Virginia Security Deposit Law
Virginia rules on security deposits for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Two months' periodic rent. Va. Code 55.1-1226(A)
The rules in Virginia
| Security deposit limit | Two months' periodic rent. If the landlord also requires damage insurance, deposit plus insurance premiums combined may not exceed two months' rent (DHCD Statement of Tenant Rights, July 1, 2026). Source: Va. Code 55.1-1226(A) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 45 days after termination of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates, whichever is later. Landlord gets 15 additional days to itemize damages that require a third-party contractor, if timely notice is given (55.1-1226(E)). Move-out inspection must be made within 72 hours of delivery of possession (DHCD Statement of Tenant Rights, 2026). Last amended 2023 cc. 433, 434. Source: Va. Code 55.1-1226(A) |
| Itemized deductions | Required: written notice itemizing the deposit and any deductions, damages and charges, delivered with any refund within the 45-day period. Source: Va. Code 55.1-1226(A) |
| Interest on deposits | Not required under current law. Current text of 55.1-1226 contains no interest-on-deposit requirement. Source: Va. Code 55.1-1226 |
| Penalty for withholding | If the landlord willfully fails to comply, the court shall order return of the deposit plus actual damages and reasonable attorney fees (if the tenant owes rent, the deposit amount is credited against rent due). No statutory multiplier (e.g., double damages). Source: Va. Code 55.1-1226(E) |
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)?
Virginia vs. neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Itemized deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| District of Columbia | May not exceed the initial monthly rent (one month's rent), and must be held in an interest-bearing account. 14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 (as summarized in OTA Tenant Bill of Rights, Form OTA 2026.09.25) | Within 45 days after the tenant vacates, the landlord must either return the deposit (with interest for tenancies of 12+ months) or give written notice of amounts claimed. If amounts are claimed, the balance must be returned within 30 days after that notice. 14 DCMR § 309; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e) | Within 45 days, written notice of any claimed unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, or cost of removing abandoned items, with supporting documentation and a statement of the tenant's right to dispute. Tenant has 30 days to dispute; landlord must respond within 10 days. Ordinary wear and tear may not be charged. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(c), (e) |
City rules that may add to state law
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Virginia Security Deposit Law FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Virginia?
Two months' periodic rent. (Va. Code 55.1-1226(A))
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Virginia?
45 days after termination of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates, whichever is later. (Va. Code 55.1-1226(A))
Does a landlord in Virginia have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
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))
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Virginia?
Not required under current law. (Va. Code 55.1-1226)
What happens if a landlord in Virginia wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
If the landlord willfully fails to comply, the court shall order return of the deposit plus actual damages and reasonable attorney fees (if the tenant owes rent, the deposit amount is credited against rent due). (Va. Code 55.1-1226(E))
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.