Illinois Security Deposit Law
Illinois rules on security deposits for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statewide legal limit on the amount of a security deposit. Illinois AG fact sheet 'Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws' (01/24)
The rules in Illinois
| Security deposit limit | No statewide legal limit on the amount of a security deposit. AG: 'there is no legal limit on the amount your landlord can require.' Local ordinances may differ. |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | If the landlord withholds anything for damage, an itemized statement with estimated or actual repair costs and paid receipts is due within 30 days after the tenant vacates (or possession ends, whichever is later); if no statement is given, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days after the tenant vacates. Amended by P.A. 103-224 (eff. 1-1-24): statement may be emailed to a verified address; landlord may deduct lease-specified component costs. P.A. 103-224 also struck the former 'containing 5 or more units' limit, so the Act now covers all residential lessors (https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/publicacts/view/103-0224). The AG fact sheet (01/24) still describes the old 5-unit threshold and is outdated on this point. Source: 765 ILCS 710/1 |
| Itemized deductions | Itemized statement of damage with estimated or actual repair/replacement cost for each item, with paid receipts (or copies) attached, delivered within 30 days by personal delivery, postmarked mail, or email to a verified address; if estimates are used, paid receipts must follow within 30 days. If receipts are unavailable through no fault of the landlord, a verified statement explaining why is allowed. Landlord may charge reasonable cost of own labor. Source: 765 ILCS 710/1(a)-(b) |
| Interest on deposits | Required only for landlords of 25 or more units (single building or contiguous complex) holding a deposit more than 6 months: interest at the passbook savings rate of the largest Illinois-headquartered commercial bank as of Dec. 31 before the lease began; paid within 30 days after each 12-month period (if $5 or more) in cash or rent credit, and all remaining interest at termination. Public housing exempt. Willful failure to pay interest: liable for an amount equal to the deposit plus costs and attorney fees. Chicago RLTO has its own interest rules. Source: 765 ILCS 715/1-3 |
| Penalty for withholding | If a court finds the landlord refused to supply the itemized statement or supplied it in bad faith and failed to return the deposit on time: twice the amount of the deposit due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Source: 765 ILCS 710/1(c) |
Free calculators
- Security Deposit Deadline Calculator — See when your landlord must return your deposit, and the penalty your state sets if they don't.
Templates
Related questions
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?
- What can a landlord charge for at move-out (cleaning, painting, carpet)?
Illinois vs. neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Itemized deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | No statewide legal limit on the amount of a security deposit. Illinois AG fact sheet 'Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws' (01/24) | If the landlord withholds anything for damage, an itemized statement with estimated or actual repair costs and paid receipts is due within 30 days after the tenant vacates (or possession ends, whichever is later); if no statement is given, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days after the tenant vacates. 765 ILCS 710/1 | Itemized statement of damage with estimated or actual repair/replacement cost for each item, with paid receipts (or copies) attached, delivered within 30 days by personal delivery, postmarked mail, or email to a verified address; if estimates are used, paid receipts must follow within 30 days. If receipts are unavailable through no fault of the landlord, a verified statement explaining why is allowed. 765 ILCS 710/1(a)-(b) |
| Indiana | No statutory cap on security deposits. IC 32-31-3 | Within 45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession, the landlord must return the deposit minus itemized deductions. The landlord is not liable until the tenant provides a written forwarding mailing address. IC 32-31-3-12, 32-31-3-14 | Within 45 days after termination of occupancy, landlord must mail an itemized list of damages with the estimated cost of repair for each item, plus a check or money order for the balance. Deposits may be used only for actual damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, unpaid rent (including rent due for early termination), the last rent period if agreed in writing, and unpaid utility/sewer charges owed by the tenant. IC 32-31-3-13, 32-31-3-14 |
| Iowa | Two months' rent. Iowa Code § 562A.12(1) | Within 30 days after termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, return the deposit or give a written statement of the specific reasons for withholding. If no address is provided within one year, the deposit reverts to the landlord. Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)-(4) | Written statement showing the specific reason for withholding any portion; if withheld for restoration, it must specify the nature of the damages. Allowed deductions: unpaid rent or other funds due under the lease, restoring the unit to move-in condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and costs of recovering possession from a tenant who fails in bad faith to vacate. Landlord bears the burden of proof. Iowa Code § 562A.12(3) |
| Kentucky | No statutory cap (statewide or under URLTA). KRS 383.580 | Non-URLTA areas: no statute. URLTA areas: no fixed refund deadline; if the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known address and may keep the deposit if the tenant does not respond within 60 days. If the tenant leaves without paying the last month's rent and does not demand the deposit, the landlord may apply it after 30 days. KRS 383.580(6)-(7) | URLTA areas: before taking a deposit, the landlord must give a signed move-in list of existing damage with estimated repair costs; at move-out the landlord must inspect and compile a signed list of damages with estimated costs, which the tenant may inspect and dispute in writing. Deposits must be kept in a separate account at a regulated institution and the tenant told the bank and account number. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.580(1)-(3), (5) |
| Missouri | Landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. RSMo 535.300.1 | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance. Mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. RSMo 535.300.3 | Required. Withholding must be listed in a written itemized list of damages. Allowed deductions: unpaid rent; restoring the unit beyond ordinary wear and tear; carpet cleaning if the lease contains the required notice and a receipt is provided within 30 days; actual losses from the tenant's inadequate termination notice if the landlord tried to mitigate. RSMo 535.300.3-.4 |
| Wisconsin | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06; Wis. Stat. § 704.28 | 21 days. If the tenant leaves on the termination date, the clock starts on that date. If the tenant leaves or is evicted early, it starts on the termination date, or when a new tenancy begins if the landlord re-rents first. If the tenant leaves after the termination date, it starts when the landlord learns the tenant has left or been removed. Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4); Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06(2) | If anything is withheld, the landlord must give a written statement describing each item of damage or claim and the amount withheld for it, within the same 21-day deadline and by the same delivery method as the deposit. Normal wear and tear may never be deducted. Deductions not listed in § 704.28(1) are allowed only through a separate 'NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS' document. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06(3)-(4); Wis. Stat. § 704.28(1)-(2) |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare security deposits in all 50 states and DC →
Illinois Security Deposit Law FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Illinois?
No statewide legal limit on the amount of a security deposit. (Illinois AG fact sheet 'Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws' (01/24))
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Illinois?
If the landlord withholds anything for damage, an itemized statement with estimated or actual repair costs and paid receipts is due within 30 days after the tenant vacates (or possession ends, whichever is later); if no statement is given, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days after the tenant vacates. (765 ILCS 710/1)
Does a landlord in Illinois have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
Itemized statement of damage with estimated or actual repair/replacement cost for each item, with paid receipts (or copies) attached, delivered within 30 days by personal delivery, postmarked mail, or email to a verified address; if estimates are used, paid receipts must follow within 30 days. If receipts are unavailable through no fault of the landlord, a verified statement explaining why is allowed. (765 ILCS 710/1(a)-(b))
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Illinois?
Required only for landlords of 25 or more units (single building or contiguous complex) holding a deposit more than 6 months: interest at the passbook savings rate of the largest Illinois-headquartered commercial bank as of Dec. 31 before the lease began; paid within 30 days after each 12-month period (if $5 or more) in cash or rent credit, and all remaining interest at termination. Public housing exempt. (765 ILCS 715/1-3)
What happens if a landlord in Illinois wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
If a court finds the landlord refused to supply the itemized statement or supplied it in bad faith and failed to return the deposit on time: twice the amount of the deposit due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. (765 ILCS 710/1(c))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.