New York Security Deposit Law: How Many Days and What to Do
In New York, a landlord has 14 days to return a security deposit. The clock starts after you move out; the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized list (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108). Most states allow 30 days; New York is shorter.
Last checked 2026-07-06
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Details of the return rules
| When it applies | Deadline | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit return | 14 days | tenant vacates the premises (move-out) |
New York return rule: 14 days. Check the dates you entered above.
Key facts
| Deadline | 14 days |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | tenant vacates the premises (move-out) |
| Penalty formula | Missing the 14-day deadline forfeits any right to retain any portion of the deposit; willful violation exposes the landlord to punitive damages of up to 2x the deposit |
| Bad faith required | Yes |
| Statute citation | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 (as amended by HSTPA 2019) |
How does New York's deadline compare with other states?
New York's return deadline is 14 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 |
|---|---|
| New York | 14 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 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 2026-07-06 · 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?
Missing the 14-day deadline forfeits any right to retain any portion of the deposit; willful violation exposes the landlord to punitive damages of up to 2x the deposit The statutory amount depends on the facts and any conditions in N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 (as amended by HSTPA 2019); it is separate from the deposit owed.
New York 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 ← New York | 36 | 71% |
| The law names another remedy (forfeiture, fees, damages) | 10 | 20% |
| Read the cited remedy; no multiple is set | 5 | 10% |
Source: N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 (as amended by HSTPA 2019) · checked 2026-07-06 · 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.
Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend or holiday?
New York's general rule for counting legal time periods says: ... of time...within which or after which or before which an act is authorized or required to be done, ends on a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday, such act may be done on the next succeeding business day.
(N.Y. Gen. Constr. Law § 25-a). 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 New York law requires of the landlord
The deposit return rule is 14 days. The law also requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
- Return window
- 14 days
- Itemization
- Required
- Receipts threshold
- No separate threshold recorded
- Interest
- Buildings of 6 or more units must hold deposits in an interest-bearing NY account and the interest belongs to the tenant (GOL §7-103).
Is interest owed on a deposit in New York?
New York is one of 11 states where interest is owed only in some cases. Check interest and any local rule.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Required by state law | 3 | 6% |
| Owed only in some cases ← New York | 11 | 22% |
| Not required by state law | 37 | 73% |
Source: N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 (as amended by HSTPA 2019) · checked 2026-07-06 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
New York security deposit deductions
FAQ
How do I confirm the New York deadline?
Use the questions above to match your dates to N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 (as amended by HSTPA 2019), and keep proof of each date.
What is the small claims limit in New York?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. New York court guide
City data on this page currently includes New York City, Buffalo, Yonkers, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Schenectady, Utica, White Plains, Hempstead (village), Troy, Niagara Falls, Binghamton.
Statute text, sources and changes
Statute says
Within fourteen days after the tenant has vacated the premises, the landlord shall provide the tenant with an itemized statement indicating the basis for the amount of the deposit retained, if any, and shall return any remaining portion of the deposit to the tenant. If a landlord fails to provide the tenant with the statement and deposit within fourteen days, the landlord shall forfeit any right to retain any portion of the deposit. ... Any person who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be liable for actual damages, provided a person found to have willfully violated this subdivision shall be liable for punitive damages of up to twice the amount of the deposit or advance.
What this means
Sources
- https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GOB/7-108 · accessed 2026-07-06
- https://ag.ny.gov/publications/tenants-rights-guide · accessed 2026-07-06
Changes
- : Record verified against the cited statute.
Verified 2026-07-06 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6