Wyoming Security Deposit Law 2026: Limits, Deadlines & Deductions
- Does the deadline extend if the tenant gives me their new address late? Yes — the deadline is 30 days after termination or 15 days after you receive the new mailing address, whichever is later. But the tenant is required to provide it within 30 days of termination, so the extension has a…
- What counts as "damage" for the extra 30 days? Damage to the residential rental unit beyond reasonable wear and tear — the same standard as your deductions. Document it with photos at move-out so the extension is defensible.
- Can I deduct for cleaning? Yes — § 1-21-1208(a) expressly includes the cost of cleaning the unit to its condition at the beginning of the rental agreement. Itemize it with the reason and cost.
Wyoming sets no cap on security deposits and pays no interest by statute — but its deadline has a twist most landlords miss: 30 days after termination or 15 days after you receive the renter's new mailing address, whichever is later, plus an extra 30 days if the unit is damaged (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1208(a)). Unreasonable failure means the renter recovers the full deposit plus court costs. Every section below is from the Wyoming Statutes Annotated.
The short version: Charge what you want. Within 30 days after the rental agreement ends — or 15 days after the renter gives you a new mailing address, whichever is later — deliver or mail the deposit balance plus a written itemization of every deduction with its reasons. If the unit is damaged, you get 30 more days. The renter must give you a forwarding address within 30 days of termination; without it, the 15-day alternative clock never starts. Unreasonably miss the deadline and the renter gets the whole deposit back plus court costs.
The statute table
| Citation | What it says (one line) |
|---|---|
| Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1207 | Any nonrefundable portion of a deposit must be stated in the rental agreement, with written notice to the renter when it's collected. |
| Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1208(a) | The deposit may be applied to accrued rent, damage beyond reasonable wear and tear, cleaning to move-in condition, and other contract-provided costs. |
| Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1208(a) | The balance of the deposit and prepaid rent, with a written itemization of deductions and reasons, must be delivered or mailed without interest within 30 days after termination or 15 days after receipt of the renter's new mailing address, whichever is later. |
| Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1208(a) | If the unit is damaged, the return period is extended by 30 days; the renter must notify the owner of a forwarding address within 30 days of termination. |
| Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1208(b) | A separately identified utilities deposit has its own timeline: refund within 10 days of proof all utilities are paid; otherwise applied to the utility debt with strict follow-on deadlines. |
| Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1208(c) | If the owner unreasonably fails to comply, the renter may recover the full deposit and court costs; if the owner prevails and the renter sued unreasonably, the owner gets court costs. |
| Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1208 (as a whole) | No maximum deposit; deposits are returned "without interest"; no separate account required. |
Limits: how much can you charge?
No limit. Wyoming sets no maximum security deposit. If any part of what you collect is nonrefundable, § 1-21-1207 requires the rental agreement to say so and requires you to give the renter written notice to that effect when you collect it. Skip either step and the money is treated as part of the refundable deposit.
The 30-day deadline, precisely
Wyoming's deadline is "whichever is later" — and that matters:
- 30 days after termination of the rental agreement, or
- 15 days after you receive the renter's new mailing address — whichever is later.
- Plus 30 days if there is damage to the unit.
So if the renter hands you a forwarding address on day 28, your deadline can extend to day 43 — or day 73 with damage. But the renter has their own duty: they must notify you of where to send payment within 30 days of termination. No address, no 15-day clock — but don't treat a missing address as permission to sit on the money; send to the last known address and document it. Map the moving parts with the Security Deposit Deadline Finder.
Never miss Wyoming's 30-day clock — or the 15-day forwarding-address trigger. Miss the window and the renter recovers the full deposit plus court costs. The Security Deposit Disposition & Deadline Tracker ($14.95, one-time purchase) keeps your return deadlines, itemized deductions, and mailing dates in one spreadsheet so the clock never sneaks up on you.
Deductions and the itemized list
Permitted uses under § 1-21-1208(a): accrued rent, damages beyond reasonable wear and tear, the cost of cleaning the unit back to its condition at the start of the agreement, and other costs the contract provides for. The written itemization must include the deductions together with the reasons for each — amounts alone aren't enough. Separately identified utilities deposits run on their own rails under § 1-21-1208(b): refund within 10 days once the renter proves the utilities are paid; if no proof within 45 days, apply it to the utility debt within 15 days after that, and pay any refund within 7 days of application (or 15 days after the new address, whichever is later). Build the main statement with the Security Deposit Deduction Letter Generator.
Interest and where the money sits
The statute says the balance is delivered "without interest" — Wyoming affirmatively rules interest out, so there's nothing to calculate. No separate or escrow account is required either.
The penalty, spelled out
Wyoming has no multiplier — no double or triple damages. Under § 1-21-1208(c):
- If the owner unreasonably fails to comply, the renter recovers the full deposit and court costs.
- If the owner is the prevailing party and the court finds the renter acted unreasonably in bringing the action, the owner may be awarded court costs.
The key word is "unreasonably." A good-faith dispute over a legitimate damage charge, documented and itemized on time, is a very different case from pocketing the deposit and going silent. Wyoming punishes the silent landlord with a full refund — your deductions die with the deadline.
FAQ
Does the deadline extend if the tenant gives me their new address late?
Yes — the deadline is 30 days after termination or 15 days after you receive the new mailing address, whichever is later. But the tenant is required to provide it within 30 days of termination, so the extension has a natural ceiling.
What counts as "damage" for the extra 30 days?
Damage to the residential rental unit beyond reasonable wear and tear — the same standard as your deductions. Document it with photos at move-out so the extension is defensible.
Can I deduct for cleaning?
Yes — § 1-21-1208(a) expressly includes the cost of cleaning the unit to its condition at the beginning of the rental agreement. Itemize it with the reason and cost.
What if the tenant's utility bills are still outstanding?
That's what the separate utilities-deposit track is for: the renter has 45 days after termination to prove the utilities are paid; absent proof, you apply the utilities deposit to the debt within 15 days and refund any remainder on the short statutory timeline.
Do I need a separate bank account for deposits?
No. Wyoming has no escrow or separate-account requirement. Per-unit bookkeeping is still wise.
Can I keep part of the deposit as a nonrefundable cleaning fee?
Only if the rental agreement states it's nonrefundable and you gave the renter written notice at collection (§ 1-21-1207). Otherwise it's refundable deposit money subject to the full return rules.
The deposit is only one piece of Wyoming compliance. Our full Wyoming landlord-tenant law guide covers the rest of the relationship — rent rules, habitability and repair duties, entry and access, forcible entry and detainer evictions, and the Wyoming Safe Homes Act.
More security deposit guides
- Security deposit laws by state
- Wisconsin security deposit law
- Alabama security deposit law
- West Virginia security deposit law
- Alaska security deposit law
Last verified: September 27, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Verify with a licensed Wyoming attorney before acting.