Arizona Security Deposit Demand Letter
Direct answer
In Arizona, the landlord must return the deposit within 14 business days. The deadline is measured from this trigger: Termination of tenancy, delivery of possession, AND demand by the tenant. The verified state formula is 2x the amount wrongfully withheld, plus recovery of the property/money due, if the landlord fails to comply with the subsection D itemization/return duty (no separate statutory "bad faith" element required - the penalty attaches to noncompliance with the 14-day itemized-list duty itself) under Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1321 (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act).
Key facts
| Deadline | 14 business days |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | Termination of tenancy, delivery of possession, AND demand by the tenant |
| Penalty formula | 2x the amount wrongfully withheld, plus recovery of the property/money due, if the landlord fails to comply with the subsection D itemization/return duty (no separate statutory "bad faith" element required - the penalty attaches to noncompliance with the 14-day itemized-list duty itself) |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Itemization required | Yes |
| Documentation threshold | itemized list required regardless of deposit or deduction amount; no dollar threshold in statute |
| Interest on deposit | No |
| Maximum deposit | 1.5 months' rent (statute does not distinguish furnished/unfurnished - cap applies to all security deposits, however denominated, including prepaid rent) |
| Forwarding address required | No |
| Small claims limit | $5,000statewide in Arizona Small Claims Court (a division of Justice Court) |
| Statute citation | Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1321 (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
Statute says
"A landlord shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, including prepaid rent in an amount or value of more than one and one-half month's rent... Within fourteen days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays or other legal holidays, after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession and demand by the tenant the landlord shall provide the tenant an itemized list of all deductions together with the amount due and payable to the tenant... If the landlord fails to comply with subsection D of this section, the tenant may recover the property and money due the tenant together with damages in an amount equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld."
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together before sending a letter. Match the dates in your documents to the trigger listed above, then cite Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1321 (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) and request the deposit amount supported by your records.
Worked example
Use your actual deposit amount when you write the letter. For context, median rent in Arizona is $1,419 according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents dataset (FY2026) data as of .
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA: $1,839
- Tucson, AZ MSA: $1,402
- Flagstaff, AZ MSA: $1,921
- Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ MSA: $1,637
- Yuma, AZ MSA: $1,382
- Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ MSA: $1,365
Example demand basis: a deposit equal to the state median rent starts at $1,419 before applying the state formula: 2x the amount wrongfully withheld, plus recovery of the property/money due, if the landlord fails to comply with the subsection D itemization/return duty (no separate statutory "bad faith" element required - the penalty attaches to noncompliance with the 14-day itemized-list duty itself).
County small claims courts
| County | Court and city | Limit | Filing fee | E-filing | Court link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | Justice Courts of Maricopa County - Small Claims Division, Phoenix | $5,000 | County filing fee: $58 (complaint + summons filing fee, per court's own page); confirm at filing as this can change | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Pima County | Pima County Consolidated Justice Court - Small Claims Division, Tucson | $5,000 | County filing fee: ~$55-60 (official fee schedule lists $25 statutory + $10 automation + $20 operations = $55; e-filing portal lists $60) | Yes | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Pinal County | Pinal County Justice Courts - Small Claims, Florence (county seat; multiple precinct locations incl. Casa Grande, Apache Junction, Eloy, San Tan Valley) | $5,000 | County filing fee: Graduated: $30 for claims up to $1,500; $50 for $1,500-$5,000 | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
See all 15 county small claims courts and filing fees
Free Arizona template, built from verified state data
I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Arizona law (Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1321), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 14 business days after termination of tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant.
Before you send
- Collect your lease, deposit receipt, and move-in records.
- Save photos, videos, and messages about move-out condition.
- Write down the move-out date you can prove.
- Confirm the forwarding address you gave the landlord.
- Send by certified mail when appropriate, and keep a copy of the final letter and delivery proof.
Typical mistakes
- Sending a letter before organizing the documents that prove the timeline.
- Demanding an amount that does not match the payment records.
- Leaving out the forwarding address or preferred response method.
- Mixing repair complaints into a deposit letter without separating the issues.
FAQ
Does Phoenix have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Arizona law.
Does Tucson have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Arizona law.
Does Mesa have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Arizona law.
Does Chandler have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Arizona law.
What is the small claims limit in Arizona?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Arizona small claims courts and filing fees
Can I use this if I do not know the exact deposit amount?
Use the amount shown in your lease, receipt, or move-in records. If records conflict, keep copies and avoid guessing in the letter.
Should I send evidence with the first letter?
Attach copies when they prove the basic facts, such as payment, move-out condition, forwarding address, or prior messages.
Can this page replace legal advice?
No. This page is self-help information for organizing a demand letter and checking the cited data before you act.
City data on this page currently includes Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Peoria, Tempe, Surprise, Goodyear, Buckeye, Yuma, Avondale, Flagstaff.
When this letter will NOT work
- The dispute is not about return of a security deposit.
- You need urgent court relief instead of a demand letter.
- You cannot identify the landlord or property manager to contact.
- Your documents point to a different state or a different kind of claim.
Tenant resources
- Community Legal Services (statewide, incl. Maricopa/Yuma/other counties)legal aid, (602) 258-3434
- Southern Arizona Legal Aid (Tucson/Pima and southern AZ)legal aid, (520) 623-9465
- Tucson Tenants Uniontenant union in Tucson
- Phoenix Tenants Uniontenant union in Phoenix
- Arizona Attorney General - Consumer Information and Complaintsag consumer, (602) 542-5763 (Phoenix) / (520) 628-6648 (Tucson) / (800) 352-8431 (statewide)