Ohio · OH · updated 2026
In Ohio, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days
Quick answer
A Ohio landlord has 30 calendar days after the tenancy ends and possession is returned 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 Ohio security deposit law, a Ohio landlord has 30 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends and possession is returned. By statute, Ohio 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
- 30 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends and possession is returned
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Not required by statute
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Required
Calculate your exact Ohio 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 Ohio 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 (Ohio requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
Tenant may recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus damages equal to that amount (effectively double), plus reasonable attorney's fees; remedy is lost if tenant fails to give a forwarding address.
How to get your deposit back in Ohio
- 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 Ohio 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
- Ohio 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 Ohio?
- In Ohio, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Ohio?
- Ohio statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my Ohio landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Ohio requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Ohio landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- Yes. Ohio requires the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Ohio landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- Tenant may recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus damages equal to that amount (effectively double), plus reasonable attorney's fees; remedy is lost if tenant fails to give a forwarding address.
30 days with itemized deductions. No statutory cap on deposit amount. Interest of 5%/year required only on the portion of the deposit exceeding $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater), and only if the tenant occupies the unit 6 months or more.