🏠 Pet Deposit & Security Deposit Limits by State
Many states cap a renter's security deposit — and in most of them a "pet deposit" is just part of that capped amount. A few allow a separate, limited pet deposit on top. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, a landlord may not charge a pet deposit or pet fee for an assistance animal. Some cities set lower limits than the state.
19 Capped by state law11 Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee3 No statewide cap
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| State | Status | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Alabama caps a security deposit at one month's rent, but a landlord may ask for more to cover pets (or alterations and increased liability risk). | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a) |
| Alaska | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Alaska caps prepaid rent plus security deposit at two months' rent (units renting for over $2,000 a month are exempt). A landlord may add a separate pet deposit of up to one month's rent, kept apart and used only for pet damage — but not for a service animal. | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(a), (h) |
| Arizona | Capped by state law | Arizona caps security, however it is labelled (including prepaid rent), at one and a half months' rent — so a "pet deposit" counts toward the cap. | A.R.S. § 33-1321(A) |
| Arkansas | Capped by state law | Arkansas caps any security deposit, however it is labelled, at two months' rent. | Ark. Code § 18-16-304 |
| California | Capped by state law | California caps security, however it is labelled, at one month's rent on top of the first month — two months for certain small landlords. A separate pet deposit cannot push the total past the cap. | Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c) |
| Colorado | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Colorado caps a security deposit at two months' rent. For a pet, a landlord may add a refundable pet deposit of no more than $300, and pet rent of no more than $35 a month or 1.5% of the rent, whichever is greater. | C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-106 |
| Connecticut | Capped by state law | Connecticut caps a security deposit at two months' rent — one month's rent for tenants aged 62 or older. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b) |
| Delaware | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Delaware caps a security deposit at one month's rent for leases of a year or more. A landlord may also require a pet deposit of up to one month's rent — but none for a certified support animal. | 25 Del. C. § 5514(a), (i) |
| District of Columbia | Capped by state law | In the District of Columbia a security deposit may not exceed the initial monthly rent, may be charged only once, and must be held in an interest-bearing account. | 14 DCMR §§ 308-311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 |
| Florida | No statewide cap | Florida sets no maximum security deposit — the statute regulates how a deposit or advance rent is held, disclosed and returned, not how large it may be. | Fla. Stat. § 83.49 |
| Georgia | Capped by state law | Since July 1, 2024 Georgia caps a security deposit at two months' rent, and pet deposits count as part of the security deposit. | O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30(3), 44-7-30.1 |
| Hawaii | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Hawaii caps a security deposit at one month's rent, plus an optional pet deposit of up to one more month's rent — never for an assistance animal kept as a reasonable accommodation. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44(b) |
| Iowa | Capped by state law | Iowa caps a security deposit at two months' rent. | Iowa Code § 562A.12(1) |
| Kansas | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Kansas caps a security deposit at one month's rent (one and a half months if furnished). If pets are allowed, the landlord may add a pet deposit of up to half a month's rent. | K.S.A. § 58-2550(a) |
| Maine | Capped by state law | Maine caps a security deposit at two months' rent. | 14 M.R.S. § 6032 |
| Maryland | Capped by state law | Maryland caps a security deposit at one month's rent per unit, however many tenants there are. | Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(b) |
| Massachusetts | Capped by state law | At the start of a tenancy a Massachusetts landlord may collect only first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of no more than one month's rent and the cost of a new lock — so a separate pet deposit is not allowed. | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B(1)(b) |
| Michigan | Capped by state law | Michigan caps a security deposit at one and a half months' rent. | MCL § 554.602 |
| Missouri | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Missouri caps a security deposit at two months' rent, but the statute's definition of a security deposit excludes a pet deposit — so a pet deposit is not counted toward the cap. | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 |
| Nebraska | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | Nebraska caps a security deposit at one month's rent, plus a pet deposit of no more than a quarter of a month's rent. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(1) |
| Nevada | Capped by state law | Nevada caps the total of security deposit and surety bond, including last month's rent, at three months' rent. | NRS § 118A.242 |
| New Hampshire | Capped by state law | New Hampshire caps a security deposit at one month's rent or $100, whichever is greater. | RSA 540-A:6, I(a) |
| New Jersey | Capped by state law | New Jersey caps security for a rental home at one and a half months' rent. | N.J.S.A. § 46:8-21.2 |
| New Mexico | Capped by state law | New Mexico caps a deposit at one month's rent for leases shorter than a year. On annual leases there is no cap, but a deposit above one month's rent earns the tenant interest. | N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18 |
| New York | Capped by state law | New York caps any deposit or advance at one month's rent (seasonal rentals aside), so a pet deposit has to fit inside that one month. | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(a) |
| North Carolina | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | North Carolina caps a security deposit at two weeks' rent (week-to-week), one and a half months (month-to-month) or two months (longer leases). A landlord may also charge a reasonable, nonrefundable pet fee. | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-51(b), 42-53 |
| North Dakota | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | North Dakota caps a security deposit at one month's rent. A separate pet deposit may not exceed $2,500 or two months' rent, whichever is greater — and cannot be charged for a service or assistance animal. | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 |
| Ohio | No statewide cap | Ohio sets no maximum security deposit. A deposit above $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater) earns 5% interest on the excess if the tenant stays six months or more. | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(A) |
| Pennsylvania | Capped by state law | Pennsylvania caps a security deposit at two months' rent in the first year of a lease and one month's rent from the second year on. | 68 P.S. § 250.511a |
| Rhode Island | Capped by state law | Rhode Island caps a security deposit, however it is labelled, at one month's rent (with an extra furniture deposit allowed for furnishings worth $5,000 or more). | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19(a) |
| South Dakota | Capped, plus a separate pet deposit or fee | South Dakota caps a security deposit at one month's rent, but a larger deposit may be agreed when special conditions pose a danger to the upkeep of the home. | SDCL § 43-32-6.1 |
| Texas | No statewide cap | Texas sets no maximum security deposit — the Property Code regulates how a deposit is returned, not how large it may be. | Tex. Prop. Code § 92.102 |
| Virginia | Capped by state law | Virginia caps a security deposit, however it is labelled, at two months' rent. | Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A) |
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General information, not legal advice. Laws change and local authorities often add stricter rules. Each row links to its source and was checked on the date shown at the top — confirm with your local authority or a lawyer before relying on it.