Last verified: October 12, 2026 · By StateWise Research Desk · 51 jurisdictions · Every limit below was checked against an official source — the state’s statute, attorney general, or housing authority.
Maximum security deposits landlords can charge, for all 50 states and the District of Columbia in one comparison table. 21 states set no statutory limit; where caps exist they run from one month’s rent to three.
Key takeaways
- 21 states have no statutory limit on security deposits.
- Among states with caps: 10 cap at 1 month’s rent, 3 at 1.5 months, 8 at 2 months, Nevada highest at 3 months.
- Colorado cut its cap from 2 months to 1 month effective Jan 1, 2026 — the only 2026 cap change.
- Some cities set stricter local caps (e.g. Chicago, Portland, Seattle).
In 2026, 21 states have no legal cap on security deposits. Where caps exist, most limit deposits to 1–2 months’ rent; Nevada allows up to 3 months.
Limits cross-checked against state statutes, attorneys general, and housing authorities.
| Effective | Next change | Notes & Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | Ala. Code 35-9A-201(a): max one month’s periodic rent; exceptions for pets or increased liability. alison.legislature.state.al.us |
| Alaska NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | AS 34.03.070(a); no cap if monthly rent > $2,000; separate pet deposit up to 1 month allowed. law.alaska.gov |
| Arizona NO CHANGE | 1.5 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | ARS 33-1321(A); cap includes prepaid rent. azleg.gov |
| Arkansas NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | Ark. Code 18-16-304: max two months’ periodic rent; applies to landlords renting six or more dwellings. arkansasag.gov |
| California NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | July 1, 2024 | Not announced | AB 12 (2023); Cal. Civil Code 1950.5(c); small landlords (natural person, ≤2 properties/≤4 units) may charge up to 2 months. sf.gov |
| Colorado CHANGED JAN 1 | 1 month’s rent | January 1, 2026 | Not announced | HB25-1249 (2025); reduced from 2 months; 6-installment option. leg.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent (under age 62); 1 month’s rent (age 62+) | Long-standing | Not announced | CGS 47a-21(b): 2 months under 62; 1 month for tenants 62+. cga.ct.gov |
| Delaware NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | 25 Del.C. 5514(a) — applies to leases of 1+ year. legis.delaware.gov |
| District of Columbia NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | 14 DCMR 308.2; deposit charged only once. dcregs.dc.gov |
| Florida NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | Fla. Stat. 83.49 governs holding/return only — no amount cap. fdacs.gov |
| Georgia NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | O.C.G.A. 44-7-30 to -37 cover escrow/return only — no maximum stated. gordoncountyga.gov |
| Hawaii NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | HRS 521-44(b); additional pet deposit up to 1 month allowed. home.army.mil |
| Idaho NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | Idaho Code 6-321 governs return/deductions only, no maximum. legislature.idaho.gov |
| Illinois NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | AG tenant guide: ‘there is no legal limit on the amount your landlord can require.’ illinoisattorneygeneral.gov |
| Indiana NO STATE LAW | — | — | Not announced | No statutory limit — IC 32-31-3-12 regulates only return/deductions and sets no cap; no official Indiana .gov page explicitly stating the no-cap rule was located. |
| Iowa NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | Iowa Code 562A.12(1): max two months’ rent. legis.iowa.gov |
| Kansas NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent (unfurnished); 1.5 months (furnished) | Long-standing | Not announced | KSA 58-2550(a); pet deposit up to 1/2 month when pets permitted. kslegislature.org |
| Kentucky NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | KRS 383.580 governs escrow/return; no maximum amount set. apps.legislature.ky.gov |
| Louisiana NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | La. R.S. 9:3251-3254 set return/itemization rules with no cap. legis.la.gov |
| Maine NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | 14 MRSA 6032: max two months’ rent. legislature.maine.gov |
| Maryland NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | Md. Real Property 8-203(b)(1) — cap is per dwelling unit. mgaleg.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | MGL c.186 15B(1)(b)(iii): ‘a security deposit equal to the first month’s rent.’ malegislature.gov |
| Michigan NO CHANGE | 1.5 months’ rent | Apr 1, 1973 | Not announced | MCL 554.602 (Act 348 of 1972): max 1 1/2 months’ rent; covers combined deposits incl. pet deposits. legislature.mi.gov |
| Minnesota NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | MN AG guide: ‘Minnesota law does not limit the amount a landlord may require as a security deposit.’ lrl.mn.gov |
| Mississippi NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | Miss. Code 89-8-21 governs deposits and sets no maximum. opendocs.com |
| Missouri NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | RSMo 535.300(1): max two months’ rent. revisor.mo.gov |
| Montana NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | MCA Title 70, Ch. 25 governs deductions/return only, no maximum. mca.legmt.gov |
| Nebraska NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1416(1): max 1 month’s periodic rent; pet deposit max 1/4 month. nebraskalegislature.gov |
| Nevada NO CHANGE | 3 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | NRS 118A.242(1); cap covers deposit + surety bond + last month’s rent combined. leg.state.nv.us |
| New Hampshire NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater | Long-standing | Not announced | RSA 540-A:6, I(a): max one month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater. gc.nh.gov |
| New Jersey NO CHANGE | 1.5 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | NJSA 46:8-21.2: max 1 1/2 times one month’s rental. nj.gov |
| New Mexico NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent (leases < 1 year); no cap for 1-year+ leases | Long-standing | Not announced | NMSA 47-8-18(A); <1 yr: max 1 mo rent; annual: no cap but interest owed on amount >1 mo rent. nmlegis.gov |
| New York NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | since 2019 (HSTPA) | Not announced | GOL 7-108(1-a)(a): no deposit shall exceed one month’s rent, statewide. nysenate.gov |
| North Carolina NO CHANGE | 2 weeks’–2 months’ rent (tiered by tenancy) | Long-standing | Not announced | NCGS 42-51(b): max 2 weeks (week-to-week), 1.5 months (month-to-month), 2 months (longer terms). ncrec.gov |
| North Dakota NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | NDCC 47-16-07.1: 1 month general cap; up to 2 months if tenant has a felony conviction or prior rental-violation judgment. ndlegis.gov |
| Ohio NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | ORC 5321.16 sets no maximum; requires 5% annual interest on large deposits held 6+ months. codes.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | 41 O.S. 115: escrow, 45-day return, itemization; no maximum set. oklegislature.gov |
| Oregon NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | ORS 90.300; no statewide cap; Portland local cap = 1 mo rent. olis.oregonlegislature.gov |
| Pennsylvania NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent in year 1; 1 month’s rent thereafter | Long-standing | Not announced | 68 P.S. 250.511a(a)-(b): max 2 months first year; 1 month from second year. attorneygeneral.gov |
| Rhode Island NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | RIGL 34-18-19(a): max one month’s periodic rent. rilegislature.gov |
| South Carolina NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | S.C. Code 27-40-410 governs return/itemization only — no amount cap. scstatehouse.gov |
| South Dakota NO CHANGE | 1 month’s rent | Long-standing | Not announced | SDCL 43-32-6.1: cap of 1 month’s rent; larger deposit may be agreed where special conditions pose danger to premises. sdlegislature.gov |
| Tennessee NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | TCA 66-28-301 sets deposit-account/return rules with no maximum. capitol.tn.gov |
| Texas NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | Tex. Prop. Code 92.101-92.110: return/itemization rules only; no section caps the amount. guides.sll.texas.gov |
| Utah NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | Utah Code 57-17-1 to 57-17-5; no cap provision. le.utah.gov |
| Vermont NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | 9 V.S.A. 4461 contains no statewide amount cap; 2026 H.772 (2-month cap) did not become law. legislature.vermont.gov |
| Virginia NO CHANGE | 2 months’ rent | Long-standing | Not announced | Va. Code 55.1-1226(A) — two months’ periodic rent; returned with itemization within 45 days. law.lis.virginia.gov |
| Washington NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | RCW 59.18.260-.280; no statewide cap; Seattle local cap = 1 month’s rent. atg.wa.gov |
| West Virginia NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | W. Va. Code 37-6A-2 governs return/deductions only, no amount cap. code.wvlegislature.gov |
| Wisconsin NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | DATCP guide: rules ‘do not set any limit on the maximum amount of the deposit.’ Return within 21 days. datcp.wi.gov |
| Wyoming NO STATE LAW | No statutory limit | — | Not announced | WS 1-21-1207 to 1-21-1211; deposit rules cover deductions/return only, no maximum. wyoleg.gov |
51 jurisdictions
What "no statutory limit" means
In 21 states, no state law caps the deposit — but your lease still governs, and some cities (Chicago, Portland, Seattle) impose their own local caps. Always check local ordinances as well as state law.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common security deposit limit?
One month's rent — 10 states cap deposits there. Eight states allow two months.
Can a landlord charge a separate pet deposit?
Some states allow it (Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Michigan covers pets in the main deposit) — see the state notes.
What if my state has no limit?
The lease controls, but deposits must still be reasonable and are subject to state rules on holding and return timelines.
Methodology
On October 12, 2026, every limit above was read from the state's statute, attorney general tenant guide, or housing authority. Where no official source confirmed a rule, the cell shows "—" rather than a guess.
Changelog
- October 12, 2026: Page published — 2026 security deposit limits for all 50 states + D.C. Colorado HB25-1249 cut the cap from 2 months to 1 month effective Jan 1, 2026.
This page is general reference information, not legal advice. Local ordinances may set stricter caps. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy.