Renters' rights · 51 state guides · Updated Oct 2026
Know your rights as a renter — and get your deposit back
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in every state, in plain English from official sources. Free tools check your deposit deadline and write your letters.
Pick your state
Deposit return calculator
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Free letters and tools
Security deposit demand letter
Ask for your deposit back by a date, citing your state's law. PDF, Word or text.
Repair request letter
Ask in writing for heat, water, mold, pests, locks and other repairs.
Eviction notice timeline
Got a notice? See the dates, what the landlord may not do and where to get help.
How it works
Know your state's rules
Deposit limits and deadlines, repair rights and notice periods are set by each state, and some cities add their own. Start with your state's page.
Put it in writing
Ask for your deposit, repairs or anything else in a dated letter, and keep a copy and proof of delivery. Our free letters do this for you.
Watch the deadlines
Landlords have deadlines to return deposits; tenants have short deadlines to answer eviction papers. The tools show the dates.
Use small claims court
If the landlord won't pay back a deposit, small claims court is built for people without lawyers.
Get free help early
Legal aid offices and court self-help centers help renters for free. If you have an eviction notice, call right away.
Compare states and read the guides
Security deposit laws by state
Limits, deadlines and penalties side by side.
Eviction notice periods by state
Notice for unpaid rent, lease violations and month-to-month.
Landlord entry notice by state
How much notice before the landlord comes in.
How to get your security deposit back
Deadlines, deductions, itemized lists and penalties.
How to get your landlord to make repairs
Written requests, repair and deduct, withholding and retaliation.
What to do if you get an eviction notice
Notices, court papers, illegal lockouts and free help.
Cities with their own renter rules
Some cities add rent control, just-cause eviction, relocation payments or free eviction lawyers on top of state law.
All state guides
Alabama
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 business days
Alaska
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 days
Arizona
Unpaid-rent notice: 5 days
Arkansas
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
California
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 business days
Colorado
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 days (5 for some small landlords)
Connecticut
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days (after a 9-day grace period)
Delaware
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 days
District of Columbia
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 days
Florida
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 business days
Georgia
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 business days
Hawaii
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 days
Idaho
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Illinois
Unpaid-rent notice: 5 days
Indiana
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 days
Iowa
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Kansas
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Kentucky
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 days (URLTA areas only)
Louisiana
Unpaid-rent notice: 5 days
Maine
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 days
Maryland
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 days
Massachusetts
Unpaid-rent notice: 14 days
Michigan
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 days
Minnesota
Unpaid-rent notice: 14 days
Mississippi
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Missouri
Unpaid-rent notice: No notice required
Montana
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Nebraska
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 days
Nevada
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 business days
New Hampshire
Unpaid-rent notice: 7 days
New Jersey
Unpaid-rent notice: No notice required
New Mexico
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
New York
Unpaid-rent notice: 14 days
North Carolina
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 days
North Dakota
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Ohio
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Oklahoma
Unpaid-rent notice: 5 days
Oregon
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 or 13 days (72 hours weekly)
Pennsylvania
Unpaid-rent notice: 10 days
Rhode Island
Unpaid-rent notice: 5 days (after rent is 15 days late)
South Carolina
Unpaid-rent notice: 5 days
South Dakota
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Tennessee
Unpaid-rent notice: 14 days
Texas
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days (lease can change it)
Utah
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 business days
Vermont
Unpaid-rent notice: 14 days
Virginia
Unpaid-rent notice: 14 days
Washington
Unpaid-rent notice: 14 days
West Virginia
Unpaid-rent notice: No notice required
Wisconsin
Unpaid-rent notice: 5 days (or 14, no chance to pay)
Wyoming
Unpaid-rent notice: 3 days
Common questions
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
It depends on the state: from 14 days to 60 days after you move out in our data, and a few states set no fixed number of days. See every state in the security deposit laws by state table, or check your dates with the deposit calculator.
Can my landlord keep my deposit for normal wear and tear?
No. In general a landlord may deduct unpaid rent and the cost of damage beyond normal wear and tear, and in some states cleaning. Worn carpet, faded paint and small nail holes are typical wear and tear. Your state page lists what may be deducted.
What can I do if my landlord won't fix things?
Ask in writing first and keep a copy. Depending on your state, you may be able to call a housing inspector, repair and deduct, or pay rent into court. Read the repairs guide and use the free repair letter.
Can my landlord evict me without going to court?
In most states, no: lockouts, changing the locks and shutting off utilities to force a tenant out are illegal, and only a court can order an eviction. See the eviction notice guide and your state's page.
How much notice does a landlord need before entering?
Many states require 24 hours or 2 days, some require none by statute, and emergencies are an exception almost everywhere. Compare states in the landlord entry notice table.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information from official sources. For advice about your case, contact your local legal aid office or the court's self-help center; your state page lists free help.