Lincoln County, Idaho: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $5,000 (Magistrate Division small claims; $5,000 limit (Idaho Code 1-2301) only). Court: Fifth Judicial District Magistrate Division - Small Claims (Lincoln County).

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$5,000 (Magistrate Division small claims; $5,000 limit (Idaho Code 1-2301) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Idaho	5 years.
State deposit return deadline	21 calendar days after surrender of the premises by the tenant. default when no return time is fixed by agreement. 30 calendar days after surrender of the premises by the tenant. outer maximum; agreement may set a time other than 21 days but may not exceed 30 days. 3 business days after landlord receives tenant's written three-day demand under § 6-320. pre-suit cure: tenant must give 3 days written notice listing the failure (return of security deposit) and demand performance before filing under § 6-320; Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded from the 3-day count per practice guides.
Penalty formula	failure to return deposit as required is an actionable landlord breach under § 6-320(a)(4) after three-day written demand; court may award damages and, where violation is malicious or intentional, up to treble damages, plus costs and attorney fees per Idaho AG/Legal Aid guidance and form H-3. Bad faith required: Yes.
Deposit statute	Idaho Code §§ 6-321, 6-320

Where to file

Fifth Judicial District Magistrate Division - Small Claims (Lincoln County)

Courthouse city: Shoshone

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.

Official court website

Court page checked 2026-09-20

See how to file in Idaho for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Lincoln County

County median gross rent: $860 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
1 bedroom	$538
2 bedrooms	$814
3 bedrooms	$958

Rent estimates for the other bedroom sizes were suppressed or not published by the Census Bureau.

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $814; two months is $1,628. 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 $814.

State legal maximum deposit in Idaho: No statutory maximum under § 6-321.

Total households in Lincoln County: 1,836.

Renter households: 424 (23.1% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 26.7%. 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 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Lincoln County, $814 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $5,000 (Magistrate Division small claims; $5,000 limit (Idaho Code 1-2301) only), 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.

Dietrich
Richfield
Shoshone

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Courthouse details

Address: 111 West B Street, Suite C, Shoshone, ID 83352

Phone: (208) 886-7641

Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21

Court contact source

Free help in Lincoln County

Idaho Legal Aid Services
free civil legal help for eligible Idaho tenants through a Housing Legal Advice Line covering evictions, repairs, security deposits, and housing discrimination
Phone: (208) 746-7541

Statewide help

Idaho Housing and Finance Association
HUD-approved housing counseling for renters, including rent advice, lease-agreement help, utility solutions, and referrals to Idaho Legal Aid for landlord-tenant issues
Phone: (877) 695-2655
NeighborWorks Boise
HUD-approved housing counseling including rental housing counseling and rental workshops, plus financial coaching with HUD-certified counselors
Phone: (208) 343-4065

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send an Idaho 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 21 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Idaho: 5 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Idaho law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Idaho letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Idaho small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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Free Idaho template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

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 Idaho law (Idaho Code §§ 6-321, 6-320), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [21 calendar days / 30 calendar days / 3 business days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Lincoln County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Idaho: 5 years.

Where do I file?

Fifth Judicial District Magistrate Division - Small Claims (Lincoln County). Courthouse city: Shoshone. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.