🏠 GEORGIA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Georgia
Georgia law caps a residential security deposit: “No landlord shall demand or receive a security deposit in an amount that exceeds the equivalent of two months' rent.” (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1).
HB 404 (2024) § 6: “This Act shall apply to residential lease agreements that are entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024.” Georgia’s deadline for returning a deposit is not stated on this page: Georgia does not publish its code officially in free text, and we hold no official copy of that section — so we won’t give you a number we can’t check.
The Georgia statute
CAP VERIFIED · DEADLINE NOT VERIFIED
§ O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1
O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1 (added by HB 404, the "Safe at Home Act", 2024): "No landlord shall demand or receive a security deposit in an amount that exceeds the equivalent of two months' rent." HB 404 § 6: "This Act shall apply to residential lease agreements that are entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024." Georgia's deposit-return deadline is not stated here: we hold no official text of it. Verified against primary statute text (legis.ga.gov, HB 404 as passed) 2026-09-28.
Read the Georgia source text →Georgia deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Georgia requires |
|---|---|
| Maximum deposit | 2 months' rent (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1) |
| Applies to | Residential leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024 |
| Deadline to return or itemize | Not verified — we hold no official text of Georgia’s deposit-return deadline, so we don’t state one |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Not verified — we hold no official text of it |
The cap and the date it applies from are quoted from the enacted bill text on the official legislature site. The deadline and the penalty are not verified: no official text of them is available to us. Read the official text →
What security deposits law covers in Georgia
The deposit cap, in the statute’s words“No landlord shall demand or receive a security deposit in an amount that exceeds the equivalent of two months' rent.” (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1)
Which leases the cap covers“This Act shall apply to residential lease agreements that are entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024.” (HB 404 (2024) § 6)
What we don’t state, and whyGeorgia’s return deadline and late-return penalty are set in sections of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated that the state does not publish officially in free text. We hold no official copy, so this page states neither. Read them in a licensed copy, or ask a Georgia legal-aid office, before you count days.
What to do in Georgia, in order
- Check your lease date: the cap applies to residential leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024.
- If your deposit is more than 2 months' rent, point your landlord to O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1.
- 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.
- Before you count days to a deadline, read Georgia’s deposit-return statute in an official or licensed copy, or ask a Georgia legal-aid office — we have not verified that deadline.
Common questions about security deposits in Georgia
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Georgia?
O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1: “No landlord shall demand or receive a security deposit in an amount that exceeds the equivalent of two months' rent.” It applies to residential leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Georgia?
We don’t state it. Georgia does not publish its code officially in free text, and we hold no official copy of the section that sets the deadline, so we can’t verify a number. Read the statute in a licensed copy or ask a Georgia legal-aid office.
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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.