---
title: "Landlord Rules by State: Deposits, Notices, Eviction | MCC"
description: "Security deposit limits and deadlines, notice periods, eviction steps and small claims limits, one page per state, each linked to its official source."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/tools/landlord-rules-by-state"
---

Free tool · Landlords and tenants

# Landlord rules by state

Deposits, notices, the eviction case and small claims, one page per state, each rule from an official source.

**Quick answer.** Pick a state for its deposit rules, notice periods, eviction steps and small claims limit on one page, combined from our four state tables. 51 of 51 jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC) have a page; every rule links the page it came from (an official page, or where none could be read a vetted secondary source, marked), and anything we couldn't confirm says so.

## Landlord-tenant rules by state

"Confirmed" counts the items (of 23) whose official source stated the value when we checked in November 2026.

Rather have it handled? [Landlord-tenant notices and filings in New Jersey](/notary/landlord-tenant-filing), or [process serving with an affidavit of service](/notary/process-serving).

| State | Confirmed | Highlights | Kit |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Alabama](/tools/alabama-landlord-rules) | 16 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 60 days; 7-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Alaska](/tools/alaska-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 14 days; 7-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Arizona](/tools/arizona-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit capped at 1.5 months of rent; deposit returned within 14 business days; 5-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Arkansas](/tools/arkansas-landlord-rules) | 14 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 60 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [California](/tools/california-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 21 days; 3-business-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Colorado](/tools/colorado-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit returned within 30 days | Coming soon |
| [Connecticut](/tools/connecticut-landlord-rules) | 18 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 21 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Delaware](/tools/delaware-landlord-rules) | 23 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 20 days; 5-day notice for unpaid rent | [$19 kit](/toolkits/delaware-landlord-compliance-kit) |
| [District of Columbia](/tools/district-of-columbia-landlord-rules) | 20 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 45 days; 30-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Florida](/tools/florida-landlord-rules) | 20 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-business-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Georgia](/tools/georgia-landlord-rules) | 21 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-business-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Hawaii](/tools/hawaii-landlord-rules) | 17 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 14 days; 10-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Idaho](/tools/idaho-landlord-rules) | 17 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 21 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Illinois](/tools/illinois-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 45 days; 5-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Indiana](/tools/indiana-landlord-rules) | 12 of 23 | deposit returned within 45 days; 10-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Iowa](/tools/iowa-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Kansas](/tools/kansas-landlord-rules) | 15 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Kentucky](/tools/kentucky-landlord-rules) | 18 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; 7-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Louisiana](/tools/louisiana-landlord-rules) | 14 of 23 | deposit returned within one month; 5-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Maine](/tools/maine-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 7-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Maryland](/tools/maryland-landlord-rules) | 23 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 45 days; 10-day notice for unpaid rent | [$19 kit](/toolkits/maryland-landlord-compliance-kit) |
| [Massachusetts](/tools/massachusetts-landlord-rules) | 23 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 14-day notice for unpaid rent | [$19 kit](/toolkits/massachusetts-landlord-compliance-kit) |
| [Michigan](/tools/michigan-landlord-rules) | 20 of 23 | deposit capped at 1.5 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 7-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Minnesota](/tools/minnesota-landlord-rules) | 22 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 21 days; 14-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Mississippi](/tools/mississippi-landlord-rules) | 14 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 45 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Missouri](/tools/missouri-landlord-rules) | 17 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days | Coming soon |
| [Montana](/tools/montana-landlord-rules) | 12 of 23 | deposit returned within 30 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Nebraska](/tools/nebraska-landlord-rules) | 15 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 14 days; 7-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Nevada](/tools/nevada-landlord-rules) | 16 of 23 | deposit capped at 3 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 7-business-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [New Hampshire](/tools/new-hampshire-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 7-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [New Jersey](/tools/new-jersey-landlord-rules) | 20 of 23 | deposit capped at 1.5 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days | Coming soon |
| [New Mexico](/tools/new-mexico-landlord-rules) | 21 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [New York](/tools/new-york-landlord-rules) | 22 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 14 days; 14-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [North Carolina](/tools/north-carolina-landlord-rules) | 22 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 10-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [North Dakota](/tools/north-dakota-landlord-rules) | 18 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 30 days | Coming soon |
| [Ohio](/tools/ohio-landlord-rules) | 22 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Oklahoma](/tools/oklahoma-landlord-rules) | 14 of 23 | deposit returned within 45 days; 5-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Oregon](/tools/oregon-landlord-rules) | 18 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 31 days | Coming soon |
| [Pennsylvania](/tools/pennsylvania-landlord-rules) | 22 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 30 days; 10-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Rhode Island](/tools/rhode-island-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 20 days; 5-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [South Carolina](/tools/south-carolina-landlord-rules) | 16 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 30 days; 5-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [South Dakota](/tools/south-dakota-landlord-rules) | 14 of 23 | deposit capped at 1 month of rent; deposit returned within 21 days | Coming soon |
| [Tennessee](/tools/tennessee-landlord-rules) | 10 of 23 | 14-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Texas](/tools/texas-landlord-rules) | 19 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Utah](/tools/utah-landlord-rules) | 18 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 30 days; 3-business-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Vermont](/tools/vermont-landlord-rules) | 20 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 14 days; 14-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |
| [Virginia](/tools/virginia-landlord-rules) | 23 of 23 | deposit capped at 2 months of rent; deposit returned within 45 days; 14-day notice for unpaid rent | [$19 kit](/toolkits/virginia-landlord-compliance-kit) |
| [Washington](/tools/washington-landlord-rules) | 23 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 30 days; 14-day notice for unpaid rent | [$19 kit](/toolkits/washington-landlord-compliance-kit) |
| [West Virginia](/tools/west-virginia-landlord-rules) | 16 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 60 days | Coming soon |
| [Wisconsin](/tools/wisconsin-landlord-rules) | 22 of 23 | no deposit cap in the law read; deposit returned within 21 days | Coming soon |
| [Wyoming](/tools/wyoming-landlord-rules) | 16 of 23 | deposit returned within 30 days; 3-day notice for unpaid rent | Coming soon |

Every state and DC has at least 6 confirmed items, so every one has a page.

## The topic tables behind these pages

- [Security deposit rules by state](/tools/security-deposit-rules-by-state) and the [return deadline calculator](/tools/security-deposit-return-deadline-calculator)
- [Landlord-tenant notice periods by state](/tools/landlord-tenant-notice-periods-by-state) and the [notice date calculator](/tools/notice-date-calculator)
- [Eviction process timeline by state](/tools/eviction-process-timeline-by-state) and the [timeline estimator](/tools/eviction-timeline-estimator)
- [Small claims court limits by state](/tools/small-claims-court-limits-by-state)

General information, not legal advice. We are not lawyers, and MCC Solutions is not a law firm. The same rules apply whichever side of the lease you are on; this page describes them and doesn't take a side. Rules change, cities and counties can add their own, a lease can add terms, and the official source has the final word.

## Common questions

**What does each state page cover?**

Four topics in the order a tenancy meets them: the security deposit (limit, return deadline, itemized list, interest, where it's held, penalty), notice periods (ending a month-to-month tenancy, rent increases, unpaid rent, entry, late fees), the eviction case from filing to lockout, and the small claims limit for a deposit dispute. 23 items in all.

**What does "not confirmed" mean?**

The official pages behind our data didn't state that value when we checked them in November 2026. We don't fill it in from memory or read silence as a no; each one links the official page to check.

**Which states have the most confirmed items?**

Delaware (23 of 23), Maryland (23 of 23), Massachusetts (23 of 23), Virginia (23 of 23), Washington (23 of 23).

**Which states have the fewest?**

Tennessee (10 of 23), Indiana (12 of 23), Montana (12 of 23), Arkansas (14 of 23), Louisiana (14 of 23).

**Is this for landlords or tenants?**

Both. The rules are the same whichever side of the lease you are on, and the pages describe them without taking a side. They are general information, not legal advice.

**Is there a kit for each state?**

Each published state has a Landlord Compliance Kit with the state checklist, a move-in and move-out deposit checklist, a notice calendar, an eviction timeline sheet and an Excel workbook, built from the same data.

Related: [Kits for landlords](/toolkits/for/landlords) · [All state rules](/state-rules)

## More landlord rules by state

- [Security deposit return letter builder](/tools/security-deposit-return-letter)
- [Rent increase notice builder](/tools/rent-increase-notice)

## Keep rental records in order

[Bookkeeping for small landlords](/bookkeeping/for/small-landlords)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)