Arizona · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Arizona security deposit law

How much a landlord in Arizona can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.

Short answer

In Arizona, the deposit limit is: One and a half months' rent (all security and prepaid rent combined). The landlord must return it as follows: Within 14 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after the tenancy ends, you give back possession, AND you ask for the deposit.

deposit limit
1.5 months' rent
to return a deposit
14 business days
deposit penalty
Up to 2×

Security deposit in Arizona

Limit
One and a half months' rent (all security and prepaid rent combined). You may choose to prepay more rent voluntarily.
Deadline to return it
Within 14 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after the tenancy ends, you give back possession, AND you ask for the deposit. The landlord mails the itemized list and any refund by first-class mail to your last known address unless you arrange otherwise in writing. Ask for it in writing when you move out.
Itemized list
Yes. The landlord must send an itemized list of all deductions with the amount due to you. If you do not dispute it within 60 days after it is mailed, it becomes final. Receipts are not required by the statute.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent, charges listed in your signed lease or allowed by the Act (subject to the landlord's duty to try to re-rent), and damages caused by your failure to meet your duties under § 33-1341. Any fee or deposit not stated in writing as nonrefundable is refundable.
Interest
No. The statute does not require interest.
Move-in checklist
Yes. At move-in the landlord must give you a move-in form to note existing damage and a written notice that you may be present at the move-out inspection. If you ask, the landlord must tell you when the move-out inspection will happen.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord does not follow the return rules, you can recover the money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Law
A.R.S. § 33-1321

Get your deposit back, step by step

  1. Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
  2. Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Arizona: The landlord mails the itemized list and any refund by first-class mail to your last known address unless you arrange otherwise in writing.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 14 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after the tenancy ends, you give back possession, AND you ask for the deposit.
  4. If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
  5. If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $5,000, not counting interest and costs (raised from $3,500 in 2025). Small claims court in Arizona on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Arizona

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.

Enter your deposit and move-out dateThe result appears as you type.

An estimate from the dates you enter and the rule in our data, not legal advice. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business days, and we don't skip holidays.

Security deposit demand letter for Arizona

A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.

Your letter is made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.

The name on your lease or rent receipts.

We suggest 14 days.

One or two sentences. This text goes into the letter as written.

Small claims court in Arizona

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $5,000, not counting interest and costs (raised from $3,500 in 2025).

How to file in Arizona

Questions about security deposits in Arizona

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Arizona?

One and a half months' rent (all security and prepaid rent combined). You may choose to prepay more rent voluntarily.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Arizona?

Within 14 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after the tenancy ends, you give back possession, AND you ask for the deposit. The landlord mails the itemized list and any refund by first-class mail to your last known address unless you arrange otherwise in writing. Ask for it in writing when you move out.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Arizona?

If the landlord does not follow the return rules, you can recover the money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Arizona?

Unpaid rent, charges listed in your signed lease or allowed by the Act (subject to the landlord's duty to try to re-rent), and damages caused by your failure to meet your duties under § 33-1341. Any fee or deposit not stated in writing as nonrefundable is refundable.

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Arizona?

No. The statute does not require interest.

What is the small claims limit in Arizona?

$5,000, not counting interest and costs (raised from $3,500 in 2025).

More for Arizona renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.