State law lookup › Security deposits › Georgia
Security deposits in Georgia: what the law says
My landlord kept my security deposit
State law
What the statute says
- Deadline to return or itemise
- 30 days
- Statutory damages multiplier
- 3×
- Itemised statement required
- Yes
- Small claims limit
- $15,000
Georgia has no court named "small claims"; this is the Magistrate Court jurisdictional ceiling under O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2(5) and it caps the whole civil claim. DATED: HB 999/AP (2026), Act 707, § 3 raises it to $25,000 effective January 1, 2027 for actions filed on or after that date.
- Code section
- O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34
Read it yourself
Official sources. If a number below matters to your case, open the statute and read it — laws get amended, and cities often stack stricter local rules on top.
- O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34 — Georgia security deposit statute
- O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2(5) (magistrate court jurisdiction); HB 999/AP (2026)
Last checked: 2026-08-17
Send this as a certified letter
Jab drafts the letter, a licensed attorney reviews it, and we mail it USPS Certified Mail with a signed return receipt. $29 flat. You can also write it yourself — this page has what you need.
Start my letter →Jab Today is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. This page describes how the statutes read, which is a different thing from what will happen in your case. Laws are amended and local ordinances often add stricter rules. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.