Security deposit return deadlines · Georgia
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Georgia?
30 days
A Georgia landlord must return the deposit, or send a written list of damages with any refund, within 30 days after the lease ends or you move out, whichever is later.
Source: Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34) · checked October 9, 2026
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What Georgia law says
- Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted.
- Landlords with more than ten units, or who use a management agent, must inspect the unit at move-out.
- For those landlords, a court can award up to three times the deposit; it is a court remedy, not an amount owed automatically.
What to do next
- Write down the move-out date, the date you returned the keys and when you gave a forwarding address.
- Collect the lease, proof of the deposit payment, move-out photos and any messages about deductions.
- Ask in writing for the balance or an itemized explanation, with a clear reply date.
- Send it to the notice address in the lease. Certified Mail with Return Receipt gives you proof of delivery.
- If there is still no answer, small claims court is a common next step; filing rules vary by state.
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Other states
- California — 21 days
- Florida — 15 or 30 days
- Illinois — 30 or 45 days
- Michigan — 30 days
- New York — 14 days
- North Carolina — 30 days
- Ohio — 30 days
- Pennsylvania — 30 days
- Texas — 30 days