Security deposit rules sd-2026.11.19
Published interest rates and the cleaning rule are now written as dated values, one value from each date. No rule changed and no answer moved.
- Changed: Deductions.
Vermont rule history
Every change we have made to the rules we apply in Vermont, newest first. Each entry gives the ruleset version, the day we made the change and the rules it touched.
Changes, newest first
Dates are the days we made each change. A change reaches tektolo.com with the next release of the site. Changes that apply in every state are in the rules changelog. Rules changelog.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.23
Adds trash and abandoned items as a deduction, Maine's bar on a fee for ending the tenancy, cap variants for small landlords and older tenants, and owner-occupancy exemptions.
- Changed: Deductions.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.22
Lease charges a statute's damages wording may cover are 'depends', not 'no'; California late charges only as a valid liquidated-damages clause; New York's cap dated to 2019.
- Changed: Deductions.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.18
The penalty base follows each statute's words (what was wrongfully withheld, the balance owed, or more than the actual damages) in 24 states; Maryland's remedy for a deposit over the cap.
- Changed: Penalties.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.17
Adds each state's statute on re-renting and mitigation (33 states); in Oregon and Florida the early-termination fee and the later rent are alternatives.
- Changed: Deductions.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.9
Where the statute is silent on depreciation (49 states), an aged item is limited to its remaining value as an estimate; Colorado carpet over ten years old is barred.
- Changed: Deductions.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.8
Cleaning is typed per state, as named in the statute or recoverable only as damage beyond normal wear; a cleaning line of unknown kind is 'depends', never refused outright.
- Changed: Deductions.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.3
Loss of the right to withhold is typed per state and computed into the totals; consequences the tool does not compute are listed as unknowns.
- Added: Loss of the right to withhold.
The rules we apply now
Each rule we apply in Vermont, with the day it took its current form.
| Rule | In this form since | Version |
|---|---|---|
| Deductions | October 15, 2026 | sd-2026.11.19 |
| Deposit cap | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Interest | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Itemized statement and records | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Loss of the right to withhold | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.3 |
| Notes | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Penalties | October 10, 2026 | sd-2026.10.18 |
| Recent amendments | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Return deadline | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Statute | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Statute text | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
Get this as data
The same history is available as JSON. The API is free and needs no key.
- Changes this year:
/v1/rules/changes?state=VT&since=2026-01-01 - Every value of one rule:
/v1/rules/history?rule=deposit-settlement/states/VT%23return - What we said on a date about the law on another:
/v1/rules/as-of?rule=deposit-settlement/states/VT&known=2026-10-01&valid=2025-12-01