🏠 MINNESOTA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Minnesota
In Minnesota, Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 gives your landlord 21 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Minnesota sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: the amount withheld plus interest, and up to $500 punitive damages per deposit for bad faith.
The Minnesota statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Minn. Stat. § 504B.178
Landlord must return the deposit with 1% simple annual interest, or furnish a written statement of the specific reasons for withholding, within three weeks after tenancy termination and receipt of the tenant’s mailing address (five days if the building is condemned). Noncompliance makes the landlord liable for a penalty equal to the amount withheld plus interest, and bad-faith retention adds punitive damages up to $500 per deposit; waiver of the section is void. Verified against primary statute text (revisor.mn.gov) 2026-07-01.
Read the Minnesota source text →Minnesota deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Minnesota requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 21 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | No statutory limit |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | The amount withheld plus interest, and up to $500 punitive damages per deposit for bad faith |
| Governing statute | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 |
Statute says "within three weeks after termination of the tenancy" and receipt of the tenant’s mailing address; five days if the building is condemned. Every figure here was read from the Minnesota statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Minnesota
The 21 days clock in MinnesotaMinn. Stat. § 504B.178 sets Minnesota's deadline at 21 days from the end of the tenancy. Statute says "within three weeks after termination of the tenancy" and receipt of the tenant’s mailing address; five days if the building is condemned.
Minnesota does not cap the depositMinnesota sets no statutory ceiling on the deposit amount, so the lease controls how much you can be charged. The return deadline and itemization rules in Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 still apply in full.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Minnesota requires a written, itemized statement within the 21 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 MinnesotaThe amount withheld plus interest, and up to $500 punitive damages per deposit for bad faith — that is the remedy Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 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 Minnesota, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Minnesota the 21 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 21 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Minnesota small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (the amount withheld plus interest, and up to $500 punitive damages per deposit for bad faith) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Minnesota
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Minnesota?
Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 gives your landlord 21 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Statute says "within three weeks after termination of the tenancy" and receipt of the tenant’s mailing address; five days if the building is condemned.
What happens if my Minnesota landlord misses the deadline?
The amount withheld plus interest, and up to $500 punitive damages per deposit for bad faith. That remedy is written into Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 — 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota sets no statutory maximum, so the amount is whatever the lease sets. The deadline and itemization requirements in Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 still apply regardless of size.
Can my Minnesota 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 21 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.