Vermont Security Deposit Return: The 14 or 60-Day Deadline (2026)

How long a landlord has to return your deposit, and what you can claim if they miss it

At a glance

Return deadline: 14 or 60 days after vacating
Measured from: The date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated/abandoned, or the date the tenant vacated (if the landlord received notice)
Penalty for late or wrongful withholding: 2x (only after a court finds bad faith)
Deposit cap: No statutory cap under state law. Note: some municipalities (e.g., Burlington, Brattleboro) impose local caps — see localOverrideNote.
Small claims cap: $10,000

Who this covers — and who it does not

This page covers residential security deposits in Vermont, where a landlord has kept some or all of a deposit after a tenancy ends.

It does not cover:

Commercial leases
Deposits held in an escrow account or with a third party
Disputes about damage charges in an ongoing (not ended) tenancy
Any state other than Vermont

Lease terms and local ordinances can change what applies. Where a city has its own deposit rules, those may differ from the state statute below.

What the statute actually says

14days

Measured from The date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated/abandoned, or the date the tenant vacated (if the landlord received notice).

The landlord must return the deposit with a written statement itemizing any deductions within 14 days from the date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated/abandoned, or the vacate date if the landlord received notice.

9 V.S.A. § 4461(c) ↗

60days

Measured from Seasonal occupancy/rental of a dwelling unit not intended as a primary residence.

For seasonal occupancy of a unit not intended as a primary residence, the deposit and written statement must be returned within 60 days.

9 V.S.A. § 4461(c) ↗

Penalties

No statutory penalty beyond returning the deposit.

If the landlord fails to return the deposit with a statement within 14 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold ANY portion of the deposit. This forfeiture is automatic (no willfulness required).
9 V.S.A. § 4461(e) ↗
A landlord who withholds in bad faith may be liable for 2x the portion wrongfully withheld.

If the failure is WILLFUL, the landlord is liable for DOUBLE the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs.
9 V.S.A. § 4461(e) ↗
The tenant may recover the landlord's attorney fees.

Reasonable attorney fees and costs are recoverable only where the failure was willful.
9 V.S.A. § 4461(e) ↗

Working out your own deadline

The clock does not start on the day you decided to leave. In Vermont it starts The date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated/abandoned, or the date the tenant vacated (if the landlord received notice) — for most leases that is the date you hand back the keys, not the date your notice period began.

Find the date you vacated and returned the keys. Write it down; everything else depends on it.
Add 14 or 60 calendar days. Count calendar days, not business days.
If the landlord has provided a forwarding address, check the statute for whether the deadline is shortened — in some states it is.
Note the date the deadline falls on. If the deposit has not arrived by then, the clock for the penalty starts running.

Common landlord defences and how to answer them

““I'm deducting for wear and tear.””

You may only retain for nonpayment of rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear (and beyond my control), unpaid utilities, or removing abandoned articles — itemized in writing.

9 V.S.A. § 4461(b)

““I didn't have to itemize.””

You must return the deposit with a written statement itemizing deductions within 14 days. Missing that deadline forfeits your right to withhold anything.

9 V.S.A. § 4461(c), (e)

““I'll keep it and you can sue me.””

A willful failure to return my deposit makes you liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus my reasonable attorney fees and costs.

9 V.S.A. § 4461(e)

Sources and how to verify them

Every figure on this page comes from the official text, not from a summary. The table below lists each provision used and the date it was last checked against the source.

Statute	Last verified	Source
9 V.S.A. § 4461(c)	2026-10-15	official text ↗
9 V.S.A. § 4461(e)	2026-10-15	official text ↗
9 V.S.A. § 4461(b)	2026-10-15	official text ↗
9 V.S.A. § 4461(g)	2026-10-15	official text ↗

Primary reference: 9 V.S.A. § 4461 (Security deposits). Where the official text and a secondary summary disagree, this page follows the official text and says so. Amendments are recorded on the site changelog.

When you need a lawyer instead of a tool

A self-help letter is the right starting point for a single deposit you can document. Get legal help if:

You have received an eviction notice — the timeline is now court-driven
The dispute involves discrimination, unsafe conditions or retaliation
The amount in dispute exceeds $10,000
Your landlord has filed anything in court already

Local legal aid organisations and tenant unions offer free help for qualifying cases. They are independent of this site — we list them because they are the right place to go, not because they link here.

More Vermont guides

Vermont Security Deposit Rules

→ All Vermont tenant rights topics

Common questions

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Vermont?

14 or 60 days, counted from The date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated/abandoned, or the date the tenant vacated (if the landlord received notice). 9 V.S.A. § 4461(c).

Can I claim more than my deposit back in Vermont?

A landlord who withholds in bad faith may be liable for 2x the portion wrongfully withheld. 9 V.S.A. § 4461(e)

Does the 14 or 60-day deadline in Vermont start when I give notice or when I move out?

It runs from The date the landlord discovers the tenant vacated/abandoned, or the date the tenant vacated (if the landlord received notice) — the date you vacated and returned the keys, not the date your notice period began.

Do I need a lawyer to file a deposit claim in Vermont?

No — Vermont small claims (Superior Court) handle claims up to $10,000. Attorney representation is permitted but not required.