Security deposit law in Arizona

The rule in Arizona

Arizona limits a residential security deposit to 1.5 months' rent. The wording in A.R.S. § 33-1321(A), (D): “more than one and one-half month's rent.”

The return deadline is 14 business days, counted after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant demands the accounting. The text reads: “Within fourteen days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays or other legal holidays.” Because weekends and legal holidays do not count, 14 business days is roughly 20 calendar days.

Of the 44 jurisdictions verified here, 6 give landlords less time and 35 give more; the median is 30 days. Delaware and Rhode Island allow 20 calendar days, about the same span.

What the cap means in dollars: $1,000 rent: up to $1,500, $1,500 rent: up to $2,250 and $2,000 rent: up to $3,000.

Worked date: if the clock starts on November 30, 2026, the deadline falls on December 18, 2026.

In neighbouring states with verified rules: California allows 21 days and caps deposits at one month's rent, Nevada allows 30 days and caps deposits at three months' rent, New Mexico allows 30 days and caps deposits at one month's rent and Utah allows 30 days and sets no cap.

A tenant may voluntarily prepay more than the cap.

If a deposit is not returned, the small claims limit in Arizona is $5,000 (small claims rules); at the cap, a full-deposit claim fits whenever rent is $3,333 a month or less.

Source: Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 33-1321 · last checked October 20, 2026.

If the deposit does not come back

The statute above sets the deadline; what happens after it passes is covered in general terms in the guide on a deposit that is not returned, and the way each state starts and counts the clock is compared in how deposit deadlines are counted.