District of Columbia · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

District of Columbia security deposit law

How much a landlord in District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia, the deposit limit is: One month's rent (the first full month's rent), charged only once. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest (no request needed), or notify you in writing (in person, by certified mail or e-mail at your forwarding address) of the amounts it intends to keep.

deposit limit
1 month's rent
to return a deposit
45 days
deposit penalty
Up to 3× (bad faith)

Security deposit in District of Columbia

Limit
One month's rent (the first full month's rent), charged only once.
Deadline to return it
Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest (no request needed), or notify you in writing (in person, by certified mail or e-mail at your forwarding address) of the amounts it intends to keep. If it sends that notice, it must refund the balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after the notice. At move-out the landlord must ask you for a forwarding mailing or e-mail address.
Itemized list
Yes. The 45-day notice must list any unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, or removal charges, with photos or other documentation and a statement of your right to dispute. You have 30 days to dispute; the landlord must respond in writing within 10 days. The final refund must include an itemized statement of each repair and its cost. If the landlord misses these steps, that is prima facie evidence you are owed the full deposit with interest.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (wear from normal use, age or deterioration is not chargeable), charges for removing items you left behind, and unpaid lawful late fees. A promise to leave the unit 'in good repair' does not make you fix defects you did not cause.
Interest
Yes. The deposit must earn interest at not less than the statement savings rate of the DC bank holding it, reset each January 1 and July 1. Interest is paid at the end of any tenancy of 12 months or more. Failure to pay: the interest owed, or three times that in bad faith.
Separate account
Yes. The deposit must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at an insured DC financial institution, used only for deposits. Each year the landlord must post where deposits are held and the interest rates.
Move-in checklist
No move-in checklist rule. For move-out, the landlord may inspect within 3 business days before or after the tenancy ends and must give you at least 10 days' written notice of the inspection time.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
The landlord must pay back the amount wrongly withheld; in bad faith, three times that amount. Complaints can also go to the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Law
D.C. Code § 42-3502.17; 14 DCMR §§ 308-311

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 District of Columbia: Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest (no request needed), or notify you in writing (in person, by certified mail or e-mail at your forwarding address) of the amounts it intends to keep.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest (no request needed), or notify you in writing (in person, by certified mail or e-mail at your forwarding address) of the amounts it intends to keep.
  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: $10,000, not counting interest, attorney fees and court costs. Small claims court in District of Columbia on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $10,000, not counting interest, attorney fees and court costs.

How to file in District of Columbia

Questions about security deposits in District of Columbia

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in District of Columbia?

One month's rent (the first full month's rent), charged only once.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in District of Columbia?

Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest (no request needed), or notify you in writing (in person, by certified mail or e-mail at your forwarding address) of the amounts it intends to keep. If it sends that notice, it must refund the balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after the notice. At move-out the landlord must ask you for a forwarding mailing or e-mail address.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in District of Columbia?

The landlord must pay back the amount wrongly withheld; in bad faith, three times that amount. Complaints can also go to the Office of Administrative Hearings.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in District of Columbia?

Unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (wear from normal use, age or deterioration is not chargeable), charges for removing items you left behind, and unpaid lawful late fees. A promise to leave the unit 'in good repair' does not make you fix defects you did not cause.

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in District of Columbia?

Yes. The deposit must earn interest at not less than the statement savings rate of the DC bank holding it, reset each January 1 and July 1. Interest is paid at the end of any tenancy of 12 months or more. Failure to pay: the interest owed, or three times that in bad faith.

What is the small claims limit in District of Columbia?

$10,000, not counting interest, attorney fees and court costs.

More for District of Columbia renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.