Cortland County, New York: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (New York City courts only). Court: Small Claims (City / District / Town or Village court) - Cortland County.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (New York City courts only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in New York	6 years.
State deposit return deadline	14 days after 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.
Deposit statute	N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108 (as amended by HSTPA 2019)

Where to file

Small Claims (City / District / Town or Village court) - Cortland County

Courthouse city: Cortland

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.

State court directory

Court site located; the court's server blocks automated checks

See how to file in New York for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Cortland County

County median gross rent: $911 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$824
1 bedroom	$767
2 bedrooms	$988
3 bedrooms	$1,128
4 bedrooms	$1,635

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $988; two months is $1,976. 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 $988.

State legal maximum deposit in New York: One month's rent ($988 at the example rent) (HSTPA 2019).

Total households in Cortland County: 18,768.

Renter households: 6,308 (33.6% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 8.4%. 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 Cortland County, $988 per month.

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

Compared with $10,000 (New York City courts 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.

Cortland
Homer
Marathon
McGraw

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

Statewide help

Legal Services NYC
Free housing legal help for eligible tenants in New York City's five boroughs, including eviction, repairs, harassment and rent overcharges. Geographic scope is New York City; statewide is the required fallback because this source lists boroughs, not counties.
Phone: (917) 661-4500

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a New York 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 New York: 6 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

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

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

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 New York letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
New York 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 New York 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 New York law (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 14 days after tenant vacates the premises (move-out).

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Cortland County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in New York: 6 years.

Where do I file?

Small Claims (City / District / Town or Village court) - Cortland County. Courthouse city: Cortland. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.