Security deposit return law in Arizona

In Arizona, a landlord must return the security deposit within 14 business days (A.R.S. 33-1321).

Return deadline: 14 business days after the tenancy ends
Deposit cap: One and a half months' rent (conditions below)
Itemized list of deductions: Required
If you get it wrong: Failure to comply with the return-and-itemize requirement lets the tenant recover the property and money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (A.R.S. 33-1321).; A.R.S. 33-1321. Verified 2026-08-06.

When the clock starts, and what goes with the money

Within 14 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant, the landlord must provide an itemized list of all deductions together with payment of the amount due (A.R.S. 33-1321(D)).
At move-in the landlord must furnish a signed lease copy and a move-in condition form, and must notify the tenant in writing of the right to be present at the move-out inspection (33-1321(C)).

How much you can collect

Arizona caps the security deposit at one and a half months' rent (A.R.S. 33-1321). The conditions attached to that cap matter as much as the number:

Landlord may not demand or receive more than one and one-half months' rent as security; a tenant may voluntarily pay more (A.R.S. 33-1321(A)). The stated purpose of any nonrefundable fee must be in writing; any fee or deposit not designated nonrefundable is refundable (33-1321(B)).

What it costs to get this wrong

Failure to comply with the return-and-itemize requirement lets the tenant recover the property and money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (A.R.S. 33-1321).

Holding the deposit

No escrow, separate-account, or interest requirement. The only holding-adjacent rule is the written-purpose requirement for nonrefundable fees (33-1321(B)).

Common questions

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

14 business days, under A.R.S. 33-1321. Within 14 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant, the landlord must provide an itemized list of all deductions together with payment of the amount due (A.R.S. 33-1321(D)). When the clock starts and what goes back with the money is covered above.

Does Arizona cap the security deposit?

Yes, one and a half months' rent. Landlord may not demand or receive more than one and one-half months' rent as security; a tenant may voluntarily pay more (A.R.S. 33-1321(A)). The stated purpose of any nonrefundable fee must be in writing; any fee or deposit not designated nonrefundable is refundable (33-1321(B)).

What happens if an Arizona landlord misses the deadline or withholds wrongly?

Failure to comply with the return-and-itemize requirement lets the tenant recover the property and money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (A.R.S. 33-1321). The full rule is under "What it costs to get this wrong" above.

Does an Arizona security deposit have to be held a particular way?

No escrow, separate-account, or interest requirement. The rest is under "Holding the deposit" above.

The deposit paperwork is the part that gets lost. PropManager keeps the deposit on the lease, the move-out itemization with the tenant's file, and the refund in the ledger, so the record exists before a dispute does.

Sources

A.R.S. 33-1321. Source: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/33/01321.htm. Verified 2026-08-06.

General information, not legal advice. Check your own lease and any city or county ordinance before you rely on it.