Ohio Security Deposit Law
A 2026 guide for Ohio landlords: how much you can hold, the 30-day deadline to return it, whether interest is required, and the penalties for getting it wrong — plus a free calculator set to Ohio's rules.
Deposit cap
No statutory cap
Refund deadline
30 days
Interest required?
Yes
5% simple annual interest required only if the deposit exceeds one month's rent and is held over 6 months.
Separate account?
Not required
Penalty for noncompliance
Bad-faith retention can result in damages equal to the wrongfully withheld amount, doubled.
Statute: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16
Ohio security deposit refund calculator
Pre-set to Ohio's 30-day deadline and interest rule. Enter the deposit and any deductions to see the refund and the exact due date.
Ohio generally requires interest on held deposits. This estimate uses a 5% simple annual rate — confirm the exact current rate for your state before finalizing.
Itemized deductions
Result
$1,500.00
Amount owed back to the tenant
- Deposit held
- $1,500.00
- Estimated interest
- $0.00
- Total deductions
- −$0.00
Legal deadline in Ohio
Return the deposit (or an itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of move-out.
How to return a security deposit in Ohio
- 1
Inspect and document the unit
As soon as the tenant moves out, photograph every room and compare it against the move-in condition. In Ohio, deductions generally must reflect actual damage beyond normal wear and tear.
- 2
Itemize every deduction in writing
List each deduction with a dollar amount. Ohio — like nearly every state — can bar a landlord from keeping any of the deposit if deductions aren't itemized in a written statement.
- 3
Add any interest owed
Ohio requires interest on held deposits. 5% simple annual interest required only if the deposit exceeds one month's rent and is held over 6 months. Include the interest in the amount returned.
- 4
Return the balance within 30 days
Send the remaining balance and the itemized statement to the tenant's forwarding address within 30 days of move-out. Missing this deadline is the single most common way landlords lose a deposit dispute.
Ohio security deposit FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Ohio?
No statutory cap.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Ohio?
A landlord generally has 30 days after the tenant moves out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions.
Is interest required on security deposits in Ohio?
5% simple annual interest required only if the deposit exceeds one month's rent and is held over 6 months.
Does Ohio require the deposit to be held in a separate account?
Ohio does not impose a statewide separate-account requirement, though keeping deposits separate is still good practice.
What happens if a landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit in Ohio?
Bad-faith retention can result in damages equal to the wrongfully withheld amount, doubled.
Related free tools
Deposit laws in other states
This page summarizes general state-level rules as of 2026 and does not cover city or county ordinances, which can be stricter. Verify against the statute cited above (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16) or with a local attorney before relying on it.