30 days to return the deposit; cap no statutory cap.
Your landlord must refund the deposit, with an itemized list of deductions, within 30 days after you move out and give a forwarding address. There is no statutory cap on deposit amount.
What this means for you: A landlord who keeps the deposit in bad faith can owe three times the wrongly withheld portion plus $100 and your attorney's fees — a strong incentive to comply.
Your next step: Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing (this starts the clock), then send a deposit-return demand if 30 days pass.
Source: Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.103–92.109. Reviewed 2026-06-16.
More Texas rights: Texas eviction · Texas repairs · Texas entry notice · Texas rent increase.
Security deposit in nearby states: New Mexico (30 days to return the deposit; cap 1 month's rent) · Oklahoma (30 days to return the deposit; cap no statutory cap) · Louisiana (30 days to return the deposit; cap no statutory cap) · Arkansas (60 days to return the deposit; cap 2 months' rent).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by locality; consult a licensed attorney or your local housing authority.
Updated July 2026