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Deposits

Security deposit law in Oklahoma

Oklahoma's cap, return deadline, itemization rule, and wrongful-withholding penalty, with the controlling statute linked.

4 min read

Short answer

Oklahoma sets no statutory limit on the security deposit a landlord may collect, and the deposit must be returned within 30 days after demand. Wrongful withholding exposure is up to 2x for bad-faith retention. The controlling text is Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115, verified July 2026; confirm the current statute before acting, since legislatures amend deposit law and cities layer stricter rules on top.

No statutory limit. The return rule is 30 days after demand. The controlling text is Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115.

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Oklahoma's return deadline

30 days after demand.

You must return the deposit within 30 days after the tenant makes a written demand following the end of the tenancy, along with an itemized list of any deductions. The tenant's written demand is what starts the clock, and a tenant who never demands can forfeit the deposit after six months.

The itemized statement rule

A written itemized statement of deductions is required with the returned balance. Keep the deposit apart from your own funds until the demand-and-return process is complete.

Where the deposit must be held

Deposits must be held in a separate account in a regulated financial institution, kept apart from the landlord's own funds.

Exposure for wrongful withholding

Up to 2x for bad-faith retention.

A landlord who withholds in bad faith can be liable for up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus a reasonable attorney fee. The separate-account duty and the response to a written demand are the two things to get right.

Oklahoma has no statutory deposit maximum

No statutory limit.

Compare Oklahoma with neighboring states

  • Kansas: one month's rent; return rule: 30 days.
  • Missouri: two months' rent; return rule: 30 days.
  • Arkansas: two months' rent; return rule: 60 days.
  • Texas: 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.

Verified against Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115 and official state sources in July 2026. Before withholding money, check the current statute text or ask a local landlord-tenant attorney. General information, not legal advice.

Questions landlords actually ask

Does Oklahoma cap residential security deposits?
No statutory limit
What is the security deposit return deadline in Oklahoma?
30 days after demand. You must return the deposit within 30 days after the tenant makes a written demand following the end of the tenancy, along with an itemized list of any deductions. The tenant's written demand is what starts the clock, and a tenant who never demands can forfeit the deposit after six months.
What itemization does Oklahoma require?
A written itemized statement of deductions is required with the returned balance. Keep the deposit apart from your own funds until the demand-and-return process is complete.
What is the wrongful-withholding exposure in Oklahoma?
Up to 2x for bad-faith retention. A landlord who withholds in bad faith can be liable for up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus a reasonable attorney fee. The separate-account duty and the response to a written demand are the two things to get right.