How to use the security deposit return deadline checker
Korea has a court-ordered lease registration that keeps a tenant's priority on the title register after moving out. The United States has no equivalent procedure. Instead, a departing tenant enforces an unreturned deposit through the state's security deposit statute and, if needed, a small claims suit. This tool tracks that statutory clock.
Legal basis: every state sets its own return period and remedy. California requires the itemized statement and refund within 21 days (Cal. Civ. Code ยง1950.5(g)), and New York requires 14 days (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law ยง7-108(1-a)(e)). Many statutes allow the court to award double or treble the withheld amount when retention is willful or in bad faith, and small claims jurisdictional limits differ by state. Enter your own state's figures above. Figures reviewed as of September 2026.
A tenant who cannot collect may also record a judgment lien after winning, but a lien is not available before judgment in most states.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state about your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. US law has no pre-judgment filing that preserves a former tenant's claim on the property title. Enforcement runs through the state security deposit statute, a demand letter, and then a small claims or civil action.
Not automatically. Most states require the court to find that the landlord acted willfully or in bad faith before awarding multiple damages, and the multiplier itself varies by state. The figure shown here is a ceiling for planning, not an award.