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Mississippi security deposit law

How much a landlord can charge for a security deposit in Mississippi, the deadline to return it after move-out, and the statute that controls — verified June 7, 2026.

Best-effort summary, verified June 7, 2026. Statutes change and often use tiers or exceptions a summary can't capture. Confirm with the linked statute or a licensed attorney. This is not legal advice.
Maximum deposit
No statutory limit
Return deadline
45 days
Controlling statute
Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21
No statutory dollar cap. Mississippi sets no statewide limit on the deposit amount — but local ordinances may, and the return deadline above still applies. Market practice is typically 1–2 months of rent.

Maximum security deposit in Mississippi

No statutory limit. § 89-8-21(3) requires return of remaining deposit within 45 days after termination, delivery of possession, and tenant demand. Mississippi has no free official .gov statute viewer (official Code via LexisNexis).

Returning the deposit

45 days. Read Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 for the exact triggers, itemization requirements, and penalties for late or bad-faith withholding.

Compare with other states

See the full sortable table in our free security deposit limits by state tool, or jump to another state below.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum security deposit a landlord can charge in Mississippi?

No statutory limit. § 89-8-21(3) requires return of remaining deposit within 45 days after termination, delivery of possession, and tenant demand. Mississippi has no free official .gov statute viewer (official Code via LexisNexis). This is a best-effort summary verified against the official statute (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21) on June 7, 2026 — always confirm with the current law or an attorney.

When must a landlord return a security deposit in Mississippi?

45 days. See Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 for the exact conditions and any itemization requirements.

What statute governs security deposits in Mississippi?

Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21. The official text is published by the state at https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-89/chapter-8/section-89-8-21/.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is a best-effort summary compiled from primary legal authority and verified on June 7, 2026. Statutes change, and many states use tiers or exceptions a summary can't capture. Confirm with the current statute or a licensed attorney before relying on it.

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Security deposit law in every state

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