Official-source record · NC

North Carolina security deposit law

Structured limits, deadlines, and accounting rules from the official statute. Exceptions and source locators remain attached to each value.

Information, not legal advice. This page reports selected statute text; it does not apply the law to a specific lease, person, or dispute. Report a possible error

Record 01 Human checked

Deposit limit by tenancy

2 weeks to 2 months’ rent

The ceiling is two weeks’ rent for week-to-week tenancies, one and one-half months’ rent for month-to-month tenancies, and two months’ rent for longer terms.

Scope notes

Article 6 applies to persons or businesses engaged in renting or managing residential dwelling units, excludes single rooms, and names weekly, monthly, or annual rentals.
Section 42-53 separately permits a reasonable nonrefundable pet fee.

Open primary-source trail

Source excerpt

“two weeks' rent … one and one-half months' rent … two months' rent”

§§ 42-51(b), 42-53, 42-56

Authority: North Carolina General Assembly
Human verified: Jul 31, 2026
Source checked: Jul 31, 2026
Confidence: High — direct statute text

Read the official source

Record 02 Human checked

Return and accounting deadline

30 days; final accounting up to 60 days

The section generally requires the written itemization and balance within 30 days after termination and delivery of possession; an undetermined claim permits an interim accounting by day 30 and final accounting within 60 days.

Scope notes

When the tenant’s address is unknown, the section provides a separate process and requires the balance to be held for collection for at least six months.
The section excludes normal wear and tear and amounts above actual damages from damage withholding.

Open primary-source trail

Source excerpt

“no later than 30 days … final accounting within 60 days”

§ 42-52

Authority: North Carolina General Assembly
Human verified: Jul 31, 2026
Source checked: Jul 31, 2026
Confidence: High — direct statute text

Read the official source

Primary evidence

Source register

Only official government sources support the published values on this page.

North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 42, Article 6

North Carolina General Assembly · N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-51(b), 42-52, 42-53, 42-56

Fetch mode GREEN

Open source ↗

Stable record

Cite it. Export it. Check it again.

Use the permanent page link for human readers or the versioned JSON record for software. Both keep the official-source trail and verification date visible.

Suggested citation

DwellDocket. “North Carolina security deposit law.” Human verified Jul 31, 2026. https://dwelldocket.com/landlord-tenant/north-carolina/security-deposits/

NC rules as JSON ↗ Follow the change feed →

Coverage boundary

What this page does not cover

This record does not decide whether a statute applies to a particular property, lease, subsidy program, regulated unit, local rule, or factual dispute. It also does not reproduce every subsection. The linked official source controls.