Renters' Rights · Security Deposit
Security Deposit Laws in Ohio
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 Ohio.
What your landlord can hold, and when it's due back
Enter your rent for the Ohio maximum, plus the return-deadline clock.
Estimate only, based on Ohio'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.
Penalties & recent changes
What happens if the landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully.
What Ohio renters get wrong
Ohio has no cap on the deposit, but it does something unusual with interest: on any amount above $50 (or one month's rent, whichever is larger), a tenant who stays at least six months earns 5% a year. The return deadline is a standard 30 days, with one procedural trap — the landlord's duty to notify and refund, and your right to the double-damages penalty, both hinge on giving a written forwarding address. Put it in writing when you leave.
Common questions
Is there a limit on security deposits in Ohio?
No. Ohio Revised Code §5321.16 sets no cap on a residential security deposit, so the amount is whatever the lease provides.
How long does an Ohio landlord have to return a deposit?
30 days after the rental agreement ends and you deliver possession. Deductions must be itemized in writing within that same window.
Does my Ohio landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
Only on the portion above $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater), and only if you stayed at least six months. That portion earns 5% per year, paid annually.
What if my Ohio landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
You can recover the wrongfully withheld amount plus damages equal to that amount and attorney's fees — but you must have given the landlord a written forwarding address to be entitled to it.
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.