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Security Deposit Demand

Demand the return of a wrongfully withheld security deposit, with the deadline and penalties stated.

Choose your state See the sample letter

What's included

  • A correctly structured Security Deposit Demand ready to edit and send
  • Plain-language prompts so you don't miss a required detail
  • Wording aligned to your state's rules and notice periods
  • Download as PDF or copy as text

How to generate your Security Deposit Demand letter

Five steps, usually under ten minutes total.

  1. Sign in or create an account. Only your email and a password are required — no card until you unlock your finished letter.
  2. Click "Start my letter". On any Security Deposit Demand page, click the Start button. We create a draft you can come back to.
  3. Fill in your facts. Names, addresses, dates, and amounts. Plain-language prompts guide every field. Save as a draft if you need to gather information.
  4. Click Finalize. Traquor renders your letter with your state's statutory citations and notice periods where they apply.
  5. Print or save as PDF. Your finalized letter is in a clean paper layout. Use your browser to print or save as a PDF, then mail, email, or hand-deliver.

Sample Security Deposit Demand letter

Bracketed fields are placeholders — the generator fills them from your answers and applies the correct statutory citations for your jurisdiction.

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS]

July 24, 2026

[LANDLORD OR PROPERTY-MANAGER NAME]
[LANDLORD MAILING ADDRESS]

Re:  Demand for Return of Security Deposit
     [PROPERTY YOU RENTED]

Dear [LANDLORD OR PROPERTY-MANAGER NAME]:

I, [YOUR FULL NAME], am writing to demand the immediate return of my security deposit in the amount of $[AMOUNT] from the lease at [PROPERTY YOU RENTED] in your state, which I vacated on [date].

Pursuant to your state security-deposit law, you were required to return the deposit (or provide an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the termination of my tenancy. As of the date of this letter, neither the deposit nor an itemized accounting has been received.

Accordingly, I hereby demand the full return of $[AMOUNT] within 7 days of receipt of this letter.

Failure to comply may result in legal action pursuant to your state statutory provisions for wrongful retention. I am prepared to pursue all available remedies, including filing in your state small-claims court.

Please remit payment to me at the address shown above.

Sincerely,



[YOUR FULL NAME]

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Security-deposit return deadlines by state

State Deadline to return Statute Penalty for wrongful retention
Alabama 60 days Alabama Code § 35-9A-201 Double the amount wrongfully withheld
Alaska 14 days* Alaska Statute § 34.03.070 Up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld
Arizona 14 business days Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1321(D) Twice the amount wrongfully withheld
Arkansas 60 days Arkansas Code § 18-16-305 Double the amount wrongfully withheld
California 21 days California Civil Code § 1950.5(g)(1) Up to twice the deposit amount as a statutory penalty for bad-faith retention, plus actual damages
Colorado 30 days* Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-103 Treble the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees for willful retention
Connecticut 21 days* Connecticut General Statutes § 47a-21(d) Twice the amount wrongfully withheld
Delaware 20 days 25 Delaware Code § 5514(f) Double the amount wrongfully withheld
Florida 15 days* Florida Statute § 83.49(3) The deposit plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees
Georgia 30 days Official Code of Georgia § 44-7-34 Treble the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees for intentional retention
Hawaii 14 days Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-44 Up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld for bad-faith retention, plus attorney fees
Idaho 21 days* Idaho Code § 6-321 The full amount wrongfully withheld plus damages
Illinois 45 days* Illinois Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1 Twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus court costs and attorney fees
Indiana 45 days Indiana Code § 32-31-3-12 The amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
Iowa 30 days Iowa Code § 562A.12(3) Double the deposit for a late return, plus punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent for bad-faith retention
Kansas 30 days Kansas Statutes § 58-2550(b)–(c) The amount due plus damages of one and one-half times the amount wrongfully withheld
Kentucky 30 days* Kentucky Revised Statutes § 383.580 Double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
Louisiana one month Louisiana Revised Statutes § 9:3251 $300 or twice the amount wrongfully retained, whichever is greater (§ 9:3252, as amended 2019)
Maine 30 days* 14 Maine Revised Statutes § 6033 Double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
Maryland 45 days Maryland Real Property Code § 8-203(e) Up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
Massachusetts 30 days Massachusetts General Laws ch. 186, § 15B Three times the deposit plus interest, court costs, and attorney fees
Michigan 30 days Michigan Compiled Laws § 554.609 Double the amount wrongfully withheld
Minnesota 21 days Minnesota Statutes § 504B.178 The deposit plus interest, and a penalty equal to the amount wrongfully withheld for bad-faith retention
Mississippi 45 days Mississippi Code § 89-8-21 Actual damages plus $200 for bad-faith retention
Missouri 30 days Missouri Revised Statutes § 535.300 Twice the amount wrongfully withheld
Montana 30 days* Montana Code § 70-25-202 The full amount wrongfully withheld plus damages
Nebraska 14 days Nebraska Revised Statutes § 76-1416 The deposit plus, for willful retention, the lesser of one month's rent or twice the deposit, plus attorney fees
Nevada 30 days Nevada Revised Statutes § 118A.242 The entire deposit plus damages of up to the deposit amount again (up to twice the deposit in total)
New Hampshire 30 days New Hampshire RSA 540-A:7 Double the amount wrongfully withheld
New Jersey 30 days New Jersey Statutes § 46:8-21.1 Double the amount wrongfully withheld plus court costs and attorney fees
New Mexico 30 days New Mexico Statutes § 47-8-18(C) The full deposit plus a $250 statutory penalty and attorney fees
New York 14 days New York General Obligations Law § 7-108(1-a)(e) Forfeiture of any deduction claim, plus up to twice the deposit in punitive damages for willful violations
North Carolina 30 days* North Carolina General Statutes § 42-52 The full amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
North Dakota 30 days North Dakota Century Code § 47-16-07.1 Up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld for willful retention
Ohio 30 days Ohio Revised Code § 5321.16(B) Double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
Oklahoma 45 days 41 Oklahoma Statutes § 115(B) Up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees for willful retention (§ 115(C))
Oregon 31 days Oregon Revised Statutes § 90.300(13) Twice the amount wrongfully withheld
Pennsylvania 30 days 68 Pennsylvania Statutes § 250.512 Double the amount wrongfully withheld
Rhode Island 20 days Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-19(b) Twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
South Carolina 30 days South Carolina Code § 27-40-410 Three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees
South Dakota 14 days* South Dakota Codified Laws § 43-32-24 The full deposit plus punitive damages up to $200 for bad-faith retention
Tennessee 30 days* Tennessee Code § 66-28-301 The full amount wrongfully withheld
Texas 30 days* Texas Property Code § 92.103 Three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus $100 and attorney fees under Property Code § 92.109
Utah 30 days Utah Code § 57-17-3 The full deposit plus a $100 civil penalty and court costs
Vermont 14 days 9 Vermont Statutes § 4461(c) Double the amount wrongfully withheld for willful retention
Virginia 45 days Virginia Code § 55.1-1226(A) The amount wrongfully withheld plus damages and attorney fees
Washington 30 days Revised Code of Washington § 59.18.280 Up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld for intentional refusal
West Virginia 60 days* West Virginia Code § 37-6A-2 The amount wrongfully withheld plus damages for bad-faith retention
Wisconsin 21 days Wisconsin Statutes § 704.28 Double the amount wrongfully withheld plus court costs and attorney fees
Wyoming 30 days* Wyoming Statutes § 1-21-1208 The full amount wrongfully withheld
District of Columbia 45 days D.C. Municipal Regulations tit. 14, § 309 Treble the amount wrongfully withheld for bad-faith retention

Summarized for orientation; statutes change and carve-outs apply (entries marked * have additional conditions — see the state page). Last reviewed June 2026. Verify the current rule on your state's page before relying on a deadline.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a Security Deposit Demand?

Demand the return of a wrongfully withheld security deposit, with the deadline and penalties stated.

Is this Security Deposit Demand specific to my state?

Choose your state to generate a version aligned to local rules and notice periods.

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