Ohio security deposit rules.
The Ohio 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: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
No statutory limit on the deposit amount.
When it has to come back
30 days from termination, with itemised deductions and forwarding address provided.
Interest
If the deposit exceeds $50 or one month’s rent (whichever is greater) and the tenancy lasts six months or longer, interest at 5% simple per year must be paid.
Where the money has to sit
No segregation requirement.
What catches operators out
- The 5% rate is a statutory floor — quite high relative to current bank rates.
- The trigger combines amount + duration — operators with sub-6-month leases can avoid the rule.
What this looks like with Standby in Ohio.
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 Ohio law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Ohio. 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.