Landlord & Tenant Laws by State

Rental law is state law. A rule that protects a tenant in Maryland may not exist in Georgia.

Leases are contracts everywhere. But each state adds its own requirements on top, and those requirements differ more than most people expect.

Security deposits. States cap how much a landlord can collect, usually at one or two months' rent. They also set a deadline for returning it after move-out. That deadline runs from 14 days in some states to 45 in others.

Notice periods. Before raising rent or ending a lease, a landlord must give written notice. Some states require 30 days. Others require 60 or 90, depending on how long the tenancy has lasted.

Eviction. Every state requires a court process. The steps and the clocks differ. Most states let a tenant stop the eviction by paying what is owed, and many allow this right up until the sheriff arrives.

Repairs. When a landlord will not fix a serious problem, remedies vary sharply. Some states let a tenant pay rent into a court account instead. Some allow repair costs to be deducted from rent. Others require a court order first.

Each state guide below answers ten common questions, with citations to that state's actual statutes.