Security deposit return deadline in Washington, D.C.
In Washington, D.C., a landlord has 45 days after the tenancy ends to return a security deposit or send a written list of what was kept.
- Deadline
- 45 days
- What the landlord must send
- Within 45 days the housing provider must notify the tenant in writing of any amounts claimed, with photos or other supporting documents and a statement of the right to dispute.
- If the landlord gets it wrong
- Under the D.C. deposit regulations, bad-faith retention can bring treble damages.
- Deposit limit
- 1 month’s rent
- Interest
- Interest is owed on deposits; the rate is adjusted every six months.
The tenant has 30 days to dispute the claimed amounts, and the housing provider must respond within 10 days.
The law
D.C. Code § 42-3502.17; 14 DCMR §§ 308 to 311. Read the statute or the D.C. agency’s page.
Checked in October 2026 against a published copy of the statute, because the official code site was unavailable. Laws change, so confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
What to do next
If the deadline has passed, or the landlord kept money without a proper list, put your request in writing. Ask for the deposit back by a specific date, and keep a copy. The free first letter in the Deposit Demand Letters kit does this for Washington, D.C., and the deadline calculator works out your exact date from your move-out day.
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
General information about Washington, D.C. law, not legal advice, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Deposit Demand Letters is a self-help template kit from Kits For That.