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Arizona security deposit law: deadline, deductions and penalties

Quick answer

In Arizona, a landlord has 14 business days to return the security deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321). Under Arizona law, a landlord who wrongfully keeps a deposit can owe up to three times the amount withheld.

Checked against the statute on October 29, 2026.

14

business days for an Arizona landlord to return the deposit or itemize deductions

The deadline

Within 14 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the tenancy ends, the tenant delivers possession and demands the deposit, the landlord must return it with an itemized list of any deductions.

What the landlord must send you

An itemized list of all deductions, delivered with the amount due.

Penalty for wrongful withholding

A tenant may recover the money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321(E)).

Your forwarding address

Arizona's deadline runs from the tenant's demand for the deposit. The demand letter serves as that written demand.

Read the law

Summary checked against the statute on October 29, 2026. Not legal advice; laws change, so confirm with the source before relying on it.

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Did the landlord send you a written, itemized list of deductions?

Arizona security deposit FAQ

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Arizona?

Within 14 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the tenancy ends, the tenant delivers possession and demands the deposit, the landlord must return it with an itemized list of any deductions.

What must an Arizona landlord send when keeping part of the deposit?

An itemized list of all deductions, delivered with the amount due.

What is the penalty for wrongfully keeping a security deposit in Arizona?

A tenant may recover the money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321(E)).

Do I need to give my Arizona landlord a forwarding address?

Arizona's deadline runs from the tenant's demand for the deposit. The demand letter serves as that written demand.

How do I get my security deposit back in Arizona?

Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing, wait for the 14 business days deadline, then send a demand letter by certified mail that cites Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 and sets a payment date. If the landlord still doesn't pay, you can file in small claims court in the county where the rental is located.

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