Oklahoma · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Oklahoma security deposit law

How much a landlord in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma, the deposit limit is: No statewide limit. The landlord must return it as follows: You must ask for your deposit back in writing.

deposit limit
No statewide limit
to return a deposit
45 days
deposit penalty
See below

Security deposit in Oklahoma

Limit
No statewide limit.
Deadline to return it
You must ask for your deposit back in writing. The landlord must return what is left within 45 days after the tenancy ends, you give back possession, and you make that written demand. If you don't ask in writing within 6 months after the tenancy ends, you lose the deposit. No interest is owed.
Itemized list
Yes. Deductions must be itemized in a written statement delivered in person or by return-receipt mail. Receipts are not required by the law.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent and damages the landlord suffered because you broke the lease or your duties under the Act (for example, damage you caused beyond normal use). You may not use the deposit as your last month's rent unless the lease allows it.
Interest
No. The deposit is returned without interest.
Separate account
Yes. The deposit must be kept in an escrow account for you at a federally insured bank in Oklahoma. Misusing it is a crime (up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to twice the amount).
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
You can sue to recover the deposit and any prepaid rent, plus other damages the Act allows. The statute does not set a double or triple penalty.
Law
41 O.S. § 115

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 Oklahoma: the rule above says where the landlord sends the deposit.
  3. Wait for the deadline: You must ask for your deposit back in writing.
  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. Small claims court in Oklahoma on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $10,000.

How to file in Oklahoma

Questions about security deposits in Oklahoma

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

No statewide limit.

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

You must ask for your deposit back in writing. The landlord must return what is left within 45 days after the tenancy ends, you give back possession, and you make that written demand. If you don't ask in writing within 6 months after the tenancy ends, you lose the deposit. No interest is owed.

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

You can sue to recover the deposit and any prepaid rent, plus other damages the Act allows. The statute does not set a double or triple penalty.

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

Unpaid rent and damages the landlord suffered because you broke the lease or your duties under the Act (for example, damage you caused beyond normal use). You may not use the deposit as your last month's rent unless the lease allows it.

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

No. The deposit is returned without interest.

What is the small claims limit in Oklahoma?

$10,000.

More for Oklahoma renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.