Utah · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Utah security deposit law

How much a landlord in Utah 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 Utah, the deposit limit is: No statewide limit. The landlord must return it as follows: No later than 30 days after you move out and return possession, the landlord must mail or deliver to your last known address (or send electronically by a method you provided) the rest of your deposit, any prepaid rent, and a written list explaining each deduction.

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

Security deposit in Utah

Limit
No statewide limit.
Deadline to return it
No later than 30 days after you move out and return possession, the landlord must mail or deliver to your last known address (or send electronically by a method you provided) the rest of your deposit, any prepaid rent, and a written list explaining each deduction. If the landlord misses this, you can serve a 'Tenant's Notice to Provide Deposit Disposition' (the form is in the statute); the landlord then has 5 business days to comply.
Itemized list
Yes. A written notice that itemizes and explains the reason for each deduction, sent within 30 days. Receipts are not required by the law.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent, damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, cleaning of the unit, and other costs and fees listed in the lease.
Interest
No statute requires interest.
Move-in checklist
Yes, one of three options. Before you sign, the landlord must either give you a written inventory of the unit's condition, give you a form to record the condition and a reasonable time to return it after you move in, or let you do a walk-through inspection (Utah Code 57-22-4(6)).
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord still doesn't comply within 5 business days after you serve the statutory notice: the full deposit (and full prepaid rent) plus a $100 civil penalty. Court costs and attorney fees go to the winner if the other side acted in bad faith. You must serve the notice first to get this relief.
Law
Utah Code 57-17-3, 57-17-5

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 Utah: No later than 30 days after you move out and return possession, the landlord must mail or deliver to your last known address (or send electronically by a method you provided) the rest of your deposit, any prepaid rent, and a written list explaining each deduction.
  3. Wait for the deadline: No later than 30 days after you move out and return possession, the landlord must mail or deliver to your last known address (or send electronically by a method you provided) the rest of your deposit, any prepaid rent, and a written list explaining each deduction.
  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. Small claims court in Utah on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Utah

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 Utah

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 Utah

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $20,000.

How to file in Utah

Questions about security deposits in Utah

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

No statewide limit.

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

No later than 30 days after you move out and return possession, the landlord must mail or deliver to your last known address (or send electronically by a method you provided) the rest of your deposit, any prepaid rent, and a written list explaining each deduction. If the landlord misses this, you can serve a 'Tenant's Notice to Provide Deposit Disposition' (the form is in the statute); the landlord then has 5 business days to comply.

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

If the landlord still doesn't comply within 5 business days after you serve the statutory notice: the full deposit (and full prepaid rent) plus a $100 civil penalty. Court costs and attorney fees go to the winner if the other side acted in bad faith. You must serve the notice first to get this relief.

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

Unpaid rent, damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, cleaning of the unit, and other costs and fees listed in the lease.

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

No statute requires interest.

What is the small claims limit in Utah?

$20,000.

More for Utah renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.