Security deposit law in Arizona

One and a half months' rent. The return rule is 14 business days. The controlling text is Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321.

Shared move-in, deduction, and refund workflow: the national state-law hub.

Arizona's deposit ceiling

One and a half months' rent.

A tenant may voluntarily pay more for specific purposes, but you cannot require a deposit above one and a half months' rent.

Arizona's return deadline

14 business days.

You have 14 business days, not calendar days, after the tenancy ends and the tenant requests it, to return the deposit with an itemized list of deductions. Business days exclude weekends and holidays, so map the deadline on a calendar rather than counting fourteen from move-out.

The itemized statement rule

An itemized list of every deduction is required with the refund. The tenant has the right to be present at the move-out inspection, which is the moment to agree on damage before it becomes a dispute.

Account and interest rules

Arizona sets no separate-account or interest requirement. Keeping the deposit out of your operating account remains sound practice.

Exposure for wrongful withholding

Up to 2x wrongfully withheld.

A landlord who keeps a deposit in violation of the statute is liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld. The tenant has to make the request first, but once they do, the 14-business-day clock and the itemization requirement are strict.

Compare Arizona with neighboring states

• California: one month's rent; return rule: 21 days.
• Nevada: three months' rent; return rule: 30 days.
• Utah: no statutory limit; return rule: 30 days.
• New Mexico: one month's rent; return rule: 30 days.
• Colorado: two months' rent; return rule: 30 days.