Security Deposit Calculator: How Much Can My Landlord Charge?

It depends on the state, and in a few cities on the city. Of the 50 states and DC, the law we read sets a statewide maximum in 23: one month's rent in Alabama, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota and South Dakota; one and a half months' rent in Arizona and New Jersey; two months' rent in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia; three months' rent in Nevada. New Mexico sets a figure only for some leases. In 13 more (Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming) the sections we read set no statewide maximum, and for 15 (Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont) we could not open the state's current text, so this tool shows no figure there. These cities set their own limit: Burlington, Vermont; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Portland, Maine; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington. The calculator above turns the limit into dollars for your rent.

Sometimes. The law we read counts prepaid rent, such as last month's rent paid up front, toward the deposit limit in Arizona, California and Maryland. In Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia, rent paid only in advance is kept outside the deposit rules. In Minneapolis, Minnesota and Portland, Oregon, asking for last month's rent up front lowers the deposit limit to half a month's rent. New York limits any deposit and any advance to one month's rent each. Where the law does not say, the calculator leaves prepaid rent out of the comparison and tells you so.

In some places, with its own limit. A separate pet deposit is allowed on top of the security deposit, up to $300 in Colorado; one month's rent in Delaware; half a month's rent in Kansas; the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent in North Dakota; half a month's rent in Burlington, Vermont; 25 percent of the first full month's rent in Seattle, Washington. In Virginia a refundable pet deposit counts inside the security deposit limit. In other places the law we read sets no separate pet figure, so a pet deposit is either part of the security deposit or not addressed. In Burlington, Vermont, Delaware, North Dakota and Seattle, Washington the law bars a pet deposit for an assistance, service or support animal.

Only where the law gives that right. In what we read, Washington state law gives one, and so do these cities: Columbus, Ohio; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington. The terms differ: how many payments, which money they cover, and which landlords are exempt. Pick your state and city above to see the rule that applies, and ask in writing.

In the sections we read, 13 set no statewide cap: Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. That is a finding about those sections, not a promise that any amount is lawful: a city can set its own limit (Minneapolis, Minnesota and Seattle, Washington), and other deposit rules still apply. For Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont we could not open the current state text, so this tool shows no figure rather than guess.

Add the first month's rent, the security deposit, any pet deposit, any last month's rent and any other move-in fees. The calculator above adds them for you and checks which of them count toward your state's deposit limit. Application fees are a separate question and are not part of this total.