Security Deposit Return Deadlines in Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and California
How long a landlord has to return a security deposit in four states, what the tenant must do to start the clock, and the penalties for keeping it wrongly.
Updated November 11, 2026 · Examined Life
Covers: Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, California
Every state sets its own deadline for returning a security deposit, and in some states the tenant has to take a step, such as a written demand or a forwarding address, before the clock even starts. Here are the rules in four states.
Side by side
| State | Deadline | What the tenant must do | Limit on the deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 45 days | End the tenancy, give up possession and make a written demand. Demand within six months or the deposit reverts to the landlord. | None set by statute |
| Texas | 30 days after you surrender the unit | Give a written forwarding address | No cap |
| Florida | 15 days if nothing is claimed; 30 days to send a claim notice | Give 7 days' written notice before leaving, unless the lease says otherwise | No cap |
| California | 21 days after move-out | Give a forwarding address; you may request an initial inspection | Generally one month's rent (two for some small landlords) |
Oklahoma
The landlord must hold deposits in an escrow account at a federally insured institution in Oklahoma. After the tenancy ends, you've turned over possession and you've made a written demand, the landlord has 45 days to return the balance with an itemized statement of deductions.
Texas
Deductions must be itemized in writing, and normal wear and tear can't be deducted. A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith owes $100, three times the amount wrongfully withheld, and attorney's fees, and a landlord who misses the 30-day deadline is presumed to have acted in bad faith. Tenants can't withhold the last month's rent on the theory that the deposit covers it.
Florida
If the landlord intends to keep any of the deposit, it must send a written claim notice by certified mail within 30 days. You then have 15 days to object in writing. A landlord who misses the 30-day notice loses the right to claim against the deposit, though it can still sue for damages.
California
Within 21 days, the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized statement. For repair and cleaning deductions over $125, receipts or invoices must be included. For tenancies that began on or after July 1, 2025, the landlord must take photos at move-in, and for tenancies ending on or after April 1, 2025, photos at move-out. A bad-faith landlord can owe up to twice the deposit as a penalty, plus actual damages.
Your best evidence is your own: photograph every room at move-in and move-out with the date visible, and keep copies of every notice you send.
The law behind this
- 41 O.S. § 115Oklahoma deposits: escrow, 45-day return and six-month demand deadline.
- Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103-92.109Texas refund deadline, itemization, forwarding address and bad-faith remedies.
- Fla. Stat. § 83.49Florida deposit holding, notice and claims.
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5California deposit limits, photos, return and penalties.
Common questions
Can a landlord charge for normal wear and tear?
Generally no. Each of these states limits deductions to unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, plus, in California, cleaning back to move-in condition.
What if the landlord misses the deadline?
The consequences depend on the state: in Texas the landlord is presumed to have acted in bad faith; in Florida a late claim notice forfeits the claim against the deposit.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws, fees and deadlines change; confirm anything time-sensitive with the agency, court or a professional.
