Home / States / Oklahoma

Oklahoma security deposit: 45 days to get it back

The landlord has 45 days after the tenancy ends, the tenant has delivered possession, and the tenant has made a written demand to send the itemized statement and any balance of the deposit. If the tenant makes no written demand within six months after the tenancy ends, the deposit reverts to the landlord.

What the law requires

Itemized statement: If the landlord keeps any part of the deposit for unpaid rent or damages from the tenant's noncompliance, it must give a written itemized statement, delivered by return-receipt mail (signed for by a person of statutory service age at the address) or in person if the tenant can reasonably be found. No receipt thresholds appear in the text.
Forwarding address: The statute has no forwarding-address provision. The trigger is the tenant's written demand (made after move-out and delivery of possession), and the tenant must make it within six months or the deposit reverts to the landlord.
If the landlord breaks the rules: If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant "may recover the damage and security deposit and prepaid rent, if any." The text of § 115 has no double/treble multiplier and no attorney-fee provision. Whether fees or other damages are available under other law was not verified.
Deposit cap: No cap found in § 115. Unless the rental agreement says otherwise, a tenant may not apply the deposit to the last month's rent.
Small claims limit: $10,000 in District Court (Small Claims Division)
Statute: Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115

If your landlord misses the deadline

Write down your dates and gather proof: move-out date, the date you gave your forwarding address, the deposit amount, and anything the landlord sent. Photos and receipts help.
Send a written demand by certified mail, keep the receipt, and cite Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115. Give a date to respond.
If you still aren't paid, file in District Court (Small Claims Division). Deposit claims up to $10,000 can be filed there, usually without a lawyer. Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

What a Oklahoma demand letter looks like

Re: Demand for return of security deposit / Rental address: [Street address, unit, city, state ZIP]

Dear [Landlord name]:

I rented the property above from you under a lease that began on [lease start date]. I paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount] on [date paid]. I moved out and returned possession on [move-out date].

My forwarding address is [forwarding address]. Please send my deposit and any required statement to that address.

[A.] I have not received my deposit or an itemized statement of deductions. Under Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 115, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit, or send an itemized statement of any deductions, within 45 days after the tenant moves out and asks for the deposit in writing. That deadline passed on [deadline date].

Preview of the first part of letter one. Yellow marks the parts you fill in.

Common questions

How long does a landlord in Oklahoma have to return a security deposit?

What happens if a Oklahoma landlord keeps the deposit wrongfully?

If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant "may recover the damage and security deposit and prepaid rent, if any." The text of § 115 has no double/treble multiplier and no attorney-fee provision. Whether fees or other damages are available under other law was not verified.

Do I have to give my Oklahoma landlord a forwarding address?

The statute has no forwarding-address provision. The trigger is the tenant's written demand (made after move-out and delivery of possession), and the tenant must make it within six months or the deposit reverts to the landlord.

Where do I sue for my deposit in Oklahoma?

Deposit claims up to $10,000 can be filed in District Court (Small Claims Division). Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

Other states

Rules reviewed October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the statute before you rely on this page.