Michigan Security Deposit Law: How Many Days and What to Do
In Michigan, a landlord has 30 days (the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced) to return a security deposit. Use the dates below to calculate your deadline (MCL 554.601–554.616).
Last checked 2026-09-23
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Details of the return rules
| When it applies | Deadline | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced | 30 days | Termination of tenancy/occupancy (move-out); landlord must mail itemized list of damages within 30 days; if no damages claimed, deposit balance must be returned promptly (courts/practice treat 30 days as the operative return deadline) |
Michigan return rule: 30 days (the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced). Check the dates you entered above.
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 days (the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced) |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | Termination of tenancy/occupancy (move-out); landlord must mail itemized list of damages within 30 days; if no damages claimed, deposit balance must be returned promptly (courts/practice treat 30 days as the operative return deadline) |
| Penalty formula | MCL 554.613: failure of the landlord to comply fully with the itemization/damages procedure constitutes waiver of all claimed damages AND makes the landlord liable to the tenant for double (2x) the amount of the security deposit wrongfully retained. Unlike some states (e.g., MA, IL), Michigan's statute does not condition this doubling on a separate finding of "bad faith" - it attaches automatically to noncompliance with the notice/itemization/45-day-suit procedure. No interest accrual requirement exists on Michigan security deposits. |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | MCL 554.601–554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, Act 348 of 1972), esp. §§554.602, 554.603, 554.609, 554.613 |
How does Michigan's deadline compare with other states?
Michigan's return deadline is 30 days. The middle of the comparable state deadlines is ≈30 days. Use the dates and questions above to see which deadline applies to you.
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
See all 51 jurisdictions
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Montana | 10 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
| Vermont | 14 days |
| Florida | 15 days |
| Delaware | 20 days |
| Rhode Island | 20 days |
| California | 21 days |
| Connecticut | 21 days |
| Idaho | 21 days |
| Minnesota | 21 days |
| South Dakota | 21 days |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Missouri | 30 days |
| Nevada | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 30 days |
| New Mexico | 30 days |
| North Carolina | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Ohio | 30 days |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days |
| South Carolina | 30 days |
| Texas | 30 days |
| Utah | 30 days |
| Washington | 30 days |
| Wyoming | 30 days |
| Oregon | 31 days |
| District of Columbia | 45 days |
| Illinois | 45 days |
| Indiana | 45 days |
| Maryland | 45 days |
| Mississippi | 45 days |
| Oklahoma | 45 days |
| Virginia | 45 days |
| Alabama | 60 days |
| Arkansas | 60 days |
| West Virginia | 60 days |
| Kentucky | No fixed return deadline |
| Tennessee | No fixed return deadline |
Source: state statute records · checked 2026-09-23 · n=48 fixed rules among 51 jurisdictions · method: first listed return deadline; calendar months plotted as ≈30 days · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What happens if the landlord misses the deadline?
MCL 554.613: failure of the landlord to comply fully with the itemization/damages procedure constitutes waiver of all claimed damages AND makes the landlord liable to the tenant for double (2x) the amount of the security deposit wrongfully retained. Unlike some states (e.g., MA, IL), Michigan's statute does not condition this doubling on a separate finding of "bad faith" - it attaches automatically to noncompliance with the notice/itemization/45-day-suit procedure. No interest accrual requirement exists on Michigan security deposits. The statutory amount depends on the facts and any conditions in MCL 554.601–554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, Act 348 of 1972), esp. §§554.602, 554.603, 554.609, 554.613; it is separate from the deposit owed.
Michigan is one of 36 states where the law sets a multiple of the deposit.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The law sets a multiple of the deposit ← Michigan | 36 | 71% |
| The law names another remedy (forfeiture, fees, damages) | 10 | 20% |
| Read the cited remedy; no multiple is set | 5 | 10% |
With a deposit of $1,168 (median county rent), a claim for the deposit plus the maximum penalty is $3,504; fits under the $7,000 small claims limit.
Source: MCL 554.601–554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, Act 348 of 1972), esp. §§554.602, 554.603, 554.609, 554.613 · checked 2026-09-23 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What do you have to do before you can claim the penalty?
Send the required information to start the clock.
- Forwarding address in writing within the stated period after termination of occupancy (MCL the cited section); without it the landlord is relieved of the damage notice, the deposit claim survives. MCL 554.601–554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, Act 348 of 1972), esp. §§554.602, 554.603, 554.609, 554.613
Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend or holiday?
Michigan's general rule for counting legal time periods says: If the last day of any period or a fixed or final day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the period or day is extended to include the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.
(MCL § 8.6). Whether a court applies it to a landlord's deposit deadline depends on the case, so this page does not move the deadline for you.
To be safe: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, treat the deadline as passed only after the next business day. Example: October 10, 2026 is a Saturday, so wait until October 12, 2026 before saying the deadline has passed.
What Michigan law requires of the landlord
The deposit return rule is 30 days (the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced). The law also requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
- Return window
- 30 days (the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after termination of occupancy (MCL 554.611); without it the landlord is relieved of the notice-of-damages requirement, but the tenant's claim to the deposit is not prejudiced)
- Itemization
- Required
- Receipts threshold
- Not a dollar threshold - itemization is required whenever the landlord claims ANY damages against the deposit (MCL 554.609); if no damages are claimed, no itemized list is required, just return of the deposit balance.
- Interest
- Michigan law imposes no interest-on-deposit requirement in the verified data.
Is interest owed on a deposit in Michigan?
Michigan is one of 37 states where interest is not required by state law.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Required by state law | 3 | 6% |
| Owed only in some cases | 11 | 22% |
| Not required by state law ← Michigan | 37 | 73% |
Source: MCL 554.601–554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, Act 348 of 1972), esp. §§554.602, 554.603, 554.609, 554.613 · checked 2026-09-23 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
FAQ
How do I confirm the Michigan deadline?
Use the questions above to match your dates to MCL 554.601–554.616 (Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act, Act 348 of 1972), esp. §§554.602, 554.603, 554.609, 554.613, and keep proof of each date.
What is the small claims limit in Michigan?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Michigan court guide
City data on this page currently includes Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Dearborn, Livonia, Troy, Westland, Farmington Hills, Flint, Wyoming, Rochester Hills, Southfield.
Statute text, sources and changes
Statute says
MCL 554.602: "A security deposit ... shall not exceed 1-1/2 months' rent." MCL 554.609: "In case of damage to the rental unit or other obligation against the security deposit, the landlord shall mail to the tenant, within 30 days after the termination of occupancy, an itemized list of damages claimed..." MCL 554.613: "Within 45 days after termination of the occupancy and not thereafter the landlord may commence an action ... for a money judgment for damages..." Failure to comply makes the landlord "liable to the tenant for double the amount of the security deposit retained."
What this means
Sources
- https://www.courts.michigan.gov/4a4eb6/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/lltbb/lltbbresponsivehtml5.zip/LLTBB/Ch_2_Specific_Acts/Chapter_2__58__Specific_Landlord-Tenant_Laws.htm · accessed 2026-07-06
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-554-609 · accessed 2026-07-06
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-554-613 · accessed 2026-07-06
- https://www.tilchinhall.com/blog/2021/03/almost-everything-you-need-to-know-about-residential-security-deposits-in-michigan/ · accessed 2026-07-06
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-554-611 · accessed 2026-09-23
Changes
- : Record verified against the cited statute.
Verified 2026-09-23 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6