Renters' Rights · Security Deposit
Security Deposit Laws in Virginia
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 Virginia.
What your landlord can hold, and when it's due back
Enter your rent for the Virginia maximum, plus the return-deadline clock.
Estimate only, based on Virginia'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.
Recodification (2019); interest repeal (eff. 2015-01-01) (effective 2015-01-01): Virginia's security-deposit interest mandate was repealed effective January 1, 2015. The provision was later recodified as §55.1-1226 in 2019 with no interest requirement, so any source claiming interest is owed is outdated.
What Virginia renters get wrong
Virginia caps deposits at two months' rent and gives landlords a longer-than-usual 45 days to return them — measured from whichever comes last, the lease ending or your actual move-out. The most common misconception here is interest: older guides say Virginia landlords must pay it, but that mandate was repealed back in 2015, and today's statute says nothing about interest at all. If a contractor is genuinely needed for repairs and the landlord gives you interim notice, they can take an extra 15 days.
Common questions
What is the maximum security deposit in Virginia?
Two months' rent. The combined total of all deposits, however they are labeled, cannot exceed two months' periodic rent under §55.1-1226.
How long does a Virginia landlord have to return my deposit?
45 days after the lease ends or you vacate, whichever is later. If a contractor is needed to assess or repair damage and the landlord gives interim notice, they get an extra 15 days.
Does my Virginia landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
No. Virginia repealed its deposit-interest requirement effective January 1, 2015. The current statute contains no interest provision, so any article claiming otherwise is out of date.
Can I attend a move-out inspection in Virginia?
Yes. On request you may be present at the move-out inspection, and you can ask for a written statement of how the deposit was applied, including an itemized list of deductions.
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.