North Carolina Security Deposit Law
North Carolina rules on security deposits for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: 2 weeks' rent (week-to-week tenancy); 1.5 months' rent (month-to-month); 2 months' rent (terms longer than month-to-month) N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51(b)
The rules in North Carolina
| Security deposit limit | 2 weeks' rent (week-to-week tenancy); 1.5 months' rent (month-to-month); 2 months' rent (terms longer than month-to-month) Deposit must be held in a trust account at a licensed, federally insured institution (or bonded), and the tenant must be told where within 30 days of the lease start (§ 42-50). Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51(b) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered. If the landlord's claim can't be determined in 30 days, an interim accounting is due in 30 days and a final accounting within 60 days. If the tenant's address is unknown, the landlord must hold the balance for the tenant for at least 6 months. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 |
| Itemized deductions | Landlord must itemize any damage in writing and mail or deliver it with the balance of the deposit. Deductions allowed only for: unpaid rent and certain utility charges, damage (including to smoke/CO alarms), damages from breaking the rental period, unpaid bills that become a lien, re-renting costs after breach, removal/storage after summary ejectment, court costs, and fees permitted by § 42-46. No deductions for normal wear and tear or above actual damages. |
| Interest on deposits | No statutory interest requirement The Tenant Security Deposit Act requires a trust account or bond but does not require paying interest to the tenant. |
| Penalty for withholding | Willful failure to comply with the deposit, bond, or notice requirements voids the landlord's right to keep any part of the deposit. Tenant may sue for an accounting and the balance plus damages; court may award attorney's fees for willful noncompliance. No statutory multiple-damages penalty. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-55 |
Free calculators
- Security Deposit Deadline Calculator — See when your landlord must return your deposit, and the penalty your state sets if they don't.
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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)?
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Itemized deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 2 weeks' rent (week-to-week tenancy); 1.5 months' rent (month-to-month); 2 months' rent (terms longer than month-to-month) N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51(b) | 30 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered. If the landlord's claim can't be determined in 30 days, an interim accounting is due in 30 days and a final accounting within 60 days. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 | Landlord must itemize any damage in writing and mail or deliver it with the balance of the deposit. Deductions allowed only for: unpaid rent and certain utility charges, damage (including to smoke/CO alarms), damages from breaking the rental period, unpaid bills that become a lien, re-renting costs after breach, removal/storage after summary ejectment, court costs, and fees permitted by § 42-46. No deductions for normal wear and tear or above actual damages. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-51(a), 42-52 |
| Georgia | 2 months' rent. No landlord may demand or receive a security deposit that exceeds the equivalent of two months' rent. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1 (added by HB 404, 2024 Safe at Home Act, Act 392) | Within 30 days after the landlord obtains possession of the unit. The landlord complies by mailing the statement and any refund by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address. If the mailed refund is returned undeliverable and the tenant cannot be located after reasonable effort, it becomes the landlord's property 90 days after mailing. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34(a) | If any amount is kept, the landlord must give a written statement of the specific reasons within 30 days, with the itemized damage list if damage is claimed, and the balance due. No deduction for normal wear and tear. Landlords with more than 10 units or a fee-paid management agent must also give a move-in damage list and do a move-out inspection within 3 business days, giving the tenant a signed damage list; the tenant may inspect within 5 business days and sign or note disagreements. O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-33, 44-7-34 |
| South Carolina | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. S.C. Code § 27-40-410 | 30 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession and demand by the tenant. S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a) | Written notice itemizing the amounts withheld (accrued rent and damages from tenant noncompliance), delivered with any balance due within the 30 days. S.C. Code § 27-40-410(a) |
| Tennessee | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. Outside URLTA counties, no statute regulates security deposits; the lease governs. T.C.A. 66-28-301; ch. 66-7 (checked) | No fixed number of days for returning the deposit. In URLTA counties, if the tenant leaves owing no rent and is due a refund, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known or reasonably determinable address. If the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice, the landlord may keep the deposit. Move-out inspection: on the move-out day or within 4 calendar days after it. T.C.A. 66-28-301(b)(1)(A), (f) | Deductions must be supported by a written listing of damages with estimated repair costs. The tenant has the right to inspect: after a request to vacate, or within 5 days of the tenant's notice to vacate, the landlord may notify the tenant of the right to attend the inspection. At a mutual inspection, both parties sign the listing, and their signatures are conclusive evidence that it is accurate. A tenant who refuses to sign must list in writing the items they dispute. The landlord may inspect alone if the tenant left without written notice, abandoned the unit, was judicially removed, did not respond, did not show up, or did not request an inspection. In that case, on the tenant's written request, the landlord must send a copy of the listing by certificate of mailing. The deposit may also be applied to unpaid rent. T.C.A. 66-28-301(b), (e) |
| Virginia | Two months' periodic rent. Va. Code 55.1-1226(A) | 45 days after termination of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates, whichever is later. Va. Code 55.1-1226(A) | Required: written notice itemizing the deposit and any deductions, damages and charges, delivered with any refund within the 45-day period. Va. Code 55.1-1226(A) |
City rules that may add to state law
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- Free legal help in North Carolina
Compare security deposits in all 50 states and DC →
North Carolina Security Deposit Law FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in North Carolina?
2 weeks' rent (week-to-week tenancy); 1.5 months' rent (month-to-month); 2 months' rent (terms longer than month-to-month) (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51(b))
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in North Carolina?
30 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered. If the landlord's claim can't be determined in 30 days, an interim accounting is due in 30 days and a final accounting within 60 days. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52)
Does a landlord in North Carolina have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
Landlord must itemize any damage in writing and mail or deliver it with the balance of the deposit. Deductions allowed only for: unpaid rent and certain utility charges, damage (including to smoke/CO alarms), damages from breaking the rental period, unpaid bills that become a lien, re-renting costs after breach, removal/storage after summary ejectment, court costs, and fees permitted by § 42-46. No deductions for normal wear and tear or above actual damages. (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-51(a), 42-52)
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in North Carolina?
No statutory interest requirement (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-50 to 42-56)
What happens if a landlord in North Carolina wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
Willful failure to comply with the deposit, bond, or notice requirements voids the landlord's right to keep any part of the deposit. Tenant may sue for an accounting and the balance plus damages; court may award attorney's fees for willful noncompliance. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-55)
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.