Mississippi · MS · updated 2026
In Mississippi, a landlord must return a security deposit within 45 calendar days
Quick answer
A Mississippi landlord has 45 calendar days after the tenancy ends to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it in bad faith and the landlord can end up owing you more than the deposit itself.
Under Mississippi security deposit law, a Mississippi landlord has 45 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends. By statute, Mississippi sets no statutory cap on how much a landlord can charge. If the landlord misses the deadline or keeps money you are owed, you can push back in writing and, if needed, in small claims court.
- Return deadline
- 45 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Not required by statute
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact Mississippi deadline
Enter your move-out date to see the exact calendar date the deadline lands on. It runs on your device, so nothing you type is uploaded.
What a Mississippi landlord can deduct
- Unpaid rent and unpaid utilities you owe under the lease
- Repair of damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (not normal aging, fading, or minor marks)
- An itemized written statement of every deduction (Mississippi requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
If withheld without good faith, landlord liable for statutory damages up to $200 in addition to any actual damages
How to get your deposit back in Mississippi
- Document the unit's condition at move-out with dated photos of every room (a move-in / move-out checklist keeps it organized).
- Confirm your exact return deadline with the deadline calculator.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed.
- If it is still ignored, you can file in small claims court.
Common Mississippi deposit disputes
- The deadline passed and you have heard nothing
- Send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed. Keep proof you sent it.
- You got money back but disagree with the deductions
- Mississippi requires an itemized statement, so ask for it in writing first, then dispute anything charged as ordinary wear and tear.
- You are still deciding whether the case is worth it
- Confirm the exact deadline below, gather your dated move-out photos, and read the penalty your state allows before you commit.
Frequently asked
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Mississippi?
- In Mississippi, a landlord must return a security deposit within 45 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Mississippi?
- Mississippi statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my Mississippi landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Mississippi requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Mississippi landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. Mississippi does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Mississippi landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- If withheld without good faith, landlord liable for statutory damages up to $200 in addition to any actual damages
Deadline runs from the latest of termination, delivery of possession, and tenant's demand. No statutory deposit cap. No move-in checklist or interest requirement in the statute. Penalty is a flat $200 statutory cap, not a multiplier.