General legal information for the United States, not legal advice. Read the disclaimer
Law Pebble
How is this page verified?Every figure on this page comes from a source listed on it: published 50-state surveys that we cross-check (a number appears only when at least two agree) or the official government page named under Sources. Local rules were read on the official page on 2026-10-20 and are re-checked on a schedule. Laws change, so confirm with the source before you act.How we verifyBy Law Pebble Editorial TeamData compiled 2026-10-20

How we calculate it

Each state's return period comes from our state data, with the statute cited in the result. The calculator counts forward from the date you enter. Rules written in days are counted as calendar days. A rule written in business days skips Saturdays and Sundays but not holidays, so the true date can be a day or two later. A rule written as a month moves to the same day of the next month, or the last day of that month when it is shorter. The counting is our arithmetic.

Where the clock can start somewhere else

  • Some states count from the day you move out, others from the end of the lease, and some only once the landlord has your forwarding address.
  • Many statutes let a lease set a longer period, up to a legal cap, so check your lease.
  • Some states require an itemized list of deductions by the same date, and missing it can cost the landlord the right to keep any of the deposit.
  • Pets, last month's rent and non-refundable fees can be treated differently from the deposit itself.

States we leave out

We do not have a clearly counted return period on file for Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington. For those, the calculator says so rather than guessing. Read the landlord and tenant statute for your state or ask a local tenant organization.

Worked examples (our calculation)

These use an invented move-out date of August 31, 2026. They are examples to show the method.

StateRuleMove-outReturn deadlineSource
Alabama60 daysAugust 31, 2026October 30, 2026§ 35-9A-201
Arizona14 business daysAugust 31, 2026September 18, 2026§ 33-1321
Louisiana1 monthAugust 31, 2026September 30, 2026§ 9:3251

If the date passes

Keep your forwarding address in writing, take dated photos at move-out and write down the date you handed back the keys. If the deadline passes with no deposit or itemized list, a demand letter and small claims case are the usual next steps, and our deposit deadline table shows every state. Security deposit rules for tenants explains deductions.

This tool gives general information and is not legal advice. Laws change, so confirm the rule for your situation with your state statute or a local tenant organization.