Hawaii security deposit rules.
The Hawaii rules for residential security deposits in plain English: how much can be charged, how fast it comes back, whether interest is owed, and what catches operators out.
Last reviewed · Statute: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
Capped at one month’s rent, plus a separate pet deposit of up to one month’s rent. No pet deposit may be charged for an assistance animal.
When it has to come back
14 days from termination, with itemised deduction list.
Interest
No interest is required.
Where the money has to sit
No statutory segregation requirement.
What catches operators out
- Service animals are excluded from the pet-deposit allowance.
- Wilful retention may trigger treble damages.
What this looks like with Standby in Hawaii.
When a resident takes a Standby certificate there is no cash deposit to hold, so the cap, the return deadline and the interest rules above have nothing to attach to. You are covered up to the full deposit and draw on it when you need to.
When a resident pays cash instead, Standby handles that deposit under your lease and Hawaii law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Hawaii. Furnished units, senior leases, mobile-home tenancies and short-term rentals can differ, and city ordinances may override the state default. Check the statute before relying on a figure for a specific lease.