Landlord-tenant law, state by state.

AL Alabama 1 month's rent max, except a landlord may charge more for a pet, alterations to the premises, or increased liability risk (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a)) Written notice must specify the rent and late fees owed, with the lease terminating not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice if unpaid (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)) AK Alaska Security deposit plus prepaid rent capped at 2 months' rent combined, except units renting above $2,000 a month are exempt from the cap; a separate pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent may also be charged for non-service animals (AS 34.03.070(a),(h)) If rent is unpaid when due, landlord gives written notice; the tenancy terminates if the tenant does not pay the full rent owed within 7 days after the notice (AS 34.03.220(b)) AZ Arizona 1.5 months' rent max, combined with any other security however denominated, including prepaid rent (A.R.S. § 33-1321(A)); nonrefundable fees are allowed only if stated in writing as nonrefundable, otherwise they count as part of the refundable deposit 5 day written notice to pay all rent due (plus any reasonable late fee) or vacate before the landlord may terminate and file a special detainer action; paying everything owed before judgment reinstates the lease (A.R.S. § 33-1368(B)) AR Arkansas 2 months' rent max, however denominated (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-304) If rent is not paid within 5 days of the due date, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement under the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007 (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-701(b)). Arkansas separately still has an on-the-books misdemeanor failure-to-vacate statute requiring 10 days' notice before criminal liability attaches to a tenant who willfully holds over after nonpayment (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-101); this criminal provision has faced constitutional challenges in recent years, so civil eviction under § 18-17-701 is the standard, reliable path and its exact current enforceability status is genuinely uncertain from statute text alone. CA California 1 month's rent max for most landlords, furnished or unfurnished (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5, as amended by AB 12, eff. July 1, 2024); a narrow exception lets small landlords (no more than 2 rental properties totaling 4 or fewer units) charge up to 2 months' rent, but never for active duty service member tenants. 3 day notice to pay rent or quit required before an unlawful detainer action; the count excludes the day of service, weekends, and judicial holidays (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)). Rent control CO Colorado No statutory dollar or month cap; landlords may set any deposit amount agreed to in the lease. Colorado law regulates timely return and permissible deductions rather than the amount collected (C.R.S. § 38-12-103). 10 days' written demand to pay or vacate is required for most residential nonpayment before a forcible entry and detainer (eviction) action can be filed; shorter 3 or 5 day periods apply only to certain nonresidential or exempt/employer-provided housing arrangements (C.R.S. § 13-40-104(1)(d)). CT Connecticut 2 months' rent max for tenants under 62, 1 month's rent max for tenants 62 or older, no furnished-unit exception (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21) Landlord must let the 9 day rent grace period expire (4 days for a weekly tenancy) before serving a Notice to Quit, which then must give the tenant at least 3 more days before an eviction action can be filed, roughly 12 days total for a monthly tenancy (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23). Rent control DE Delaware 1 month's rent max once a lease is for 1 year or more, or once a month to month or undefined term tenancy has run 1 year (uncapped before that point); furnished units are exempt from the cap; a surety bond used instead of or alongside a deposit is likewise capped so the combined total stays at 1 month's rent (25 Del. C. § 5514) Landlord must give written notice demanding the rent and warning that the lease will end if it stays unpaid, allowing at least 5 days from when the notice is given or sent before filing for summary possession; paying everything owed before the landlord actually files stops the eviction (25 Del. C. § 5502). FL Florida No statutory cap on the amount (Fla. Stat. § 83.49). Written notice demanding rent or possession within 3 days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and court observed legal holidays, before the landlord may terminate and file eviction (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)). GA Georgia No statutory cap on the amount (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30 et seq.). No fixed statutory notice period before filing; the landlord need only make a demand for possession, which can be oral, before filing the dispossessory affidavit, and once filed and served the tenant has 7 days to answer (O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-50, 44-7-51). Any specific pre-filing notice period comes from the lease itself, not the statute. HI Hawaii 1 month's rent maximum, plus an optional separate pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent (not required if the tenant has no pet, and not allowed for a disability assistance animal) (HRS Section 521-44(b)). Landlord must demand payment in writing and give the tenant not less than 5 business days after receipt of the notice to pay before terminating the rental agreement and bringing a summary possession action (HRS Section 521-68(a)). ID Idaho No statutory cap. The landlord and tenant set the deposit amount by agreement; Idaho law only bars deducting for normal wear and tear (Idaho Code Section 6-321(1)). The Idaho Attorney General's manual confirms Idaho does not restrict the amount of rent or deposits landlords can charge. 3 days' written notice stating the amount of rent due; the tenant may cure by paying in full within those 3 days. The notice must also warn a residential tenant that if judgment is entered against them, they get 72 hours to remove belongings before the landlord may dispose of them (Idaho Code Section 6-303(2)). IL Illinois No statutory cap statewide; landlord and tenant set the amount by agreement. Chicago's RLTO does not cap the amount either, but requires deposit interest for most buildings regardless of size (owner-occupied buildings of 6 units or fewer are exempt). 5 days' written notice demanding payment before the landlord may terminate the lease for nonpayment; only full payment of the demanded rent waives the landlord's termination right, unless the landlord agrees in writing to accept partial payment (735 ILCS 5/9-209). IN Indiana No statutory cap. Indiana law does not set a minimum or maximum deposit amount; the landlord and tenant set it by agreement (Indiana Code Title 32, Article 31). Landlord may terminate for nonpayment with not less than 10 days' written notice to pay, unless the lease provides otherwise or the tenant pays in full before the notice period expires (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-6). IA Iowa 2 months' rent maximum, with no separate furnished or pet-deposit category (Iowa Code Section 562A.12(1)). 3-day written notice of nonpayment (and landlord's intent to terminate) before the landlord may terminate for unpaid rent; a separate 7-day cure-or-quit notice applies to other lease violations (Iowa Code Section 562A.27(1), (2)). KS Kansas 1 month's rent maximum for an unfurnished unit; 1.5 months' rent if the landlord provides furniture; plus up to an additional 0.5 month's rent if the lease allows pets (K.S.A. 58-2550(a)). 3-day written notice of nonpayment before the landlord may terminate the rental agreement for unpaid rent (K.S.A. 58-2564). KY Kentucky No statutory cap on the deposit amount anywhere in Kentucky, whether or not the county has adopted URLTA (KRS 383.580 regulates handling, not the amount, and only in URLTA jurisdictions). URLTA counties and cities only (KRS 383.660(2)): if rent is unpaid, the landlord may terminate only after giving written notice of nonpayment, and the tenant then has 7 days to pay before termination. In non-URLTA counties, there is no comparable statutory notice-and-cure period; the landlord terminates under the general tenancy-at-will rule (KRS 383.195, one month's written notice) or per the lease, then may bring a forcible detainer action (KRS 383.200 and following). LA Louisiana No statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit (La. R.S. 9:3251 governs return, not the amount). Louisiana has no separate pay-or-quit notice statute. Under La. Civ. Code art. 2704, nonpayment of rent lets the lessor seek dissolution of the lease under the general rules for putting an obligor in default, unless the lease itself provides for automatic dissolution on nonpayment, which is common in Louisiana leases and enforceable. Whatever the ground for termination, the lessor must still deliver the notice to vacate described below (La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701) before filing the summary eviction proceeding, unless the lease waives that notice. ME Maine Flat cap of 2 months' rent for any residential lease or tenancy at will, with no distinction by lease length (14 M.R.S. Section 6032). A landlord may not demand more at signing than the security deposit plus the first full month's rent plus any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee (14 M.R.S. Section 6022-A, added 2023). 7 days' written notice once the tenant is 7 or more days in arrears. The notice is voided if the tenant pays the full amount due before the 7 days expire, and the tenancy can still be reinstated by paying all arrears, current rent, and filing and service fees before a writ of possession issues (14 M.R.S. Section 6002). Rent control MD Maryland As of October 1, 2024, capped at 1 month's rent per dwelling unit, down from the historical 2-month cap. Up to 2 months' rent is still allowed only if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services, pays utilities directly to the landlord, and both parties agree to the amount in writing (Md. Code, Real Property Section 8-203(b), as amended by 2024 Md. Laws ch. 124, HB 693, the Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024). This is a real and recent change, not the older, still-cited flat 2-month rule. Before filing, the landlord must give the tenant written notice of intent to file, with 10 days to cure by paying; trial is then set for the 5th day after the complaint is filed. After judgment, the warrant of restitution cannot be ordered until 7 days after judgment, increased from 4 days effective October 1, 2024 under the same 2024 reform (Md. Code, Real Property Section 8-401). Rent control MA Massachusetts 1 month's rent maximum for an unfurnished unit, plus an allowance for furnishings if furnished (M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B) 14 days' written notice to quit for nonpayment, with the tenant able to cure by paying all rent due plus interest and costs before the court answer date; since April 2023 the notice must be accompanied by the state's official Form to Accompany Residential Notice to Quit (M.G.L. c. 186 §§ 11 and 31) MI Michigan 1.5 months' rent maximum (MCL 554.602) 7 days' written demand for possession after rent is due and unpaid, using the same notice to start a nonpayment eviction (MCL 600.5714(1)(a); form DC 100a) MN Minnesota No statutory cap on the amount statewide (Minn. Stat. 504B.178); some cities such as Minneapolis apply their own local caps, so check local ordinances too. For nonpayment of rent or another financial obligation, the landlord must give 14 days written notice before filing an eviction action, and must attach that notice plus an itemized accounting to the eviction complaint (Minn. Stat. 504B.321). Rent control MS Mississippi No statutory cap on the amount; the deposit is held for the tenant and has priority over any claim by the landlord's creditors (Miss. Code Ann. 89-8-21). For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give 3 days written notice to pay or vacate before the tenancy can terminate (Miss. Code Ann. 89-8-13(5)); the actual eviction is filed as a dedicated residential proceeding in justice court under Miss. Code Ann. 89-8-31 through 89-8-43. MO Missouri 2 months' rent maximum (RSMo 535.300). No statutory notice or cure period before filing a rent and possession suit for nonpayment; the landlord may sue once rent is due and unpaid unless the lease itself requires notice (RSMo 535.010). MT Montana No statutory maximum; the landlord may set any deposit amount (MCA 70-25-201). 3 days to pay after written notice of nonpayment and the landlord's intent to terminate, before the landlord may end the tenancy (MCA 70-24-422(2)). NE Nebraska 1 month's rent max, plus up to an additional 1/4 month's rent as a separate pet deposit (Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1416) 7 calendar days written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate must be given before the landlord may terminate the rental agreement for nonpayment (Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1431) NV Nevada 3 months' rent max, including any pet deposit or other security (NRS 118A.242(1)); a clause labeling any part of the deposit nonrefundable is void except for reasonable cleaning charges (NRS 118A.242(8)) 7 judicial days notice to pay or quit after service for standard tenancies, or by noon of the 4th full day for short term tenancies of 45 days or less with weekly or shorter rent (NRS 40.253) NH New Hampshire 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is greater, for most rentals (RSA 540-A:6); a single family detached home can be exempted from the cap, and the equivalent-of-one-month rule also applies when rent is paid quarterly or less often 7 days' written notice to quit for nonpayment of rent, stating the arrearage and the tenant's right to avoid eviction by paying it (RSA 540:3); for other lease violations on restricted property, cure/notice periods vary NJ New Jersey 1.5 months' rent maximum for an initial deposit; additional annual increases limited to 10% of the current deposit on hand (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2) Nonpayment of rent cases (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a) and (f)) are exempt from the Anti-Eviction Act's separate notice-to-quit requirements, so a landlord may file the eviction complaint directly once rent is due and unpaid, though a written demand is standard practice; other grounds carry their own notice periods under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 Rent control NM New Mexico For leases shorter than one year, the deposit cannot exceed one month's rent. For leases of one year or longer there is no statutory cap, but any amount over one month's rent must earn passbook savings interest paid to the tenant annually (NMSA 1978 47-8-18). If rent is unpaid when due, the landlord must give 3 days' written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate before the resident must vacate or the landlord can proceed with eviction (NMSA 1978 47-8-33). NY New York Deposits and any advance rent payments together cannot exceed one month's rent for any residential unit, regulated or unregulated, statewide (General Obligations Law 7-108(1-a), as amended by the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, HSTPA). Landlord must serve a 14-day written rent demand (oral demands no longer suffice) before starting a nonpayment eviction proceeding (RPAPL 711(2), as amended by HSTPA 2019). Rent control NC North Carolina Capped by tenancy length: 2 weeks' rent for week to week, 1.5 months' rent for month to month, 2 months' rent for terms longer than month to month (NCGS 42-51(b)). Default rule when the lease is silent: landlord must make a clear demand for all rent past due; tenant has 10 days after the demand to pay before the tenancy is forfeited and eviction can proceed. If the lease itself addresses forfeiture or waives the demand, the lease controls and the landlord may file immediately (NCGS 42-3). ND North Dakota Generally capped at one month's rent; up to two months' rent may be charged if the tenant has a prior felony conviction or a judgment against them for violating an earlier rental agreement. A separate pet deposit is allowed up to the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent (NDCC 47-16-07.1). 3-day written notice to pay rent or vacate before the landlord can pursue eviction (NDCC 47-32-01). OH Ohio No statutory cap on the amount a landlord can charge as a security deposit (Ohio Rev. Code 5321.16) Landlord must serve a statutory 3 day notice to leave the premises before filing eviction; despite the name it functions as a pay-or-quit period since courts generally allow the tenant to cure by paying in full during the 3 days (Ohio Rev. Code 1923.04) OK Oklahoma No statutory cap on the deposit amount; market practice commonly runs up to about 2 months' rent. The deposit must be held in an FDIC-insured Oklahoma escrow account (Okla. Stat. tit. 41, 115) Landlord may terminate for nonpayment by giving written demand for the rent; if the tenant does not pay within 5 days after the demand, the landlord may terminate and file a forcible entry and detainer action (the demand for rent itself also serves as the demand for possession) (Okla. Stat. tit. 41, 131) OR Oregon No statutory maximum on the deposit amount a landlord may charge (ORS 90.300) For most tenancies the landlord may serve either a 10 day notice (not sooner than the 8th day of the rental period) or a 13 day notice (not sooner than the 5th day); week to week tenancies get a 72 hour notice (not sooner than the 5th day); the notice must state the amount owed and the cure deadline (ORS 90.394) Rent control PA Pennsylvania Capped at 2 months' rent during the first year of the lease; from the second year onward, including renewals, capped at 1 month's rent (68 P.S. section 250.511a) For nonpayment of rent, the notice to quit must give the tenant 10 days from service to pay or vacate; for other terminations on a lease of one year or less or an indeterminate term, notice is 15 days, and for a lease longer than one year, 30 days (68 P.S. section 250.501) RI Rhode Island Security deposit cannot exceed one month's periodic rent; a separate furniture deposit is allowed for furnished units where furnishings are worth more than $5,000, capped the same way (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-19) Once rent is 15 or more days overdue, the landlord must mail a written demand giving the tenant 5 days from the mailing date to pay in full before the rental agreement terminates; the eviction complaint cannot be filed until the 6th day after the demand is mailed, and full payment before filing stops the eviction (R.I. Gen. Laws 34-18-35) SC South Carolina The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount a landlord may charge (S.C. Code Title 27, Chapter 40) If rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may give written notice of intent to terminate if the rent is not paid within 5 days of the due date; a specific statutory warning notice included in the lease can satisfy this requirement for the full lease term rather than notice-by-notice (S.C. Code 27-40-710) SD South Dakota Capped at one month's rent, unless landlord and tenant agree to a larger amount because special conditions pose a danger to the property (SDCL 43-32-6.1). A 2024 law (SB 90) repealed the old 3 day statutory notice to quit (former SDCL 21-16-2). A landlord may now file a forcible entry and detainer action directly once rent is 3 or more days late, though a lease can still require its own notice period. TN Tennessee No statutory dollar cap in either URLTA or non URLTA counties. In URLTA counties the landlord must hold the deposit in a separate account at a bank or lending institution and disclose its location to the tenant (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-301(a) and (h)). Non URLTA counties have no comparable statute; amount and handling run on the lease and common law. URLTA counties: 14 days' written notice to pay or quit before the landlord can file in general sessions court (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-505). Non URLTA counties: sources describe a similar 14 day opportunity to cure nonpayment under Tenn. Code Ann. 66-7-109, but this citation was not independently verified against primary statute text. TX Texas No statutory dollar cap on security deposits for unfurnished units (Tex. Prop. Code ch. 92, subch. C); landlords may charge any amount the market bears. At least 3 days' written notice to vacate before a forcible detainer suit can be filed for nonpayment, unless the lease sets a shorter or longer period (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005). UT Utah No statutory dollar cap on security deposits; any part of the deposit that is nonrefundable must be disclosed to the renter in writing at the time it is collected (Utah Code § 57-17-2). Tenant is subject to unlawful detainer if rent remains unpaid 3 business days after written notice requiring payment or surrender (Utah Code § 78B-6-802(1)(c)); other lease violations generally require only 3 calendar days' notice to cure or quit. VT Vermont No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit (9 V.S.A. § 4461). Landlord must give the tenant at least 14 days' actual notice of the date the tenancy will terminate for nonpayment of rent (9 V.S.A. § 4467(a)). VA Virginia Capped at two months' periodic rent, combined with any move-in fees or insurance premiums the landlord charges before the tenancy starts (Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A), § 55.1-1208(A)(7)). Landlord must give 14 days' written notice; the tenancy terminates if rent is not paid within that window before an unlawful detainer action can be filed (Va. Code § 55.1-1245(F)). Starting July 1, 2027, landlords with more than 4 rental units must also offer a payment plan for arrears of one month's rent or less before proceeding (§ 55.1-1245(G)). WA Washington No statutory cap on the deposit amount for standard residential tenancies; the rental agreement must specify the terms for retention and a written move in checklist documenting the unit's condition is required (RCW 59.18.260), and the deposit must be held in a trust account with a written receipt to the tenant (RCW 59.18.270). 14 day pay or vacate notice for tenancies under chapter 59.18 RCW (3 days for tenancies outside that chapter) before an unlawful detainer action for nonpayment (RCW 59.12.030). Rent control WV West Virginia No statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit (W. Va. Code 37-6A-2). No fixed statutory pre-suit notice period for nonpayment was found, the landlord instead files a verified petition for summary relief in magistrate or circuit court, the court sets a hearing 5 to 10 judicial days after filing, and the tenant may file a written defense within 5 days of being served (W. Va. Code 55-3A-1). WI Wisconsin No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit (Wis. Stat. ch. 704, ATCP 134). For month-to-month or year-to-year tenants, a 5-day notice to pay rent or vacate, rising to a 14-day unconditional notice to vacate if the tenant already received a 5-day notice for a prior default within the past year, for leases longer than one year the notice is 30 days (Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a), (2)(a), (3)(a)). WY Wyoming No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. If any part of the deposit is designated nonrefundable, the landlord must say so in writing at the time the deposit is taken (W.S. § 1-21-1207). Nonpayment allows a forcible entry and detainer action after rent is unpaid for 3 days past due, and the landlord must still serve a written notice to quit at least 3 days before filing suit, in practice a 3-day notice (W.S. §§ 1-21-1002(a)(i), 1-21-1003).