The amount of time it takes to get your damage deposit back varies from state to state.
Additionally, the laws regarding what your property owner can and can't do with your damage deposit vary by state as well.
For instance, in some states, your landlord is required to pay you interest on the money you put down as a damage deposit. For more details about the local laws concerning your damage deposit a great place to start is with Nolo.com.
As of April 2006, the deposit return time for each state is as follows:
| State | Deadline for Returning Security Deposit |
| Alabama | No statutory deadline |
| Alaska | 14 days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy; 30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Arkansas | 30 days |
| California | 3 weeks |
| Colorado | One month, unless lease agreement specifies longer period of time (which may be no more than 60 days); 72 hours if a hazardous condition involving gas equipment requires tenant to vacate |
| Connecticut | 30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later |
| Delaware | 20 days |
| District of Columbia | 45 days |
| Florida | 15 to 60 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Georgia | 1 month |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Idaho | 21 days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree |
| Illinois | 30-45 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Indiana | 45 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Kansas | 30 days |
| Kentucky | 30-60 days, depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Louisiana | 1 month |
| Maine | 21 days (tenancy at will) or 30 days (written rental agreement) |
| Maryland | 30-45 days, depending on whether tenant has been evicted or has abandoned the premises |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Minnesota | 3 weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing address; 5 days if tenant must leave due to building condemnation |
| Mississippi | 45 days |
| Missouri | 30 days |
| Montana | 30 days (10 days if no deduction) |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| Nevada | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 30 days; 5 days in case of fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation |
| New Mexico | 30 days |
| New York | Reasonable time |
| North Carolina | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Ohio | 30 days |
| Oklahoma | 30 days |
| Oregon | 31 days |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days |
| Rhode Island | 20 days |
| South Carolina | 30 days |
| South Dakota | 2 weeks to return entire deposit or a portion of it, and to provide reasons for withholding; 45 days for a written, itemized accounting if tenant requests it |
| Tennessee | No statutory deadline |
| Texas | 30 days |
| Utah | 30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later |
| Vermont | 14 days |
| Virginia | 45 days |
| Washington | 14 days |
| West Virginia | No statutory deadline |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
| Wyoming | 30 days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later; 60 days if there is damage |