Ohio · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Ohio security deposit law

How much a landlord in Ohio 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 Ohio, the deposit limit is: No statewide limit. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver the refund and a written list of any deductions.

deposit limit
No statewide limit
to return a deposit
30 days
deposit penalty
Up to 2×

Security deposit in Ohio

Limit
No statewide limit.
Deadline to return it
Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver the refund and a written list of any deductions. You must give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. If you don't, you lose the right to the extra damages and attorney fees.
Itemized list
Yes. Every deduction must be itemized and explained in a written notice sent with the money owed, within 30 days. Receipts are not required by the law.
What may be deducted
Past-due rent and damage the landlord suffered because you did not meet your duties under the law or the lease (for example, damage beyond normal use, failing to keep the unit clean and safe).
Interest
Yes, in some cases. If you stay 6 months or more, the landlord must pay 5% a year on the part of the deposit that is more than $50 or one month's rent, whichever is greater. It is paid every year.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
The money wrongly kept, plus damages equal to the amount wrongfully withheld (so up to twice that amount in total), plus reasonable attorney fees. Only if you gave a forwarding address in writing.
Law
Ohio Rev. Code 5321.16

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 Ohio: You must give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver the refund and a written list of any deductions.
  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: $6,000. Small claims court in Ohio on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Ohio

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 Ohio

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 Ohio

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $6,000.

How to file in Ohio

Questions about security deposits in Ohio

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

No statewide limit.

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

Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver the refund and a written list of any deductions. You must give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. If you don't, you lose the right to the extra damages and attorney fees.

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

The money wrongly kept, plus damages equal to the amount wrongfully withheld (so up to twice that amount in total), plus reasonable attorney fees. Only if you gave a forwarding address in writing.

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

Past-due rent and damage the landlord suffered because you did not meet your duties under the law or the lease (for example, damage beyond normal use, failing to keep the unit clean and safe).

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

Yes, in some cases. If you stay 6 months or more, the landlord must pay 5% a year on the part of the deposit that is more than $50 or one month's rent, whichever is greater. It is paid every year.

What is the small claims limit in Ohio?

$6,000.

More for Ohio renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.