Security Deposit Demand Letter — North Carolina (2026)
In NC, a landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52).
Below: the rule with its citation, a free sample letter you can copy, and a generator that fills in your dates and computes your deadline for $19.
- to return the deposit or itemize deductions
- 30 daysto return the deposit or itemize deductions
- Varies by lease term: 1.5 to 2 months' rent.
- CapVaries by lease term: 1.5 to 2 months' rent.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52
Free sample letter
All samplesUse it as-is, or let the generator write it with your amounts and the N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 deadline already computed.
[Your name]
[Your current address]
[Date]
[Recipient name]
[Recipient address]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [rental address]
Dear [Landlord name],
I vacated [rental address] on [move-out date] and provided a forwarding address. To date I have received neither my security deposit of [$amount] nor an itemized statement of deductions.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 requires a landlord in North Carolina to deliver the deposit, or an itemized statement of deductions, within 30 calendar days after the tenancy ends (extended to 60 if damages can't yet be determined). That period expired on [deadline date].
I request payment of [$amount] within 14 days of the date of this letter, sent to the address above.
If I do not receive it, I intend to file in small claims court. Forfeiture of the right to retain any part of the deposit.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
North Carolina questions
In NC, a landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52).
Yes. They are calendar days, not business days, and they run from the date the tenancy ended.
Forfeiture of the right to retain any part of the deposit. A dated demand letter sent by certified mail is the evidence a court will expect to see that you asked first.
Varies by lease term: 1.5 to 2 months' rent.
It isn't required, but judges expect it. A dated letter with a certified-mail receipt is the cleanest evidence that you gave the other side a chance to resolve it.
Rule set last curated 2026-08-01. Self-help document service. Not a law firm, and not legal advice. We do not review your letter or represent you. These state rules are under legal review — verify anything you rely on against the current statute.