Rich County, Utah: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $20,000 (statewide small claims (claims on or after Jan 1, 2025 through Dec 31, 2029; Utah Code § 78A-8-102) only). Court: Rich County Justice Court.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$20,000 (statewide small claims (claims on or after Jan 1, 2025 through Dec 31, 2029; Utah Code § 78A-8-102) 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 Utah	4 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after the day on which a renter vacates and returns possession of the rental property. 5 business days after the day on which the tenant's statutory notice under § 57-17-3(3) is served. owner/agent failed the initial 30-day disposition duties; tenant must serve the form notice in § 57-17-3(3)-(4).
Penalty formula	if owner fails the 5-business-day cure after tenant notice: tenant may recover full deposit (if not timely returned), full prepaid rent (if not timely returned), and a $100 civil penalty; court awards costs and attorney fees to prevailing party only if opposing party acted in bad faith; tenant gets no relief under § 57-17-5 without serving the § 57-17-3(3) notice. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Utah Code §§ 57-17-3, 57-17-5

Where to file

Rich County Justice Court

Courthouse city: Randolph

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 page checked 2026-09-20

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

Rent and deposits in Rich County

County median gross rent: $743 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
3 bedrooms	$634

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

State legal maximum deposit in Utah: No statewide statutory maximum for residential deposits under Chapter 57-17.

Total households in Rich County: 817.

Renter households: 160 (19.6% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 16.9%. 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: median gross rent for Rich County, $743 per month.

A deposit of one to two months at that rent would range from $743 to $1,486. This is an example, not a legal deposit cap.

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

Compared with $20,000 (statewide small claims (claims on or after Jan 1, 2025 through Dec 31, 2029; Utah Code § 78A-8-102) 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.

Garden City
Laketown
Randolph
Woodruff

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

Statewide court resources

Statewide self-help centre: Utah Courts Small Claims Self-Help

Statewide help

Utah Legal Services
Free civil legal assistance for eligible Utah residents, including tenant eviction defense and subsidized-housing problems; Salt Lake County callers can use (801) 328-8891.
Phone: (800) 662-4245

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send an Utah 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 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Utah: 4 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Utah 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.

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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 Utah letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah law (Utah Code §§ 57-17-3, 57-17-5), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 calendar days after the day on which a renter vacates and returns possession of the rental property.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Rich 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 Utah: 4 years.

Where do I file?

Rich County Justice Court. Courthouse city: Randolph. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.