Leyes de depósito de seguridad por estado
Los límites del depósito de seguridad los fija cada estado, no la ley federal. De las 51 jurisdicciones de EE. UU. (los 50 estados más Washington, D.C.), 30 limitan el depósito —comúnmente a uno o dos meses de renta—, mientras que 21 no fijan ningún tope legal ("No statutory limit"). 14 exigen que el arrendador pague intereses sobre el dinero retenido. Los plazos de devolución suelen ir de 10 a 60 días.
La tabla siguiente muestra, para cada estado, el depósito máximo, el plazo de devolución, si se exigen intereses y la penalización por una devolución tardía o indebida; cada valor procede del estatuto de ese estado.
Última actualización · Verificado con el publicador oficial del estatuto de cada estado
Información general de Honestkey™, traducida de nuestro contenido verificado en inglés. No es asesoría legal. Los montos, plazos y citas de estatutos se muestran exactamente como los fija cada estado (en su texto original en inglés).
Reglas de depósito de seguridad en los 50 estados, D.C. y territorios
El nombre de cada estado enlaza a su guía completa de derechos del inquilino. Los valores se muestran exactamente como los fija el estatuto de cada estado.
| Estado | Depósito máximo | Plazo de devolución | ¿Interés obligatorio? | Penalización por retención indebida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month's rent (exceptions for pets, alterations, or increased liability; § 35-9A-201) | 60 days | No obligatorio | If the landlord fails to mail a timely refund or itemized accounting within 60 days, the landlord must pay the tenant double the amount of the tenant's original deposit (§ 35-9A-201(f)). |
| Alaska | 2 months' rent (no statutory limit if rent exceeds $2,000/month) | 14 days (proper termination notice given and no damage deductions); 30 days if damages are deducted or tenant gave no proper notice | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover up to double the deposit amount. |
| American Samoa | 1 month's rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover deposit through High Court of American Samoa under A.S.C.A. tit. 37. Limited specific landlord-tenant statutes; general contract principles apply. |
| Arizona | 1.5 months' rent | 14 business days | No obligatorio | Landlord who wrongfully withholds may owe up to double the deposit amount. |
| Arkansas | 2 months' rent (subchapter applies only where the landlord — counting units owned individually or collectively with spouse, minor children, and entities they control — owns 6 or more dwelling units; landlords with 5 or fewer units are exempt UNLESS the units are managed, including rent collection, by a paid third party; Ark. Code §§ 18-16-303, 18-16-304) | 60 days (same applicability: exempts landlords owning 5 or fewer dwelling units unless a paid third party manages/collects rent; Ark. Code §§ 18-16-303, 18-16-305) | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover the property and money due, damages equal to two (2) times the amount wrongfully withheld, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees (Ark. Code § 18-16-306). Liability is limited to costs plus the sum erroneously withheld if the landlord proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the noncompliance resulted from an error despite procedures reasonably designed to avoid it, or from a good-faith dispute as to the amount due. |
| California | 1 month's rent (2 months for small landlords with ≤2 properties/≤4 units; AB 12, July 2024) | 21 days | No obligatorioSome local jurisdictions (e.g., San Francisco, Los Angeles, West Hollywood) require interest payments. | Tenant may sue for up to twice the deposit amount in bad faith cases, plus actual damages. |
| Colorado | 2 months' rent (C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5, effective Aug 7, 2023) | 30 days (unless lease specifies up to 60 days) | No obligatorio | Landlord may owe up to triple the wrongfully withheld amount. |
| Connecticut | 2 months' rent (1 month for tenants 62+) | 21 days after termination, or 15 days after the tenant provides a forwarding address, whichever is later | ObligatorioAnnual interest required at a rate equal to the average rate on savings accounts at commercial banks. | Landlord may owe double the deposit amount if not returned within deadline. |
| Delaware | 1 month's rent (no limit for month-to-month leases) | 20 days | No obligatorio | Landlord forfeits the right to withhold any portion plus may owe double the amount withheld. |
| District of Columbia | 1 month's rent | 45 days | ObligatorioInterest required at the prevailing passbook savings rate. | Landlord may owe triple the deposit amount plus attorney fees. |
| Florida | No statutory limit | 15 days (no deductions) or 30 days (with deductions and itemized notice) | ObligatorioLandlord must either hold deposit in a separate non-interest-bearing account, OR in an interest-bearing account paying tenant at least 75% of the annualized average rate or 5% simple interest per year, whichever the landlord elects; alternatively the landlord may post a surety bond and pay tenant 5% simple interest per year. Interest must be paid or credited at least annually (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(1)(b), (1)(c), (9)). | Landlord who fails to give timely notice of deductions forfeits the right to make a claim. |
| Georgia | 2 months' rent (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1, effective July 1, 2024, for residential leases entered into or renewed on or after that date) | 30 days | No obligatorio | Landlord may be liable for up to three times the deposit amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney fees. |
| Guam | 1 month's rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover deposit through Superior Court of Guam under 21 Guam Code Ann. § 42101 et seq. Federal Fair Housing Act protections also apply. |
| Hawaii | 1 month's rent (or 1 month's rent as security deposit plus an additional 1 month for pet deposit) | 14 days | No obligatorio | Landlord who wrongfully retains deposit may owe up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld. |
| Idaho | No statutory limit | 21 days (or up to 30 if specified in lease) | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover up to three times the deposit if landlord acts in bad faith. |
| Illinois | No statutory limit | 45 days for full return; if withholding for damage, landlord must furnish an itemized statement of damages (with paid receipts) within 30 days of the tenant vacating the premises, or within 30 days of the end of the tenant's right of possession, whichever is later (765 ILCS 710/1, buildings with 5+ units). | ObligatorioRequired for properties with 25+ units in some local ordinances; Chicago requires interest on all deposits. | Tenant may recover up to double the deposit amount plus attorney fees (varies by local ordinance). |
| Indiana | No statutory limit | 45 days | No obligatorio | Landlord who fails to return deposit or provide itemized statement may owe full deposit amount plus attorney fees. |
| Iowa | 2 months' rent | 30 days | No obligatorioInterest-bearing accounts are permitted but not required (Iowa Code 562A.12(2)). Any interest earned on a rental deposit during the first 5 years of a tenancy is the landlord's property; interest earned after the first 5 years of the same tenancy accrues to the tenant. | Failure to provide the required written statement within 30 days forfeits all rights to withhold any portion of the deposit (Iowa Code § 562A.12(4)); bad-faith retention subjects the landlord to punitive damages not to exceed twice the monthly rental payment, in addition to actual damages (§ 562A.12(7)). |
| Kansas | 1 month's rent (unfurnished); 1.5 months' rent (furnished) | 30 days | No obligatorio | Landlord may owe 1.5 times the wrongfully withheld amount. |
| Kentucky | No statutory limit | No fixed statutory deadline (KRS 383.580): itemized list required; landlord may apply the deposit to a rent debt after 30 days if the tenant does not demand it, or keep an unclaimed refund after 60 days if the tenant cannot be reached | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover the full deposit plus damages of the deposit amount if landlord acts in bad faith. |
| Louisiana | No statutory limit | 30 days | No obligatorio | Willful failure to return the deposit lets the tenant recover the portion wrongfully retained plus $300 or twice the amount wrongfully retained, whichever is greater (La. R.S. 9:3252). Failure to remit within 30 days after written demand for a refund constitutes willful failure. |
| Maine | 2 months' rent | 30 days for written leases; 21 days for tenancy-at-will | No obligatorio | Landlord who wrongfully withholds may owe double the amount withheld. |
| Maryland | 1 month's rent (effective Oct. 1, 2024; pre-Oct-2024 leases keep the prior 2-month cap, and a 2-month deposit is allowed only under the narrow DHS-utility-assistance exception) | 45 days | ObligatorioLandlord must pay simple interest at the greater of the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for 1 year (as of the first business day of each year) or 1.5% per year, on security deposits of $50 or more held for at least 6 months (MD Real Property § 8-203(e)(1)). Interest accrues at monthly intervals from the day the tenant gives the landlord the security deposit and is not compounded. | Landlord may owe up to three times the deposit amount plus attorney fees. |
| Massachusetts | 1 month's rent | 30 days | ObligatorioAnnual interest at 5% or the actual bank rate, whichever is less, paid annually or deducted from rent. | Landlord may owe triple the deposit amount plus 5% interest, court costs, and attorney fees. |
| Michigan | 1.5 months' rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Landlord may owe double the amount wrongfully withheld. |
| Minnesota | No statutory limit | 21 days (with deductions) or 3 weeks (no deductions) | ObligatorioSimple noncompounded interest at 1% per annum, computed from the first day of the next month following full payment of the deposit until the landlord returns it; interest amounts less than $1 are excluded. | Tenant may recover up to double the deposit amount if landlord acts in bad faith. |
| Mississippi | No statutory limit | 45 days | No obligatorio | Bad-faith retention of the deposit may subject the landlord to actual damages plus statutory damages not to exceed $200 (Miss. Code § 89-8-21(4)). The deposit balance must be returned within 45 days of the tenant vacating. |
| Missouri | 2 months' rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Landlord who wrongfully withholds may owe up to double the amount withheld. |
| Montana | No statutory limit (but must be reasonable based on potential damage) | 10 days (if no deductions); 30 days (if deductions made) | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover full deposit amount if landlord fails to return or provide itemized list. |
| Nebraska | 1 month's rent (no pets); 1.25 months' rent (with pets) | 14 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover the full deposit if landlord fails to provide itemized statement within 14 days. |
| Nevada | 3 months' rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover damages equal to the entire deposit, plus an additional court-fixed sum of up to the entire deposit amount (up to 2x the deposit total), if the landlord fails to return it within 30 days. |
| New Hampshire | 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is greater | 30 days | ObligatorioInterest must be paid when the deposit is held for 1 year or longer, at the rate paid on regular savings accounts at the New Hampshire bank, savings and loan association, or credit union where the deposit is held (RSA 540-A:6, IV). A tenant may request accrued interest every 3 years. | Landlord may owe double the deposit amount. |
| New Jersey | 1.5 months' rent | 30 days after lease termination (5 business days if the tenant is displaced by fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation; 15 business days if the lease terminates under the Safe Housing Act, N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.6, for domestic violence) | ObligatorioAnnual interest required; must be held in an interest-bearing account or invested in a money market fund. | Landlord may owe the deposit plus interest, plus up to double the amount wrongfully withheld. |
| New Mexico | 1 month's rent (less than 1-year lease); no limit (1-year+ lease) | 30 days | ObligatorioConditional: applies only under an annual (one-year-or-longer) rental agreement. If the owner demands or receives a deposit greater than one month's rent on such a lease, the owner must pay the resident annually interest equal to the passbook interest permitted to savings and loan associations in this state by the federal home loan bank board on the deposit. Rental agreements of less than one year are capped at one month's rent and carry no interest requirement (NMSA 1978 § 47-8-18(A)). | Tenant may recover the full deposit plus damages if landlord acts in bad faith. |
| New York | 1 month's rent | 14 days | ObligatorioInterest required for buildings with 6+ units; landlord may retain 1% per year as administrative fee. | Tenant may sue for return of deposit plus damages; landlord who fails to provide itemized deductions forfeits right to retain any portion. |
| North Carolina | 2 weeks' rent (week-to-week); 1.5 months' rent (month-to-month); 2 months' rent (longer term) | 30 days | No obligatorioIf held in a trust account, landlord must disclose the account information to the tenant. | Tenant may recover the full deposit if landlord fails to account for the deposit within 30 days. |
| North Dakota | 1 month's rent (up to 2 months' rent for a tenant convicted of a felony, or against whom a judgment has been entered for violating a previous rental agreement; pet deposit may not exceed the greater of $2,500 or 2 months' rent) | 30 days | ObligatorioLandlord must hold the deposit in a federally insured interest-bearing savings or checking account for the tenant's benefit; the actual interest accruing on the account is paid to the tenant at lease termination. No statutory interest rate is set. No interest is owed if the period of occupancy was less than 9 months. | Landlord must deliver an itemized statement and any amount due within 30 days after lease termination; landlord is liable for treble damages for any security deposit withheld without reasonable justification. |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 1 month's rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover deposit through CNMI Superior Court under 2 CMC § 4901 et seq. Federal Fair Housing Act protections also apply. |
| Ohio | No statutory limit | 30 days | ObligatorioInterest at 5% annually required on deposits exceeding $50 or 1 month's rent, for tenancies lasting 6+ months. | Tenant may recover the deposit plus damages and attorney fees. |
| Oklahoma | No statutory limit | 45 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover the security deposit, prepaid rent, and damages if the landlord fails to comply (41 O.S. § 115(E)) — Oklahoma has no civil double-damages remedy. The "twice the amount" figure is a criminal penalty for misappropriating escrowed deposit funds: up to 6 months in county jail and a fine not to exceed twice the amount misappropriated (41 O.S. § 115(A)). |
| Oregon | No statutory limit (must be reasonable) | 31 days | No obligatorio | Landlord may owe up to double the deposit amount if they act in bad faith. |
| Pennsylvania | 2 months' rent (first year); 1 month's rent (subsequent years) | 30 days | ObligatorioInterest required after 2 years of tenancy; tenant entitled to the interest earned minus 1% admin fee. | Landlord who fails to return within 30 days may owe double the amount due. |
| Puerto Rico | 1 month's rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover deposit plus damages through desahucio proceedings under Código Civil de Puerto Rico (31 LPRA). All evictions require judicial process. |
| Rhode Island | 1 month's rent (plus a separate furniture security deposit of up to 1 month's rent for furnished units where the landlord-supplied furniture has a replacement value of $5,000 or more at lease execution) | 20 days | No obligatorio | Landlord who wrongfully withholds may owe double the deposit amount. |
| South Carolina | No statutory limit | 30 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees; no bad-faith showing is required (S.C. Code § 27-40-410(b)). |
| South Dakota | 1 month's rent (greater amounts allowed if special conditions exist) | 14 days (2 weeks) | No obligatorio | Landlord who fails to comply forfeits all rights to withhold any portion of the deposit; bad-faith retention (including failure to provide the required written statement and itemized accounting) subjects the landlord to punitive damages not to exceed $200. |
| Tennessee | No statutory limit | No fixed statutory deadline in days to return the deposit. To retain any portion, the landlord must deposit it in a separate account and provide a listing of damages (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301(a)-(c)). Upon the tenant's request, a mutual move-out inspection is held and a signed damage listing compiled; the landlord must give notice of the inspection right within 5 days of the tenant's notice to vacate, with inspection on or within 4 days of vacating (§ 66-28-301(b)). If a refund is due, the landlord notifies the tenant's last known address; the deposit is forfeited only if the tenant fails to respond within 60 days of that notice (§ 66-28-301(f)). Damage claims are limited to damage discovered before the earlier of 30 days after the tenant vacates or 7 days after a new tenant takes possession (§ 66-28-301(g)). | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover deposit amount if landlord fails to return or provide itemized statement. |
| Texas | No statutory limit | 30 days | No obligatorio | Landlord may owe up to three times the deposit amount wrongfully withheld, plus $100 and attorney fees. |
| US Virgin Islands | 1 month's rent | 30 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover deposit through Territorial Court under 28 V.I.C. § 781 et seq. Federal Fair Housing Act protections also apply. |
| Utah | No statutory limit | 30 days | No obligatorio | If the landlord still fails to return the deposit within 5 business days after the renter serves the statutory deposit-disposition notice, the renter may recover the full deposit, the full prepaid rent, and a $100 civil penalty (Utah Code § 57-17-5); court costs and attorney fees are awarded to the prevailing party only if the court finds the opposing party acted in bad faith. |
| Vermont | No statutory limit | 14 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover double the deposit if landlord wrongfully withholds. |
| Virginia | 2 months' rent | 45 days | No obligatorio | Landlord may owe the full deposit plus actual damages and attorney fees if they fail to return within 45 days. |
| Washington | No statutory limit | 30 days | No obligatorio | Landlord may owe up to double the deposit amount if they fail to return or provide an itemized statement. |
| West Virginia | No statutory limit | 60 days after termination of tenancy, or 45 days after a new tenant occupies the premises, whichever is shorter | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover the deposit plus damages if landlord fails to return within required timeframe. |
| Wisconsin | No statutory limit | 21 days | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs and reasonable attorney fees, under Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5) for a violation of ATCP 134.06; no bad-faith showing required. |
| Wyoming | No statutory limit | 30 days after termination, or 15 days after the landlord receives the renter's new mailing address, whichever is later (extended an additional 30 days, up to 60, if there is damage to the rental unit) | No obligatorio | Tenant may recover the full deposit if landlord fails to provide itemized statement. |
“No statutory limit” significa que el estado no fija un tope de depósito, por lo que el monto se negocia (y, en general, debe seguir siendo razonable). Los plazos de devolución y las penalizaciones pueden variar según si el arrendador deduce por daños, y las ordenanzas locales pueden añadir reglas más estrictas. Verificado July 2, 2026 con el publicador oficial del estatuto de cada estado.
Cómo funcionan los límites del depósito de seguridad
La mayoría de los estados limita cuánto puede cobrar un arrendador por adelantado como depósito de seguridad, normalmente expresado como un múltiplo de la renta mensual: uno o dos meses es el tope más común. 21 de las 51 jurisdicciones de la tabla no fijan ningún máximo legal ("No statutory limit"), dejando el monto a la negociación, aunque por lo general debe seguir siendo razonable. Algunos estados permiten un depósito adicional por mascotas, unidades amuebladas o arrendamientos de mayor riesgo. La cifra exacta —y cualquier excepción— aparece en la columna "Depósito máximo" de tu estado.
Recuperar tu depósito a tiempo
Después de que te mudas, el arrendador tiene un número de días fijado por ley para devolver el depósito o enviar una lista detallada de las deducciones, comúnmente 14, 21 o 30 días, y hasta 60 en algunos estados. El conteo y el plazo exacto dependen del estado y, a menudo, de si el arrendador retiene parte del dinero. La columna "Plazo de devolución" indica la regla de cada estado; si el arrendador lo incumple, muchos estados permiten al inquilino recuperar daños adicionales.
Intereses y penalizaciones por retención indebida
14 estados y D.C. exigen que el arrendador mantenga tu depósito de forma que te pague intereses, a menudo solo después de que el arrendamiento supera una duración mínima. Aparte, la mayoría de los estados sancionan al arrendador que retiene indebidamente un depósito, con frecuencia el doble o el triple del monto retenido, más los honorarios de abogado. Las columnas "¿Interés obligatorio?" y "Penalización por retención indebida" muestran la regla de cada estado; las ordenanzas locales pueden añadir requisitos más estrictos.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Cuánto puede cobrar un arrendador por un depósito de seguridad?
Depende del estado. De las 51 jurisdicciones de EE. UU. (los 50 estados más Washington, D.C.), 30 limitan el depósito a un número determinado de meses de renta —lo más frecuente uno o dos meses—, mientras que 21 no fijan ningún límite legal ("No statutory limit") y dejan el monto a lo que sea razonable y negociado. Busca tu estado en la tabla para ver su máximo exacto y cualquier excepción por mascotas o unidad amueblada.
¿Cuánto tiempo tiene el arrendador para devolver mi depósito de seguridad?
Cada estado fija su propio plazo, comúnmente 14, 21 o 30 días después de que te mudas, y hasta 60 días en algunos estados. El plazo también puede depender de si el arrendador está haciendo deducciones por daños. Consulta la columna "Plazo de devolución" para ver la regla exacta de tu estado.
¿Mi arrendador tiene que pagar intereses sobre mi depósito de seguridad?
En 14 jurisdicciones, sí: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Muchas de ellas solo exigen intereses una vez que el depósito se ha retenido por un período mínimo, como seis meses o un año, y la tasa suele estar ligada a una cifra bancaria o del Tesoro (Treasury). En el resto no hay ningún requisito legal de intereses. Consulta la columna "¿Interés obligatorio?" para ver los detalles.
¿Qué pasa si mi arrendador retiene mi depósito indebidamente?
La mayoría de los estados permite al inquilino recuperar más que solo el depósito cuando el arrendador lo retiene de mala fe o incumple el plazo de devolución, con frecuencia el doble o el triple del monto retenido indebidamente, más los honorarios de abogado. La penalización exacta varía según el estado y aparece en la columna "Penalización por retención indebida", junto con cualquier plazo que la active.
¿Existe una ley federal de depósito de seguridad?
No. No hay ningún estatuto federal que fije límites de depósito de seguridad, plazos de devolución ni reglas de interés; estos se rigen por completo por la ley estatal (y a veces municipal), por lo que varían tanto entre las 51 jurisdicciones de la tabla. La ley federal solo interviene a través de protecciones generales como la Ley de Vivienda Justa (Fair Housing Act).
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Esta información es solo de carácter general y no constituye asesoría legal. Las leyes cambian y su aplicación depende de tu situación específica. Para tu caso concreto, consulta a un abogado con licencia en tu estado. Traducido de nuestra guía verificada en inglés.