🏠 ARIZONA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Arizona
In Arizona, Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 gives your landlord 14 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The deposit itself is capped at 1.5 months' rent. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
The Arizona statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321
Within 14 days — excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays — after tenancy termination, delivery of possession, and tenant demand, the landlord must provide an itemized list of all deductions plus any amount due, mailed first class to the tenant’s last known address. Noncompliance exposes the landlord to twice the amount wrongfully withheld. Deposit capped at 1.5 months’ rent; tenants have 60 days after mailing to dispute the itemization or claims are waived. Verified against primary statute text (azleg.gov) 2026-07-01.
Read the Arizona source text →Arizona deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Arizona requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 14 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 1.5 months' rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Twice the amount wrongfully withheld |
| Governing statute | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 |
The 14 days EXCLUDE Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and the clock runs from termination, delivery of possession AND the tenant’s demand (§ 33-1321(D)). Every figure here was read from the Arizona statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Arizona
The 14 days clock in ArizonaAriz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 sets Arizona's deadline at 14 days from the end of the tenancy. The 14 days EXCLUDE Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and the clock runs from termination, delivery of possession AND the tenant’s demand (§ 33-1321(D)).
Arizona caps the deposit at 1.5 months' rentA Arizona landlord may not demand more than 1.5 months' rent as a security deposit under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Arizona requires a written, itemized statement within the 14 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in ArizonaTwice the amount wrongfully withheld — that is the remedy Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Arizona, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Arizona the 14 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 14 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Arizona small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (twice the amount wrongfully withheld) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Arizona
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Arizona?
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 gives your landlord 14 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The 14 days EXCLUDE Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and the clock runs from termination, delivery of possession AND the tenant’s demand (§ 33-1321(D)).
What happens if my Arizona landlord misses the deadline?
Twice the amount wrongfully withheld. That remedy is written into Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Arizona?
Arizona caps it at 1.5 months' rent under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Arizona landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 14 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.