State Statutory Directory
Prorated Rent by State: Deposit Deadlines & Notice Rules
Comprehensive directory of state residential landlord-tenant laws, statutory security deposit return timelines, month-to-month termination notice requirements, and official legislative citations.
State Comparison: Deposit Timelines & Notice Requirements
Every legal requirement is verified directly against official government legislative statutes.
| State | Deposit Return Deadline | Month-to-Month Tenant Notice | State Calculator & Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 21 Calendar Days (Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5) | 30 Calendar Days (Cal. Civ. Code §1946) | California Rules→ |
| Texas | 30 Calendar Days (Tex. Prop. Code §92.103) & (§92.107) | 1 Month / 30 Days (Tex. Prop. Code §91.001) | Texas Rules→ |
| Florida | 15 Days (full refund) or 30 Days (deductions notice) (Fla. Stat. §83.49) | 30 Calendar Days (Fla. Stat. §83.57) | Florida Rules→ |
| New York | 14 Calendar Days (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108) | 1 Month (outside NYC) (N.Y. Real Prop. Law §232-b) / NYC lease governs | New York Rules→ |
| Illinois | 30 Days (itemized statement) / 45 Days (full return) (765 ILCS 710) / (Chicago RLTO) | 30 Calendar Days (735 ILCS 5/9-207) | Illinois Rules→ |
| Washington | 30 Calendar Days (requires signed checklist) (RCW 59.18.280) & (§59.18.260) | 20 Calendar Days before rental period ends (RCW 59.18.200) | Washington Rules→ |
| Georgia | Within 1 Month (treble damages unless bona fide error) (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34) | 30 Days (Tenant) / 60 Days (Landlord) (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7) | Georgia Rules→ |
| North Carolina | 30 Days (or 60 Days with interim notice) (N.C.G.S. § 42-52) | 7 Calendar Days (N.C.G.S. § 42-14) | North Carolina Rules→ |
| Pennsylvania | 30 Calendar Days (double damages liability) (68 P.S. § 250.512) | Set by lease (no statute) (68 P.S. § 250.501(b)) | Pennsylvania Rules→ |
| Ohio | 30 Calendar Days (double damages + attorney fees) (ORC § 5321.16) | 30 Calendar Days (ORC § 5321.17) | Ohio Rules→ |
| Arizona | 14 Business Days (double damages liability) (A.R.S. § 33-1321(D)) | 30 Calendar Days (A.R.S. § 33-1375(B)) | Arizona Rules→ |
| Colorado | 1 Month (up to 60 days by lease; treble damages) (C.R.S. § 38-12-103); 2026 updates under HB25-1249 (14-day documentation, walkthrough rights) | 21 Calendar Days (C.R.S. § 13-40-107(1)(c)) | Colorado Rules→ |
| New Jersey | 30 Calendar Days (double damages liability) (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1); 1.5 mo cap & bank escrow (§ 46:8-19) | A tenant typically gives one month's written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56(b)). Landlords generally cannot end a residential tenancy without a "good cause" listed in the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1); owner-occupied buildings with two or fewer units are the main exception. | New Jersey Rules→ |
| Massachusetts | 30 Calendar Days (mandatory treble damages) (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B); 1 mo cap, sworn itemization, 5% interest | 30 Days (or payment interval) (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12) | Massachusetts Rules→ |
| Virginia | 45 Calendar Days (72-hr walkthrough right) (Va. Code § 55.1-1226); 2 mo cap, 10% late fee cap (§ 55.1-1204(E)) | 30 Calendar Days (Va. Code § 55.1-1253(A)) | Virginia Rules→ |
| Michigan | 30 Calendar Days (inventory checklist required) (MCL § 554.609); 1.5 mo cap, 45-day lawsuit rule (§ 554.613) | 1 Month Notice (MCL § 554.134(1)) | Michigan Rules→ |
Understanding State-by-State Proration & Tenancy Laws
While the mathematical principles of prorating rent are universal—dividing periodic cost by active days of occupancy—the statutory framework governing residential tenancies varies significantly across state jurisdictions. State property codes establish strict parameters for how lease contracts must be constructed, when deposits must be returned, and how much advance notice is required to vacate.
In California, standard residential leases published by the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) mandate a 30-day banker's convention, charging exactly 1/30th of the monthly rent per day. By contrast, in Texas, the standard Texas Apartment Association (TAA) lease does not set a statutory formula, allowing housing providers to establish either actual-days or 30-day math within the contractual agreement.
Security deposit return timelines represent another crucial area of statutory divergence. New York imposes one of the shortest deadlines in the country at just 14 calendar days (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108), while Florida provides 15 days for full refunds or 30 days if deductions are formally claimed via certified mail (Fla. Stat. §83.49). In Washington State, landlords cannot legally collect or retain any portion of a security deposit without providing a written move-in condition checklist signed by both parties at the start of tenancy (RCW 59.18.260).
State Prorated Rent Frequently Asked Questions
Does federal law regulate prorated rent calculations?
No. There is no federal statute governing prorated rent calculations for private residential leases in the United States. Proration formulas, security deposit return windows, and tenant notice deadlines are determined entirely by state landlord-tenant codes, municipal ordinances, and the private contract language within your signed lease agreement.
Which states legally require landlords to prorate rent?
Most state statutory codes do not mandate a single formula for move-in proration, leaving the computation method to standard lease agreements (such as the C.A.R. lease in California or the TAA lease in Texas). However, for mid-month move-outs following valid statutory notice, jurisdictions generally require tenants to pay only for active days of possession, or to conclude tenancies at the end of a monthly period.
What is the difference between actual-days and 30-day banker's proration?
The actual-days method divides monthly rent by the exact number of calendar days in that specific month (28, 29, 30, or 31). The Banker's 30-day rule divides monthly rent by 30 regardless of the month's calendar length. While both methods yield identical results in 30-day months like April or September, they produce slight differences in 31-day months and February.
What happens if a landlord misses the statutory deposit return deadline?
Missing statutory security deposit deadlines generally forfeits the landlord's legal right to retain any portion of the deposit for alleged damages. In many states, bad-faith retention entitles tenants to punitive statutory damages: up to twice the deposit in California, New York, Washington, and Illinois (under Chicago RLTO), and three times the wrongfully withheld portion plus $100 in Texas.
Helpful Tenancy Tools & Templates
Draft official written notices and calculate exact rent apportionments using our free tools: