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⚖️ Statutory Authority: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5; N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108; Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103; Fla. Stat. § 83.49; 765 ILCS 710/1; RCW 59.18.280; M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B · 🧮 Statutory Calculator

Security Deposit Return Deadline Calculator

Pick your state to see the date your landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, or compare seven states side by side. Each state's rule is calculated on its own.

1. Enter Your Case Details Runs in your browser

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2. Your result Live Output

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3. How the rule works

Who this is for

Renters who have moved out and are waiting for a deposit, and landlords who want to check they are sending the refund on time. It is most useful in the first few weeks after you hand back the keys, when you need to know whether the landlord is late yet or whether you should still wait.

The calculator covers seven states whose deadlines are set by a single statute. If your rental is somewhere else, the 'compare' view still shows how much the deadlines differ, which is a good reason to look up your own state's law rather than assume one of these applies.

What to have ready

The exact date you handed back the keys, and how you can prove it.
The amount of the deposit from your lease or the receipt you got when you paid it.
Any partial refund you have received, with the date it arrived.
A copy of the letter or email in which you gave your forwarding address.

The rule

There is no national deposit deadline in the United States. Each state sets its own clock, and the clocks start from different events. California (21 days) and New York (14 days) count from the day the tenant vacates. Texas gives the landlord 30 days from surrender, but the landlord does not have to act until the tenant has given a forwarding address in writing. Florida splits the deadline in two: 15 days to refund in full, or 30 days to send a certified-mail notice explaining any claim. Illinois requires an itemized statement within 30 days and, if none is sent, a full refund within 45 days, but only for buildings with five or more units. Washington and Massachusetts both use 30 days.

What happens when a landlord misses the deadline also differs. New York and Washington treat the late landlord as having lost the right to keep anything. Texas presumes bad faith. Massachusetts awards three times the amount owed. California lets a judge add up to twice the deposit only where the landlord acted in bad faith, and the California Supreme Court has held that missing the 21 days does not by itself erase the landlord's claim for real damage.

Read the official text:

Worked example: one move-out date, two states

Priya returned her keys on Monday, September 1, 2025, and had paid a $2,800 deposit. Nothing has come back. Day one of the count is the day after move-out.

New York:   Sept 1 + 14 days = Mon Sept 15, 2025
California: Sept 1 + 21 days = Mon Sept 22, 2025
Texas:      30 days from surrender = Wed Oct 1, 2025
            (only if Priya gave a written forwarding address)

If she rented in New York and receives nothing by Sept 15,
the landlord has forfeited the right to keep any of the $2,800.
If she rented in Texas and never gave a forwarding address,
the 30-day clock has not created any presumption against the landlord.

Common mistakes

Counting from the end of the lease instead of the day you actually moved out and handed back the keys. If you left early or stayed late, the move-out date is what counts.
Forgetting the forwarding address. In Texas the landlord has no duty to refund or itemize until you give one in writing; an email or text may be disputed, so a dated letter is safer.
Assuming a missed deadline means automatic double or triple damages everywhere. Most of the multipliers depend on bad faith or willfulness, which a judge decides.
Using a neighbouring state's rule. A tenant in New Jersey or Oregon is governed by that state's statute, not by any of the seven shown here.

Limits of this tool

The deadline varies by state, and some cities (for example Chicago) add their own rules on top. Check your state statute and any local ordinance.
The tool counts plain calendar days. Some states extend a deadline that lands on a weekend or holiday; when in doubt, treat the earlier calendar date as the safe date for the landlord and the later one as the safe date before you sue.
It does not decide whether specific deductions were lawful. Use the wear-and-tear and receipt tools for that.

Sources were last checked in October 2026. Statutes are amended often; if the official text differs from this page, the official text controls.

4. Clear Next Steps & Statutory Action Plan

Write down the date you returned the keys and keep proof, such as a dated key-return receipt, an email to the manager or a photo of the keys in the drop box.
Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing on or before move-out. In Texas this starts the landlord's duty; everywhere else it simply removes an excuse.
Choose your state above and note the deadline. If it passes without a refund or itemized list, send a short written demand that cites the statute and gives a reasonable date to pay.
If there is still no answer, small claims court is designed for this size of dispute. Bring the lease, move-out photos, your demand and proof of delivery.

5. Frequently Asked Statutory Questions (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5; N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108; Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103; Fla. Stat. § 83.49; 765 ILCS 710/1; RCW 59.18.280; M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B)

What happens if a California landlord misses the 21-day deadline?

The tenant can sue for the deposit, and if the landlord kept it in bad faith the court may add statutory damages of up to twice the deposit under Civil Code § 1950.5(m). In Granberry v. Islay Investments (1995) the California Supreme Court held that a landlord who misses the deadline can still prove and recover real damage in the same lawsuit, so the late landlord does not automatically lose every deduction.

Does a New York landlord who misses 14 days lose the whole deposit?

Yes. General Obligations Law § 7-108(1-a)(e) says a landlord who fails to send the itemized statement and the balance within 14 days forfeits any right to retain any portion of the deposit. Separately, a willful violation can lead to punitive damages of up to twice the deposit.

When does the Texas 30-day period start?

Section 92.103 counts 30 days from the date the tenant surrenders the premises, but § 92.107 says the landlord is not obligated to return the deposit or give a written description of deductions until the tenant provides a written forwarding address. Give the address in writing to make the deadline meaningful.