Pennsylvania Security Deposit Law
Pennsylvania rules on security deposits for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: First year of the lease: no more than 2 months' rent. Second and later years (or any renewal): no more than 1 month's rent. After 5+ years of tenancy, a rent increase cannot require a higher deposit. Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.1 (68 P.S. § 250.511a)
The rules in Pennsylvania
| Security deposit limit | First year of the lease: no more than 2 months' rent. Second and later years (or any renewal): no more than 1 month's rent. After 5+ years of tenancy, a rent increase cannot require a higher deposit. Text verified in the official PDF of the Act (palegis.us 'view-statute?txtType=PDF' link from the cited page). Waivers are void. Applies to residential rentals only. |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the premises (whichever comes first). Tenant must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing; failure to do so relieves the landlord of liability under § 512 (§ 512(e)). |
| Itemized deductions | Written list of damages for which the tenant is claimed liable, delivered within 30 days together with payment of the balance. If no list within 30 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit or to sue for damages to the premises. Landlord may still withhold for unpaid rent or other lease breaches (§ 512(a)). |
| Interest on deposits | Deposits over $100 must be held in a regulated bank escrow account and the tenant notified in writing of the bank's name/address and amount. After the deposit's 2nd anniversary, interest is owed to the tenant annually (landlord may keep 1% per year as an administrative fee). Landlord may post a bond instead of escrowing (§ 511.3). Source: Act § 511.2 (68 P.S. § 250.511b) |
| Penalty for withholding | Double the amount by which the deposit (plus unpaid interest) exceeds the actual damages caused by the tenant, if not paid within 30 days. Landlord bears the burden of proving damages. |
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)?
Pennsylvania vs. neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Itemized deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | First year of the lease: no more than 2 months' rent. Second and later years (or any renewal): no more than 1 month's rent. After 5+ years of tenancy, a rent increase cannot require a higher deposit. Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.1 (68 P.S. § 250.511a) | 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the premises (whichever comes first). Act § 512(a) (68 P.S. § 250.512(a)) | Written list of damages for which the tenant is claimed liable, delivered within 30 days together with payment of the balance. If no list within 30 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit or to sue for damages to the premises. Act § 512(a)-(b) (68 P.S. § 250.512) |
| Delaware | 1 month's rent for leases of 1 year or more, and for month-to-month tenancies once they have lasted 1 year (excess must be credited back). No cap for furnished units or for the first year of a month-to-month tenancy. A separate pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent is allowed (none for a support animal). 25 Del. C. § 5514(a), (i) | 20 days after the lease expires or terminates. 25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(f) | Within 20 days, an itemized list of damages with the estimated repair cost for each, plus payment of the balance. Failure to send the list is an acknowledgment that nothing is owed for damages. Tenant who accepts the payment agrees to the deductions unless the tenant objects in writing within 10 days of receiving it. 25 Del. C. § 5514(f) |
| Maryland | 1 month's rent per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of tenants. Up to 2 months' rent is allowed only if the tenant qualifies for Department of Human Services utility assistance, the lease requires the tenant to pay utilities directly to the landlord, and both agree in writing. A landlord who charges more than the cap can be sued for up to 3 times the extra amount plus reasonable attorney's fees. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b)(1)-(3) | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest, less damages rightfully withheld. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1) | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must send a written list of damages claimed plus an itemized statement of the cost of each (with supporting documentation; cost estimates allowed) by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address. If the landlord does not, it forfeits the right to withhold any of the deposit for damages. Where estimates were used, the landlord must notify the tenant when repairs are done and refund any excess within 30 days. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(g), (j), (k) |
| New Jersey | 1.5 times one month's rent. Any additional security collected in a year may not exceed 10% of the current deposit. N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2 | Within 30 days after the lease ends, by personal delivery or registered or certified mail: the deposit plus the tenant's share of interest, minus lawful charges. Within 5 business days if the tenant is displaced by fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation (and the premises are posted or certified as described in the statute). Within 15 business days when a domestic-violence victim ends the lease under N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.6. N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 | Interest and any deductions must be itemized and sent to the tenant by personal delivery or registered or certified mail within the same 30-day period. No deductions may be made from the deposit of a tenant who is still in possession. N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 |
| New York | One month's rent N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(a) | 14 days after the tenant vacates N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e) | Itemized statement showing the basis for any amount retained, within 14 days of move-out. Deductions limited to reasonable, itemized costs for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utilities, and moving/storage of tenant belongings. Tenant may request a pre-move-out inspection, after which the landlord must give an itemized list of proposed repairs/cleaning. N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(b), (d), (e) |
| Ohio | No statutory cap Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 | Within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and possession is delivered, the landlord must send the itemized written notice of deductions together with the amount due. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B) | Deductions (unpaid rent and damages from the tenant's noncompliance with § 5321.05 or the rental agreement) must be itemized and identified in a written notice delivered within 30 days. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B) |
| West Virginia | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2 | Within the 'notice period': 60 days after the tenancy ends, or 45 days after a new tenant occupies the unit, whichever is shorter. W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2(a); § 37-6A-1 (definition of 'notice period') | Landlord must give the tenant a written itemization of any damages or charges deducted from the deposit. Landlord must keep itemized deduction records for 1 year after the tenancy ends and let the tenant inspect or copy them within 72 hours of a written request. W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-2(a), 37-6A-3 |
City rules that may add to state law
More Pennsylvania rental law
- Pennsylvania Eviction Laws
- Pennsylvania Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Pennsylvania Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Pennsylvania
- Squatters' Rights in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Rental Fee Rules
- Pennsylvania Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Pennsylvania Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Pennsylvania Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Pennsylvania Landlord Selling the House
- Pennsylvania Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Pennsylvania Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Pennsylvania landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Pennsylvania
Compare security deposits in all 50 states and DC →
Pennsylvania Security Deposit Law FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
First year of the lease: no more than 2 months' rent. Second and later years (or any renewal): no more than 1 month's rent. After 5+ years of tenancy, a rent increase cannot require a higher deposit. (Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.1 (68 P.S. § 250.511a))
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the premises (whichever comes first). (Act § 512(a) (68 P.S. § 250.512(a)))
Does a landlord in Pennsylvania have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
Written list of damages for which the tenant is claimed liable, delivered within 30 days together with payment of the balance. If no list within 30 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit or to sue for damages to the premises. (Act § 512(a)-(b) (68 P.S. § 250.512))
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
Deposits over $100 must be held in a regulated bank escrow account and the tenant notified in writing of the bank's name/address and amount. After the deposit's 2nd anniversary, interest is owed to the tenant annually (landlord may keep 1% per year as an administrative fee). (Act § 511.2 (68 P.S. § 250.511b))
What happens if a landlord in Pennsylvania wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
Double the amount by which the deposit (plus unpaid interest) exceeds the actual damages caused by the tenant, if not paid within 30 days. Landlord bears the burden of proving damages. (Act § 512(c) (68 P.S. § 250.512(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.