ReclaimDepositOhio Security Deposit Laws (2026)
Key rules for deadlines, penalties, and documentation requirements, with direct links to the official statute.
Deadline
30 days
30 days after termination of rental agreement and delivery of possession
Penalty
2x
Actual damages + reasonable attorney fees; double damages if bad faith
Small claims limit
$6,000
Small Claims Division (County Court or Municipal Court)
Requirements
Move-in checklistNot required
Pre move-out inspectionNot required
Certified mailNot required
Forwarding addressRequired
Notes
- Written notice of forwarding address strongly recommended to ensure timely return
- Landlord must provide itemized list with specific amounts and purposes for each deduction
- Double damages available for bad faith withholding
- Interest on deposits not required by state law
- No statutory deposit limit
Citations
Quick references pulled from our shared state law dataset. Always verify against the official statute.
- ORC § 5321.16(B) - Landlord must return deposit within 30 days with itemized statement
- ORC § 5321.16(B) - Landlord must provide written itemized list showing amounts and purposes
- ORC § 5321.16(B) - Cannot deduct for normal wear and tear
- ORC § 5321.16(C) - Bad faith retention = 2x wrongfully withheld amount + attorney fees
- ORC § 5321.16(B) - Statement sent to tenant's last known address or forwarding address
Next steps
Use free tools to estimate your deadline and prepare a demand letter.