Ohio Security Deposit Law
What landlords in Ohio need to know about deposit limits, refund deadlines, interest, and penalties for getting it wrong.
Deposit cap
No statutory cap
Refund deadline
30 days
Interest required?
Yes
5% simple annual interest required only if the deposit exceeds one month's rent and is held over 6 months.
Separate account?
Not required
Penalty for noncompliance
Bad-faith retention can result in damages equal to the wrongfully withheld amount, doubled.
Statute: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16
This page summarizes general state-level rules as of 2026 and does not cover city or county ordinances, which can be stricter. Verify against the statute cited above or with a local attorney before relying on it. See all states.