Idaho · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Idaho security deposit law

How much a landlord in Idaho 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 Idaho, the deposit limit is: No statewide limit. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 21 days after you end the lease and give back the unit, unless your lease sets a different time; in no case later than 30 days after you surrender the unit.

deposit limit
No statewide limit
to return a deposit
21 days
deposit penalty
Up to 3×

Security deposit in Idaho

Limit
No statewide limit.
Deadline to return it
Within 21 days after you end the lease and give back the unit, unless your lease sets a different time; in no case later than 30 days after you surrender the unit.
Itemized list
Yes. If less than the full deposit is returned, the landlord must include a signed statement listing the amounts kept, the reason for each, and a detailed list of what was spent from the deposit.
What may be deducted
Only amounts needed to cover what the deposit agreement says the deposit is for. The landlord may not keep any part for normal wear and tear (deterioration from normal intended use, without negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse).
Interest
No. The statute does not require interest.
Separate account
Only when a third-party property manager manages the unit: the deposit must be kept in a separate account at a federally insured bank, apart from the manager's operating account. This does not apply to owners, managers who share principals with the owner, real estate licensees, or certain nonprofits.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
You can sue for the deposit under Idaho Code § 6-320(a)(4). You must first give the landlord 3 days' written notice listing the problem and demanding the deposit (§ 6-320(d)). If you win, the court may (it is not required to) award three times your actual damages (§ 6-317).
Law
Idaho Code §§ 6-321, 6-320, 6-317

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 Idaho: the rule above says where the landlord sends the deposit.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 21 days after you end the lease and give back the unit, unless your lease sets a different time; in no case later than 30 days after you surrender the unit.
  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: $15,000 since July 1, 2026 (it was $5,000 before). Small claims court in Idaho on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Idaho

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 Idaho

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 Idaho

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $15,000 since July 1, 2026 (it was $5,000 before).

How to file in Idaho

Questions about security deposits in Idaho

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

No statewide limit.

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

Within 21 days after you end the lease and give back the unit, unless your lease sets a different time; in no case later than 30 days after you surrender the unit.

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

You can sue for the deposit under Idaho Code § 6-320(a)(4). You must first give the landlord 3 days' written notice listing the problem and demanding the deposit (§ 6-320(d)). If you win, the court may (it is not required to) award three times your actual damages (§ 6-317).

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

Only amounts needed to cover what the deposit agreement says the deposit is for. The landlord may not keep any part for normal wear and tear (deterioration from normal intended use, without negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse).

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

No. The statute does not require interest.

What is the small claims limit in Idaho?

$15,000 since July 1, 2026 (it was $5,000 before).

More for Idaho renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.