days. If a deadline lands on a weekend or holiday, most states extend to the next business day. The calculator errs on the side of "deadline passed" so you don't act early.

What to do if you're past the deadline

The next step is a certified demand letter. This is the procedural step that landlords (and courts) recognize as the formal pre-suit demand. Done right, it does three things:

  1. Cites the specific statute. Not "tenant law" — the exact section and verbatim text that applies in your state. Landlords' attorneys recognize the citation immediately.
  2. Computes the deadline you've already missed. Specific dates are harder to slow-walk than vague "by the end of the month" language.
  3. Sends via USPS Certified Mail with delivery proof. The signed receipt forecloses "I never got it" as a defense and becomes evidence if you escalate to small-claims court.

We do all three for $49.99. Start a case or read more about how it works.

How accurate is this?

Our state-law database is updated quarterly against the official state legislature sources we cite on each state page. State statutes do change — typically every legislative session — so the values reflect the most recent review. If your case is close to a deadline edge, click through to your state page to see the exact statutory text and the date our data was last reviewed by an attorney in your state.

We're a self-help software platform, not a law firm. If accuracy is critical to your specific situation, confirm against your state's statute directly — every state page links to the official source.

State deadlines at a glance

Click your state for the full deadline rule, statutory citation, damages framework, and demand-letter starting point:

Alabama 60 days Alaska 14-30 days Arizona 14 days Arkansas 60 days California 21 days Colorado 30-60 days Connecticut 30 days Delaware 20 days DC 45 days Florida 15-30 days Georgia 30 days Hawaii 14 days Idaho 21-30 days Illinois 30-45 days Indiana 45 days Iowa 30 days Kansas 30 days Kentucky 30-60 days Louisiana 30 days Maine 21-30 days Maryland 45 days Massachusetts 30 days Michigan 30 days Minnesota 21 days Mississippi 45 days Missouri 30 days Montana 10-30 days Nebraska 14 days Nevada 30 days New Hampshire 30 days New Jersey 30 days New Mexico 30 days New York 14 days North Carolina 30 days North Dakota 30 days Ohio 30 days Oklahoma 45 days Oregon 31 days Pennsylvania 30 days Rhode Island 20 days South Carolina 30 days South Dakota 14 days Tennessee 30-60 days Texas 30 days Utah 30 days Vermont 14 days Virginia 45 days Washington 30 days West Virginia 45-60 days Wisconsin 21 days Wyoming 30 days

Frequently asked questions

Is this calculator free? +

Yes, completely. No signup, no email collection. The calculator is built directly into this page and runs in your browser.

How does the calculator know my state's deadline? +

Every U.S. state has a statutory deadline written into its landlord-tenant statute. We track the relevant deadline for each state and update the data quarterly when statutes are amended. The calculator pulls from that database.

What does 'past the deadline' actually mean for my case? +

If your landlord missed the statutory deadline to return the deposit (or send written itemization), most states impose real consequences — typically forfeiture of the right to claim deductions, the full deposit recoverable, and in many states attorney's fees and additional damages on top. The exact remedy varies by state. Click your state link below to see the specifics.

Does the calculator account for weekends and holidays? +

It uses calendar days as the default, which is what most states use anyway. A few states use business days; if a deadline lands on a weekend, most states extend to the next business day (which works in your favor). The calculator errs on the side of 'deadline already passed' so you don't act prematurely.

What if I provided a forwarding address late, or never? +

A handful of states start the deposit-return clock when the tenant provides a forwarding address rather than at move-out. If you didn't provide one, the deadline may not have started running. The calculator assumes a standard move-out trigger; check your state's page for the specific rule.

Is this legal advice? +

No. This is a free informational tool. The calculator tells you whether the statutory window has closed; it doesn't tell you whether your landlord's deductions are legitimate, what you might recover, or whether your specific case is strong. We're not a law firm. See our disclaimer.