Minnesota · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Minnesota security deposit law

How much a landlord in Minnesota 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 Minnesota, the deposit limit is: no statewide limit. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part.

deposit limit
No statewide limit
to return a deposit
21 days
deposit penalty
Up to 2× (bad faith)

Security deposit in Minnesota

Limit
no statewide limit
Deadline to return it
Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part. Mailing first class by the deadline counts.
Itemized list
Yes: a written statement showing the specific reason for keeping any part. The landlord has the burden of proving the reason in court.
What may be deducted
Only amounts reasonably needed to cover unpaid rent or other money you owe under the lease, and to restore the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. You may not use the deposit as your last month's rent (except in a month-to-month tenancy where no notice to quit has been served).
Interest
Yes: 1% simple interest a year, from the first day of the month after you paid the full deposit (amounts under $1 excluded).
Move-in checklist
Yes, on request. At the start of the tenancy or within 14 days after you move in, the landlord must tell you that you may ask for a move-in inspection. Before the tenancy ends, the landlord must tell you in writing that you may ask for a move-out inspection (no earlier than 5 days before you leave) and be present. You may instead agree in writing on photos or videos of the unit's condition (Minn. Stat. §504B.182). A landlord who fails to give these notices or do a requested inspection owes the deposit penalty (§504B.178, subd. 4).
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord misses the 3-week (or 5-day) deadline, or fails to offer/complete the required inspections, it owes the wrongly withheld amount plus interest and a penalty equal to that amount (in effect, double). Bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit; retention is presumed in bad faith if the landlord missed the deadline and does not return the deposit within 2 weeks after you sue.
Law
Minn. Stat. §504B.178

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 Minnesota: Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part.
  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: $20,000 in Conciliation Court since July 1, 2024. Small claims court in Minnesota on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Minnesota

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 Minnesota

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 Minnesota

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $20,000 in Conciliation Court since July 1, 2024.

How to file in Minnesota

Questions about security deposits in Minnesota

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

no statewide limit

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

Within 3 weeks after your tenancy ends (or within 5 days if you had to leave because the building was condemned, not through your fault), and after you give a mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or give you a written statement of why it kept any part. Mailing first class by the deadline counts.

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

If the landlord misses the 3-week (or 5-day) deadline, or fails to offer/complete the required inspections, it owes the wrongly withheld amount plus interest and a penalty equal to that amount (in effect, double). Bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit; retention is presumed in bad faith if the landlord missed the deadline and does not return the deposit within 2 weeks after you sue.

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

Only amounts reasonably needed to cover unpaid rent or other money you owe under the lease, and to restore the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. You may not use the deposit as your last month's rent (except in a month-to-month tenancy where no notice to quit has been served).

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

Yes: 1% simple interest a year, from the first day of the month after you paid the full deposit (amounts under $1 excluded).

What is the small claims limit in Minnesota?

$20,000 in Conciliation Court since July 1, 2024.

More for Minnesota renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.