Maricopa County, Arizona: Small Claims for a Security Deposit
Limits: $5,000 (statewide). Court: Justice Courts of Maricopa County - Small Claims Division. County filing fee: $58.
Filing facts
| State small claims limits | $5,000 (statewide) |
|---|---|
| County filing fee | $58 (complaint + summons filing fee, per court's own page); confirm at filing as this can change |
| E-filing | Not verified |
| Time limit to sue in Arizona | 3 years. |
| State deposit return deadline |
|
| 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. |
| Deposit statute | Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1321 (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) |
Where to file
Justice Courts of Maricopa County - Small Claims Division
Courthouse city: Phoenix
Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.
Court page check not recorded
See how to file in Arizona for the state filing procedure.
Rent and deposits in Maricopa County
County median gross rent: $1,587 per month.
| Bedrooms | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,251 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,345 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,571 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,875 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,120 |
Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,571; two months is $3,142. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,571.
State legal maximum deposit in Arizona: 1.5 months' rent ($2,356.50 at the example rent) (statute does not distinguish furnished/unfurnished - cap applies to all security deposits, however denominated, including prepaid rent).
County filing fee for a deposit-only claim of $1,571: $58, about 4% of that deposit, rounded to a whole percent. Adding other amounts to the claim may change the filing fee.
Total households in Maricopa County: 1,697,342.
Renter households: 593,849 (35% of all households).
Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 5.2%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.
County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed .
Will my deposit claim fit the limit?
Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Maricopa County, $1,571 per month.
The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.
- Compared with $5,000 (statewide), the whole deposit range fits.
A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.
Towns this court serves
A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.
- Apache Junction
- Avondale
- Buckeye
- Carefree
- Cave Creek
- Chandler
- El Mirage
- Fountain Hills
- Gila Bend
- Gilbert
- Glendale
- Goodyear
- Guadalupe
- Litchfield Park
- Mesa
- Paradise Valley
- Peoria
- Phoenix
- Queen Creek
- Scottsdale
- Surprise
- Tempe
- Tolleson
- Wickenburg
- Youngtown
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.
Courthouse details
Address: 201 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 372-5375
Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21
Free help in Maricopa County
- Community Legal Services
free housing-law help for low-income tenants, including preventing evictions, preserving public and subsidized housing such as Section 8, ensuring repairs and habitable housing, and preventing housing discrimination
Phone: 1+(800) 852-9075
Statewide help
- DNA-People's Legal Services
free civil legal assistance, advice, and representation, including help to protect and secure adequate housing, for people living on the Navajo, Hopi and Jicarilla Apache Reservations and in parts of Northern Arizona, Northwest New Mexico, and Southern Utah
Phone: 1-833-362-1102
These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.
From letter to filing
- Send an Arizona security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
- Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 14 days after your letter.
- Time limit to sue in Arizona: 3 years.
- Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.
This template uses Arizona law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.
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.
FAQ
How much does it cost to file in Maricopa County?
County filing fee: $58 (complaint + summons filing fee, per court's own page); confirm at filing as this can change
How long do I have to sue?
Time limit to sue in Arizona: 3 years.
Where do I file?
Justice Courts of Maricopa County - Small Claims Division. Courthouse city: Phoenix. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.