🏠 OHIO · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Ohio
In Ohio, Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Ohio sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: the amount wrongfully withheld again as damages, plus reasonable attorney fees.
The Ohio statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16
Itemized deductions and the amount due must be delivered in writing within 30 days after termination and delivery of possession. Wrongful withholding allows recovery of the amount due plus equal damages and reasonable attorney fees. Tenant must provide a forwarding address to preserve these remedies. Verified against primary statute text (codes.ohio.gov) 2026-06-28.
Read the Ohio source text →Ohio deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Ohio requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | No statutory limit |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | The amount wrongfully withheld again as damages, plus reasonable attorney fees |
| Governing statute | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 |
The 30 days run from termination of the rental agreement AND delivery of possession. The tenant must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing to preserve the damages and attorney-fee remedies. Every figure here was read from the Ohio statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Ohio
The 30 days clock in OhioOhio Rev. Code § 5321.16 sets Ohio's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy. The 30 days run from termination of the rental agreement AND delivery of possession. The tenant must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing to preserve the damages and attorney-fee remedies.
Ohio does not cap the depositOhio 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 Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 still apply in full.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Ohio requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 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 OhioThe amount wrongfully withheld again as damages, plus reasonable attorney fees — that is the remedy Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 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 Ohio, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Ohio the 30 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 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Ohio small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (the amount wrongfully withheld again as damages, plus reasonable attorney fees) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Ohio
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Ohio?
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The 30 days run from termination of the rental agreement AND delivery of possession. The tenant must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing to preserve the damages and attorney-fee remedies.
What happens if my Ohio landlord misses the deadline?
The amount wrongfully withheld again as damages, plus reasonable attorney fees. That remedy is written into Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 — 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 Ohio?
Ohio sets no statutory maximum, so the amount is whatever the lease sets. The deadline and itemization requirements in Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 still apply regardless of size.
Can my Ohio 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 30 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.