No statutory limit. The return rule is 14 days. The controlling text is Vt. Stat. tit. 9 § 4461.
Shared move-in, deduction, and refund workflow: the national state-law hub.
Vermont's return deadline
14 days.
You have 14 days after the tenant moves out and returns possession to return the deposit with a written itemized statement of any deductions. Some seasonal or short-term rentals run a longer window, so confirm which applies.
The itemized statement rule
A written itemized statement of deductions is required within 14 days, and failing to send it forfeits your right to keep any of the deposit. The short clock makes an at-handover inspection essential.
Account and interest rules
Vermont sets no separate-account or interest requirement at the state level, though some towns add their own rules. Hold the deposit apart from operating funds regardless.
Exposure for wrongful withholding
Forfeit deductions; 2x for bad faith.
A landlord who fails to return the deposit or statement within 14 days forfeits the deductions, and a bad-faith withholding can reach twice the amount wrongfully withheld. The 14-day statement is the entire mechanism.
Vermont has no statutory deposit maximum
No statutory limit.
Compare Vermont with neighboring states
- New York: one month's rent; return rule: 14 days.
- New Hampshire: one month's rent or $100; return rule: 30 days.
- Massachusetts: one month's rent; return rule: 30 days.
Verified against Vt. Stat. tit. 9 § 4461 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.