Wisconsin security deposit rules.
The Wisconsin 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: Wis. Stat. § 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
No statutory limit on the deposit amount.
When it has to come back
21 days from termination or surrender of the rental unit, with itemised deductions.
Interest
No interest is required.
Where the money has to sit
No segregation requirement.
What catches operators out
- 21 days is fast. Out-of-state operators commonly miss it.
- There is no statutory move-out inspection right. The check-in rule (ATCP 134.06) gives the tenant seven days after move-in to inspect, report defects and request the previous tenant’s deduction list.
What this looks like with Standby in Wisconsin.
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 Wisconsin law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Wisconsin. 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.