District of Columbia security deposit rules
District of Columbia limits security deposits to 1 month's rent (may not exceed the first full month's rent charged to the tenant, and may be charged only once). The deposit must be returned 45 days after termination of the tenancy to return the deposit with accrued interest, or to give written notice of intent to withhold; an itemized statement and any balance must follow within 30 days of that notice. District of Columbia is one of the states that requires interest on the deposit.
What the law requires
1 month's rent (may not exceed the first full month's rent charged to the tenant, and may be charged only once). Returned 45 days after termination of the tenancy to return the deposit with accrued interest, or to give written notice of intent to withhold; an itemized statement and any balance must follow within 30 days of that notice. Deposits must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a DC financial institution (14 DCMR 308.3); interest accrues at not less than the prevailing statement savings rate (14 DCMR 311.1) and is payable on tenancies of 12 months or more (14 DCMR 311.2). The 45-day deadline and interest obligation are confirmed in D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 (official site); the 1-month cap is in regulation 14 DCMR 308.2, confirmed via the DC Rental Housing Commission's official landlord guide and secondary sources quoting the regulation (dcregs.dc.gov text could not be retrieved directly). Treble damages for bad-faith withholding (14 DCMR 309.4).
- Deductions: unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, itemised in writing. Cleaning and repainting after ordinary use are normal wear in most states.
- Deadline: the 45-day clock usually starts when the tenant moves out and, in many states, when a forwarding address is provided. Missing it typically forfeits the landlord’s right to keep any of the deposit and can add statutory damages.
- Pets: Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024 (D.C. Law 25-308) caps a refundable pet deposit at 15% of monthly rent (on top of the ordinary security deposit) and pet rent at 1% of the first full month's rent per dog; secondary sources report the rental-housing provisions apply from October 1, 2026, but the official code site still showed D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(b-3) as 'Not Funded' when read on 2026-10-22, so treat the effective date as UNVERIFIED.
- Interest: District of Columbia requires interest on the deposit. The deposit interest calculator applies the rate and thresholds.
Move-out checklist
- Give written notice of the move-out date and a forwarding address; many deadlines only start when the landlord has the address.
- Photograph every room after cleaning, with a timestamp. Request a joint inspection where the state allows one.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand citing D.C. Code § 42-3502.17; 14 DCMR §§ 308-311. Small-claims court handles deposit disputes in every state and most cap the claim well above a typical deposit.
Related District of Columbia rules
- Late fees: Late fee may not exceed 5% of the full amount of rent due, and may be charged only if rent is unpaid more than 5 days after the due date (or any longer grace period in the lease). Only one fee per late payment, no interest on late fees, the lease must disclose the maximum fee, no fee on the portion of rent paid by a subsidy, and unpaid late fees cannot be grounds for eviction. Late fee calculator.
- Notice to end a tenancy: Landlord cannot terminate a residential month-to-month tenancy without one of the statutory grounds in D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 (no no-fault termination); a tenant may end a residential tenancy with a 30-day written notice to quit that expires on the first day of a month at least 30 days after the notice (§ 42-3202(b)). Nonpayment: at least 10 days' written notice before filing (cut from 30 days by the RENTAL Amendment Act of 2025, D.C. Law 26-80); no eviction may be filed if the unpaid rent is under $600. Other lease violations: 30 days to cure. Notice calculator.
- All rules on one page: District of Columbia landlord and tenant law.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in District of Columbia?
1 month's rent (may not exceed the first full month's rent charged to the tenant, and may be charged only once). Deposits must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a DC financial institution (14 DCMR 308.3); interest accrues at not less than the prevailing statement savings rate (14 DCMR 311.1) and is payable on tenancies of 12 months or more (14 DCMR 311.2). The 45-day deadline and interest obligation are confirmed in D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 (official site); the 1-month cap is in regulation 14 DCMR 308.2, confirmed via the DC Rental Housing Commission's official landlord guide and secondary sources quoting the regulation (dcregs.dc.gov text could not be retrieved directly). Treble damages for bad-faith withholding (14 DCMR 309.4).
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in District of Columbia?
45 days after termination of the tenancy to return the deposit with accrued interest, or to give written notice of intent to withhold; an itemized statement and any balance must follow within 30 days of that notice. The statute is D.C. Code § 42-3502.17; 14 DCMR §§ 308-311.
Does a District of Columbia landlord have to pay interest on the security deposit?
Yes, in the circumstances set out in D.C. Code § 42-3502.17; 14 DCMR §§ 308-311. See the District of Columbia deposit interest calculator for the rate and the rules.
Are pet deposits limited in District of Columbia?
Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024 (D.C. Law 25-308) caps a refundable pet deposit at 15% of monthly rent (on top of the ordinary security deposit) and pet rent at 1% of the first full month's rent per dog; secondary sources report the rental-housing provisions apply from October 1, 2026, but the official code site still showed D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(b-3) as 'Not Funded' when read on 2026-10-22, so treat the effective date as UNVERIFIED.