Wyoming Security Deposit Law Explained
If you moved out of a place you rented in Wyoming, you are usually entitled to get your deposit and any prepaid rent balance back unless the landlord is keeping part of it for a reason Wyoming law allows.
The practical rule
Wyoming's main deposit rules are in Wyoming Statutes Sections 1-21-1207 and 1-21-1208. The landlord must deliver or mail the deposit balance, prepaid rent balance, and written itemization of deductions within 30 days after termination of the rental agreement or within 15 days after receiving the renter's new mailing address, whichever is later.
If there is damage to the residential rental unit, that period is extended by 30 days. That is why the move-out date, address notice, photos, and itemization all matter.
Watch this step
Notify the owner or designated agent of the location where payment and notice may be mailed within 30 days after termination. Do it in writing and keep proof. This keeps the address issue from becoming an avoidable problem later.
What the landlord can deduct
Wyoming allows deposit money to be applied to accrued rent, damage to the unit beyond reasonable wear and tear, the cost to clean the unit to the condition at the beginning of the rental agreement, and other costs provided by contract.
Ordinary wear and tear is not the same as tenant-caused damage. A worn traffic path in carpet, mild fading, or normal aging is different from broken fixtures, heavy stains, missing items, or cleaning that should have been handled before return of possession.
Written itemization and reasons
If the landlord keeps any part of the deposit or prepaid rent balance, the written itemization should explain the deductions and the reasons for them. Wyoming court self-help materials also tell renters to ask for a statement and copies of receipts if money is being kept.
Nonrefundable deposits
Wyoming has a specific notice rule for nonrefundable deposit amounts. The rental agreement must state whether any part of a deposit is nonrefundable, and written notice of that fact must be provided to the renter when the deposit is taken.
Utility deposits are separate
A deposit that is separately identified as a utilities deposit has its own timing. After termination, it is refunded within 10 days of a satisfactory showing that all utility charges have been paid.
If that showing is not made within 45 days after termination, the owner applies the utilities deposit to outstanding utility debt. Any refund due after that is paid within 7 days after application or within 15 days after receipt of the renter's new mailing address, whichever is later.
If the landlord unreasonably fails to comply
Wyoming says that if the owner or agent unreasonably fails to comply with the deposit or utilities-deposit section, the renter may recover the full deposit and court costs.
The strongest record usually shows the termination date, address notice, possession return, deposit amount, what was returned, what was withheld, and why the deductions were unsupported or late.
Sources used for this guide
- Wyoming Legislature - Title 1
- Wyoming Judicial Branch deposit-return instructions
- Wyoming Judicial Branch request for return of deposit form
Source reviewed: April 2026.
Next Wyoming pages
The system organizes the move-out notice, new-address record, timing follow-up, itemization demand, statute-backed entitlement notice, and final demand into a Wyoming-specific sequence.
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