Vermont Security Deposit Demand Letter
Direct answer
In Vermont, the landlord must return the deposit within 14 calendar days (ordinary (non-seasonal primary) dwelling unit) or 60 calendar days (seasonal occupancy and rental of a dwelling unit not intended as a primary residence). The deadline is measured from this trigger: 14 calendar days (ordinary (non-seasonal primary) dwelling unit): from the date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned, or the date the tenant vacated if the landlord received notice of that date; 60 calendar days (seasonal occupancy and rental of a dwelling unit not intended as a primary residence): after vacancy for seasonal occupancy. The verified state formula is failure to return deposit with itemized statement within the applicable deadline: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, landlord also liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs under 9 V.S.A. § 4461.
Key facts
| Deadline | 14 calendar days (ordinary (non-seasonal primary) dwelling unit); trigger: from the date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated or abandoned, or the date the tenant vacated if the landlord received notice of that date |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 60 calendar days (seasonal occupancy and rental of a dwelling unit not intended as a primary residence); trigger: after vacancy for seasonal occupancy |
| Penalty formula | failure to return deposit with itemized statement within the applicable deadline: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, landlord also liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Itemization required | Yes |
| Interest on deposit | Conditional: No statewide interest requirement. Under 9 V.S.A. § 4461(g), a town or municipality may adopt an ordinance authorizing payment of interest on a security deposit (ordinance may not limit how a deposit is held). Example: Burlington requires interest-bearing account and payment of interest to the tenant. |
| Maximum deposit | No statewide statutory cap. Towns and municipalities may adopt supplemental ordinances (not inconsistent with § 4461 minimum protections); local caps may apply (e.g., Burlington). |
| Forwarding address required | No |
| Small claims limit | $10,000 (Superior Court Civil Division small claims) in Superior Court (Civil Division) small claims |
| Statute citation | 9 V.S.A. § 4461 |
Statute says
A landlord shall return the security deposit along with a written statement itemizing any deductions to a tenant within 14 days from the date on which the landlord discovers that the tenant vacated or abandoned the dwelling unit or the date the tenant vacated the dwelling unit, provided the landlord received notice from the tenant of that date. In the case of the seasonal occupancy and rental of a dwelling unit not intended as a primary residence, the security deposit and written statement shall be returned within 60 days. If a landlord fails to return the security deposit with a statement within 14 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the security deposit. If the failure is willful, the landlord shall be liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together before sending a letter. Match the dates in your documents to the trigger listed above, then cite 9 V.S.A. § 4461 and request the deposit amount supported by your records.
Worked example
Use your actual deposit amount when you write the letter. For context, median rent in Vermont is $1,234 according to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates data as of .
- Chittenden County: $1,646
- Rutland County: $1,000
- Washington County: $1,163
- Windsor County: $1,118
Example demand basis: a deposit equal to the state median rent starts at $1,234 before applying the state formula: failure to return deposit with itemized statement within the applicable deadline: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if the failure is willful, landlord also liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
County small claims courts
| County | Court and city | Limit | Filing fee | E-filing | Court link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden | Chittenden Superior Court, Civil Division, Burlington | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: Confirm current filing and service fees with the Civil Division clerk. | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Rutland | Rutland Superior Court, Civil Division, Rutland | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: Confirm current filing and service fees with the Civil Division clerk. | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Washington | Washington Superior Court, Civil Division, Montpelier | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: Confirm current filing and service fees with the Civil Division clerk. | Not verified | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
See all 18 county small claims courts and filing fees
Free Vermont template, built from verified state data
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 Vermont law (9 V.S.A. § 4461), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [14 calendar days / 60 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].
Before you send
- Collect your lease, deposit receipt, and move-in records.
- Save photos, videos, and messages about move-out condition.
- Write down the move-out date you can prove.
- Confirm the forwarding address you gave the landlord.
- Send by certified mail when appropriate, and keep a copy of the final letter and delivery proof.
Typical mistakes
- Sending a letter before organizing the documents that prove the timeline.
- Demanding an amount that does not match the payment records.
- Leaving out the forwarding address or preferred response method.
- Mixing repair complaints into a deposit letter without separating the issues.
Local ordinances
- Burlington: Burlington Code of Ordinances § 18-120 - DepositsBurlington caps the security deposit at one month's rent (plus an optional extra half-month pet deposit), requires passbook-equivalent interest, forbids using the deposit as last month's rent unless the written lease says so, and requires return with an itemized statement within 14 days, with forfeiture and possible double damages.
- Barre: Barre City Ordinance Chapter 5, Article VIII - Security Deposits
FAQ
Does Burlington have its own security deposit law?
Burlington caps the security deposit at one month's rent (plus an optional extra half-month pet deposit), requires passbook-equivalent interest, forbids using the deposit as last month's rent unless the written lease says so, and requires return with an itemized statement within 14 days, with forfeiture and possible double damages. Burlington security deposit rules
Does South Burlington have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Vermont law.
Does Rutland have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Vermont law.
Does Essex Junction have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Vermont law.
What is the small claims limit in Vermont?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Vermont small claims courts and filing fees
Can I use this if I do not know the exact deposit amount?
Use the amount shown in your lease, receipt, or move-in records. If records conflict, keep copies and avoid guessing in the letter.
Should I send evidence with the first letter?
Attach copies when they prove the basic facts, such as payment, move-out condition, forwarding address, or prior messages.
Can this page replace legal advice?
No. This page is self-help information for organizing a demand letter and checking the cited data before you act.
City data on this page currently includes Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, Essex Junction, Barre, Montpelier, Winooski, St. Albans.
When this letter will NOT work
- The dispute is not about return of a security deposit.
- You need urgent court relief instead of a demand letter.
- You cannot identify the landlord or property manager to contact.
- Your documents point to a different state or a different kind of claim.
Tenant resources
- Vermont Legal Aid - Security Depositslegal aid, 800-889-2047
- CVOEO Vermont Tenants Rights and Resourcestenant union in Burlington, 802-864-0099
- Vermont Attorney General - Consumer Assistance Programag consumer, 800-649-2424
- Vermont Judiciary - Small Claimscourt self help