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District of Columbia: security deposit rules

The most a landlord can charge as a security deposit, and how long they have to return it after you move out.

Single detailed source
Maximum deposit1 month's rent
Deadline to return it45 days to refund or give notice of withholding

Landlords may usually deduct only unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. Many states let you recover two or three times the amount wrongly kept. Cities can set stricter rules.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Exceptions can apply. Confirm with the state agency, the court or a licensed professional in District of Columbia.

How District of Columbia compares

11 of 51 states and DC share this answer (1 month's rent): Alabama, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota.

Alaska: 2 months' rent (no cap if rent is over $2,000)AKMaine: 2 months' rentMEVermont: No state limitVTNew Hampshire: 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is greaterNHWashington: No state limitWAIdaho: No state limitIDMontana: No state limitMTNorth Dakota: 1 month's rent (2 in limited cases), plus pet depositNDMinnesota: No state limitMNIllinois: No state limitILWisconsin: No state limitWIMichigan: 1.5 months' rentMINew York: 1 month's rentNYRhode Island: 1 month's rentRIMassachusetts: 1 month's rentMAOregon: No state limitORNevada: 3 months' rentNVWyoming: No state limitWYSouth Dakota: 1 month's rentSDIowa: 2 months' rentIAIndiana: No state limitINOhio: No state limitOHPennsylvania: 2 months' rent in year one, 1 month afterPANew Jersey: 1.5 months' rentNJConnecticut: 2 months' rent (1 month if tenant is 62+)CTCalifornia: 1 month's rent (2 months for some small landlords)CAUtah: No state limitUTColorado: 2 months' rentCONebraska: 1 month's rent, plus up to 0.25 month pet depositNEMissouri: 2 months' rentMOKentucky: No state limitKYWest Virginia: No state limitWVVirginia: 2 months' rentVAMaryland: 1 month's rentMDDelaware: 1 month's rent for leases of a year or moreDEArizona: 1.5 months' rentAZNew Mexico: 1 month's rent for leases under a yearNMKansas: 1 month unfurnished, 1.5 months furnished, plus up to 0.5 month for petsKSArkansas: 2 months' rentARTennessee: No state limitTNNorth Carolina: 2 weeks (week-to-week), 1.5 months (month-to-month), 2 months (longer leases)NCSouth Carolina: No state limitSCDistrict of Columbia: 1 month's rentDCOklahoma: No state limitOKLouisiana: No state limitLAMississippi: No state limitMSAlabama: 1 month's rent (more allowed for pets, alterations or added risk)ALGeorgia: 2 months' rent (leases from July 1, 2024)GAHawaii: 1 month's rent, plus a pet deposit up to 1 more monthHITexas: No state limitTXFlorida: No state limitFL
  • 1 month's rent (11)
  • 2 months' rent (9)
  • 1.5 months' rent (3)
  • No state limit / other (28)

Also for District of Columbia: Claim deadlines in District of Columbia · Small claims limits in District of Columbia · Property division in District of Columbia · Dog bite rules in District of Columbia · Shared fault rules in District of Columbia · Eviction notice rules in District of Columbia · Property tax rates in District of Columbia · All District of Columbia rules on one page

How we checked this

Limits and deadlines come from a 50-state table checked against state statutes in October 2026, compared with a second statute-based table from March 2026. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.