Deposit return deadline · Minnesota
Minnesota: return the deposit within 21 days
In Minnesota, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit — or account for what's being kept — within three weeks after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's forwarding address — five days if the building was condemned. The rule is Minn. Stat. § 504B.178.
Deducting? The paperwork rules
A written statement giving the specific reason for every dollar withheld, sent with the balance. Interest goes with it: the deposit earns simple, noncompounded interest at the statutory rate (1% a year as of this writing).
The clean way to do this is a written letter with the deduction list and the ledger behind it — the deposit return letter template produces one, and a current rent ledger is the difference between documenting and reconstructing.
What missing the deadline costs
Bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit on top of the amount and interest owed — and if you missed the statement or the deadline, retention is presumed bad faith unless the deposit is returned within two weeks of the tenant filing suit.
No cap on the deposit amount. The clock is the part people miss: it does not start until you have the forwarding address, so ask for it in writing at move-out.
Never discover this deadline late
The return clock starts the day the tenancy ends — which means it's knowable weeks in advance. A free RentChime account tracks your lease dates and emails you before deadlines like this one arrive.
Not legal advice. This is a summary for general information, not legal advice. The statute linked above is the authority; cities can add stricter rules, and laws change. If a deposit is disputed, talk to a local attorney.
Common questions
When does the 21-day clock start?
Generally when the tenancy ends and the tenant has moved out. The statute linked above defines the trigger precisely.
Can I deduct for normal wear and tear?
No state allows deductions for ordinary wear and tear — deductions are for damage beyond it, unpaid rent, and other charges the lease and statute allow, itemized in writing.
What if I miss the deadline in good faith?
Penalties generally attach to bad-faith withholding, but missing the deadline can forfeit your right to keep any of the deposit even without bad faith. The safe play is the letter, itemized, on time.