Wisconsin · WI · updated 2026
In Wisconsin, a landlord must return a security deposit within 21 calendar days
Quick answer
A Wisconsin landlord has 21 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 Wisconsin security deposit law, a Wisconsin landlord has 21 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends. By statute, Wisconsin 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
- 21 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Required of the landlord
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 (Wisconsin requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
A tenant may sue under Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5) for a violation of ATCP 134, recovering twice the amount of the pecuniary loss plus costs, including reasonable attorney fees.
How to get your deposit back in Wisconsin
- 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 Wisconsin 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
- Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
- In Wisconsin, a landlord must return a security deposit within 21 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my Wisconsin landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Wisconsin requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Wisconsin landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. Wisconsin does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Wisconsin landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- A tenant may sue under Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5) for a violation of ATCP 134, recovering twice the amount of the pecuniary loss plus costs, including reasonable attorney fees.
Landlord must return the deposit within 21 days of tenancy termination, itemizing any amount withheld (normal wear excluded). Before accepting the deposit, landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the right to inspect and report pre-existing damage (min 7 days after move-in). No cap/interest.