North Carolina · NC
In North Carolina, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days.
- Return deadline
- 30 calendar days
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Not required by statute
- Maximum deposit
- 2 months' rent
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
Willful noncompliance with the deposit/notice requirements voids the landlord's right to retain any portion of the deposit; tenant may recover the balance plus damages, and court may award attorney's fees.
30 calendar days; may extend to 60 days if extent of damage not yet ascertainable within 30. Cap is tiered: 2 weeks (week-to-week), 1.5 months (month-to-month), 2 months (longer terms); shown value is the longer-term cap. Deposit held in trust or bonded; no interest owed to tenant.