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State Laws on Security Deposit Limits

by Nolo.com
From the Nolo.com Landlords & Tenants Center

Learn how much security deposit a landlord can charge in your state.

Here's the limit each state sets on the amount of security deposit landlords can charge. "No statutory limit" means that the state does not specify the amount landlords can charge. For the specific law in your state, see your state's landlord-tenant statutes. Also, be sure to check local rent control or rent regulation rules for any deposit limits.

StateLimit
AlabamaNo statutory limit
AlaskaTwo months' rent, except where rent exceeds $2,000 per month
ArizonaOne and one-half months' rent (unless tenant voluntarily agrees to pay more)
ArkansasTwo months' rent
CaliforniaTwo months' rent (unfurnished, no waterbed); two and one-half months' rent (unfurnished, tenant has waterbed); three months' rent -(furnished, no waterbed); three and one-half months' rent (furnished, tenant has waterbed)
ColoradoNo statutory limit
ConnecticutTwo months' rent (tenant under 62 years of age); one month's rent (tenant 62 years of age or older)
DelawareOne month's rent on leases for one year or more; no limit for month-to-month rental agreements
District of ColumbiaOne month's rent
FloridaNo statutory limit
GeorgiaNo statutory limit
HawaiiOne month's rent
Idaho No statutory limit
IllinoisNo statutory limit
IndianaNo statutory limit
IowaTwo months' rent
KansasOne month's rent (unfurnished, no pets); one and one-half months' rent (unfurnished with pets or furnished with no pets)
KentuckyNo statutory limit
Louisiana30 days' rent
MaineTwo months' rent
MarylandTwo months' rent or $50, whichever is greater
MassachusettsTwo months' rent
MichiganOne and one-half months' rent
MinnesotaNo statutory limit
MississippiNo statutory limit
MissouriTwo months' rent
MontanaNo statutory limit
NebraskaOne month's rent (no pets); one and one-quarter months' rent (pets)
NevadaThree months' rent
New HampshireOne month's rent or $100, whichever is greater
New JerseyOne and one-half month's rent
New MexicoOne month's rent (for rental agreement less than one year); no limit for leases of one year or more
New YorkNo statutory limit
North CarolinaOne and one-half months' rent for month-to-month rental agreements; two months' rent if term is longer than two months
North DakotaOne month's rent (or $1,500 if tenant has a pet)
OhioNo statutory limit
OklahomaNo statutory limit
OregonNo statutory limit
PennsylvaniaTwo months' rent for first year of renting; one month's rent during the second and subsequent years of renting
Rhode IslandOne month's rent
South CarolinaNo statutory limit
South DakotaOne month's rent (higher deposit may be charged if special conditions pose a danger to maintenance of the premises)
TennesseeNo statutory limit
TexasNo statutory limit
UtahNo statutory limit
VermontNo statutory limit
VirginiaTwo months' rent
WashingtonNo statutory limit
West VirginiaNo statutory limit
WisconsinNo statutory limit
WyomingNo statutory limit
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