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OH · Security deposit

Ohio security deposit

Ohio Landlords and Tenants Act is where Ohio sets whether there is a deposit cap, what may be deducted, and how long a landlord has to return what is left. Document the unit at move-in and move-out, return keys the way the lease requires, and keep a forwarding address. We do not reprint a number that can go stale.

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Do this today

  • Keep move-in and move-out photos, dated, of every room and the condition of walls, floors, appliances, and keys.
  • Keep the lease, the receipt for the deposit, and a record of how keys were returned.
  • Give a forwarding address in writing.
  • List each disputed deduction in one sentence with the reason.

What usually has to be proven?

A deposit dispute in Ohio is a records problem first. What was paid, what was deducted, what the unit looked like at both ends, and whether keys were returned as the lease required. Ohio Landlords and Tenants Act is the chapter to open for caps, timing, and itemization — not a national chart.

Should I send a demand letter?

A calm, dated letter that lists each deduction and a way to reach you is something any renter can write. Send it in a way you can prove. Small-claims court exists in Ohio; whether it is worth filing, and what the court can order, is a question for legal aid or the court's own self-help materials.

Is Cleveland the same as Columbus or Cincinnati for renters?

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321 is shared. City codes and courts are not. Cleveland has added rental-registration and lead-safe rules. Columbus is Franklin County Municipal Court. Cincinnati is Hamilton County Municipal Court. Use the city of the unit.

The Ohio chapter

Ohio Landlords and Tenants Act (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5321.01 to 5321.20) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.

Ohio state law is the floor. Cities may add rent boards, just-cause rules, or extra protected classes. Confirm locally.

Official sources

Common questions

Is there a national cap on security deposits in Ohio?

No. Any cap, any itemization rule, and any return deadline for Ohio live in Ohio Landlords and Tenants Act — sometimes in a city rule too. This site does not reprint them.

Can my landlord in Ohio keep the deposit for normal wear?

Ordinary wear and damage are different ideas in most states. What counts as each is a Ohio and facts question. Photos from move-in and move-out are what make that argument possible.

Where do I confirm the Ohio deposit rule?

Open Ohio Landlords and Tenants Act, or take the file to legal aid. A city housing department may add rules the state does not.

Is Cleveland the same as Columbus or Cincinnati for renters?

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321 is shared. City codes and courts are not. Cleveland has added rental-registration and lead-safe rules. Columbus is Franklin County Municipal Court. Cincinnati is Hamilton County Municipal Court. Use the city of the unit.

The national security deposit guide has the full sequence. Open the security deposit guide

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Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org