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West Virginia: 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 depositNo state limit
Deadline to return it60 days, or 45 days after a new tenant moves in

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 West Virginia.

How West Virginia compares

21 of 51 states and DC share this answer (No state limit): Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

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 West Virginia: Claim deadlines in West Virginia · Small claims limits in West Virginia · Property division in West Virginia · Dog bite rules in West Virginia · Shared fault rules in West Virginia · Eviction notice rules in West Virginia · Property tax rates in West Virginia · All West Virginia 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.