Ohio generally gives the landlord 30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession to return the amount due or send an itemized written notice of deductions.
That means the deadline depends on two events: the rental ending and the landlord getting possession back.
The 30-day rule
Ohio Revised Code section 5321.16 says deductions must be itemized and identified in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount due within 30 days after:
- termination of the rental agreement
- delivery of possession
Delivery of possession usually means you gave the rental back, such as by moving out and returning keys or access devices.
Keep proof of both trigger events. A lease-end date alone is not always enough if there is a fight about when the landlord got the unit back.
Written forwarding address
Give your landlord a forwarding or new address in writing. Keep proof that you sent it.
Ohio's statutory damages and attorney-fee remedy is tied to the tenant's written forwarding-address compliance. Without that address record, the strongest remedy may not be available.
This is not paperwork for its own sake. The written address helps preserve the cleanest remedy path if the landlord keeps money after the 30-day period without a proper itemized notice.
Interest timing
If the deposit is more than $50 or more than one month's periodic rent, whichever is greater, the excess earns 5% annual interest if the tenant remains in possession for six months or more.
Not every Ohio deposit earns interest, and the interest is on the qualifying excess.
If interest may apply, keep the deposit amount, monthly rent amount, and possession length together so the demand can show the calculation clearly.
Official sources
Source reviewed: April 2026.
What to do next
- Deposit not returned in Ohio
- Ohio security deposit demand letter
- Ohio security deposit evidence guide
- Ohio small claims basics
The free guide explains the Ohio timing rule. The paid system gives you Ohio-specific letters that use the deadline, forwarding-address proof, itemization problem, interest issue, and amount owed in the right order.
Get the Deposit Recovery System
Important: This page provides general information and is not legal advice.