Utah · UT · updated 2026
In Utah, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days
Quick answer
A Utah landlord has 30 calendar days after you move out 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 Utah security deposit law, a Utah landlord has 30 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when you move out. By statute, Utah 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
- you move out
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Required of the landlord
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact Utah 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 Utah 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 (Utah requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
If landlord misses the 30-day deadline and then fails to comply within 5 business days after the tenant serves statutory notice, tenant may recover the full deposit plus prepaid rent plus a $100 civil penalty; court awards costs and attorney fees to a party if the other acted in bad faith.
How to get your deposit back in Utah
- 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 Utah 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
- Utah 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 Utah?
- In Utah, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Utah?
- Utah statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my Utah landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Utah requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Utah landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. Utah does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Utah landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- If landlord misses the 30-day deadline and then fails to comply within 5 business days after the tenant serves statutory notice, tenant may recover the full deposit plus prepaid rent plus a $100 civil penalty; court awards costs and attorney fees to a party if the other acted in bad faith.
Landlord has 30 days after the renter vacates and returns possession to return the deposit and prepaid rent with an itemized deduction notice. Owner must document move-in condition via written inventory, a tenant form, or a walkthrough (§ 57-22-4(6)). No statutory cap, no interest.