State Law Guide · Updated January 2026
Your landlord's deductions may not hold up under state law.
Georgia Security Deposit Laws
Under Georgia Code § 44-7-30 to 44-7-37, Georgia landlords must return security deposits within 30 days of a tenant moving out. Landlords who wrongfully withhold deposits face penalties of up to Up to 3x the deposit wrongfully withheld (bad faith).
Quick Answer
In Georgia, landlords have 30 days to return your security deposit after you move out and provide a forwarding address. The maximum deposit is 2 months' rent. If your landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit, you can sue in Small Claims Court (up to $15,000) and may recover Up to 3x the deposit wrongfully withheld (bad faith) under Georgia Code § 44-7-30 to 44-7-37. Landlords must provide an itemized statement of deductions.
Received deductions from your landlord?
Check if they violate Georgia law
What Georgia Law Requires
Return Deadline
Landlords have exactly 30 days to return your deposit after you move out. If they make deductions, they must provide an itemized statement explaining each charge with documentation.
Penalties for Violations
Landlords who wrongfully withhold deposits face Up to 3x the deposit wrongfully withheld (bad faith). You can file in small claims court for amounts up to $15,000without needing an attorney.
Interest Requirements
No interest requirement; escrow account required for landlords with 10+ units
Your landlord was required to follow these rules exactly. If they didn't, you may be owed your full deposit back — plus penalties. A generic complaint gets ignored. A letter citing Georgia Code § 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 deadlines and HUD depreciation schedules gets results. Upload their deduction letter to find out.
Common Deductions Landlords Make
Federal guidelines from HUD and the IRS establish "useful life" standards that limit what landlords can charge. Many common deductions are partially or fully invalid under these guidelines.
Carpet Replacement
Typical: $500-1,8005-year useful life per HUD MAP Guide Appendix 5C. Charges may be reduced or invalid based on how long you lived there.
Interior Paint
Typical: $200-8003-year useful life per HUD Handbook 4350.1. Charges may be reduced or invalid based on how long you lived there.
How It Works
Upload Letter
Upload your landlord's deduction letter
AI Analyzes Charges
Each deduction checked against Georgia law and HUD guidelines
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Get a Demand Letter That Cites These Laws
Our tool analyzes your landlord's deductions against Georgia Code § 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 and federal HUD guidelines, then generates a formal demand letter you can send immediately.
Legal Demand Letter
Cites exact statutes & deadlines
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HUD/IRS Citations
Useful life depreciation built in
"No move-in inspection on file, so they couldn't prove any of the damage they claimed. Got my full deposit back."
— Atlanta, GA
$19 to recover up to $1,450. That's a 76x return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Georgia landlord have to return my deposit?
Georgia landlords must return your deposit within 30 days of lease termination, along with an itemized statement of deductions.
What penalties exist for Georgia landlords who wrongfully withhold deposits?
Bad faith withholding can result in liability for up to 3x the deposit amount. Georgia Magistrate Court handles claims up to $15,000.
Must Georgia landlords provide a move-in inspection list?
Landlords with 10 or more units must provide a move-in/move-out inspection list. Failure to do so weakens their deduction claims.
Have your landlord's deduction letter handy?
Is there a deposit limit in Georgia?
Yes. As of 2024, Georgia caps security deposits at 2 months' rent under HB 404 (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1).
City-Specific Rules
Some Georgia cities have additional tenant protections:
- Atlanta: Additional tenant resources through city housing authority.
Official Resources
- Georgia Department of Law Consumer Protection(Government)
- Atlanta Legal Aid Society(Legal Aid)
Compare Other States
See how Georgia's security deposit laws compare to nearby states:
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Georgia tenants are already using this tool to dispute unfair deductions.
Average Georgia deposit: $1,450 · Based on Georgia Code § 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 · HUD Handbook 4350.1 · IRS Publication 527