Wisconsin Security Deposit Laws
Wisconsin caps security deposits at one month's rent and requires return within 21 days with a written itemized statement.
Key Rules
- Limit
- 1 month's rent maximum
- Return Deadline
- 21 days after tenant vacates
- Itemization Required
- Yes — written itemized statement required within 21 days
- Move In Checklist
- Landlord must provide written check-in form; failure may affect right to deductions
- Bad Faith Penalty
- Tenant may recover twice the wrongfully withheld amount under ATCP 134 (consumer protection statute)
Some citations below have not been confirmed against their official source. Confirm current requirements with local legal aid or an attorney.
Applicable Statutes
Security deposit and withholding rules under statute. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 provides the detailed regulations: maximum one month's rent; return within 21 days with itemized statement.
Source confirmed · Official state source
View archived excerpt
“704.28704.28 Withholding from and return of security deposits. 704.28(1)(1) Standard withholding provisions. When a landlord returns a security deposit to a tenant after the tenant vacates the premises, the landlord may…”
Security deposit regulations: one month's rent maximum (for standard tenancies), 21-day return deadline, written itemized statement required. Landlord must provide a written description of unit condition at move-in.
Not confirmed against its source · checked
Legal Aid Resources
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