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Renters' Rights · Security Deposit

Security Deposit Laws in Arizona

The most a landlord can charge, how long they have to return it, and what it costs them to keep your money without cause in Arizona.

Reviewed by PlainStatute EditorialLast reviewed July 2026Verified against §33-1321
Security deposit at a glance · Arizona
1.5 months
is the most a landlord may charge for a security deposit in Arizona. It must be returned within 14 days (excluding weekends and legal holidays).
Maximum deposit1.5 months' rent
Return deadline14 days (excl. weekends/holidays)
Interest to tenantNot required
Separate accountNot required
ItemizationRequired — itemized list
Penalty2× wrongfully withheld
Statute§33-1321

What your landlord can hold, and when it's due back

Enter your rent for the Arizona maximum, plus the return-deadline clock.

Deposit calculator · Arizona
Most a landlord can hold
1.5 months
Enter your monthly rent to see the dollar maximum.
Return clock: 14 days (excluding weekends and legal holidays)
The deadline runs after termination, delivery of possession, and the tenant's demand. Give your landlord a written forwarding address at move-out so the clock starts.

Estimate only, based on Arizona's statutory cap. Your lease may set a lower deposit, and local ordinances can be stricter. Not legal advice.

The full rules, with the statute

Every requirement and where it comes from in the code.

Maximum deposit
1.5 months' rent — a landlord may not demand more than one and one-half months' rent as a deposit
Return deadline
Within fourteen days, "excluding Saturdays, Sundays or other legal holidays," after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and a demand by the tenant, the landlord must return the deposit with an itemized list of any deductions. All three triggers must occur — including the tenant's demand.
Interest to tenant
Not requiredArizona does not require a landlord to pay interest on a residential security deposit.
Separate account
Not requiredNo statute requires an Arizona landlord to hold the deposit in a separate account.
Itemization
The landlord must provide an itemized list of all deductions together with the amount due. The tenant may be present at a move-out inspection, and has 60 days to dispute the itemized statement.

Penalties & recent changes

What happens if the landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully.

If the landlord withholds wrongfully
If a landlord wrongfully retains a deposit, the tenant may recover the property or money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (§33-1321(E)).

What Arizona renters get wrong

Arizona caps the deposit at one and a half months' rent, but its return clock has two quirks worth knowing. First, the 14-day deadline excludes weekends and legal holidays, so it runs longer than a calendar fortnight. Second, the clock doesn't start until you actually demand your deposit back — termination and handing over the keys aren't enough on their own. Send a written demand with your forwarding address the day you leave.

Common questions

What is the maximum security deposit in Arizona?

One and one-half months' rent. Under A.R.S. §33-1321, a landlord cannot demand more than 1.5 months' rent as a security deposit.

How many days does an Arizona landlord have to return a deposit?

14 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays — so a bit longer than two calendar weeks. The clock starts only after the tenancy ends, you hand over possession, and you demand the deposit back.

Do I have to ask for my deposit back in Arizona?

Yes. The 14-day deadline is triggered in part by the tenant's demand. It's best to send a written demand and your forwarding address when you move out so the clock starts running.

What can I recover if my Arizona landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?

You can recover the amount due plus damages equal to twice the amount that was wrongfully withheld under §33-1321(E).

Primary source
→ A.R.S. §33-1321
Arizona State Legislature · azleg.gov
PlainStatute Editorial
Every figure on this page is checked line-by-line against the current statute. Editorial standards →

Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.

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