Montana security deposit rules.
The Montana 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: Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-101 to -206 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
No statutory limit on the deposit amount.
When it has to come back
10 days if there is no damage, cleaning, unpaid rent or unpaid utilities; otherwise 30 days with a written list. The refund may go by EFT, cash, cheque or mail to the tenant’s new address or, if none was given, the last known address (HB 444, 2025).
Interest
No interest is required.
Where the money has to sit
No segregation requirement.
What catches operators out
- Two-track timeline (10 vs 30) is unusual — landlords often default to 30 even when no deductions, which technically violates the statute.
- Cleaning charges require a written list of deficiencies before deduction.
What this looks like with Standby in Montana.
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 Montana law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Montana. 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.