deposit-interest

Security Deposit Interest in Georgia: No State Requirement (2026)

Georgia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-31 requires deposits be held in trust for the tenant and… Calculator, statute citation, Last Verified date o

Rule verified: 2026-10-28

Quick answer

No — Georgia law does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits. Georgia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-31 requires deposits be held in trust for the tenant and § 44-7-34 requires return within one month after lease termination (itemized deductions; normal wear and tear excluded) - the Security Deposits article contains no interest provision. The rule comes from O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 (esp. § 44-7-31 placement in trust, § 44-7-34 return). State statute (official text) · 2026-10-28

Calculator pre-loaded with this state:

State pre-filled: Georgia — rule applied per O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 (esp. § 44-7-31 placement in trust, § 44-7-34 return). Switch the state if your property is elsewhere.

StateSecurity deposit ($)Tenancy startTenancy end

What Georgia law does — and does not — require

Georgia has no statewide statute requiring interest on security deposits. Georgia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-31 requires deposits be held in trust for the tenant and § 44-7-34 requires return within one month after lease termination (itemized deductions; normal wear and tear excluded) - the Security Deposits article contains no interest provision.

The statute that governs deposits in Georgia, O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 (esp. § 44-7-31 placement in trust, § 44-7-34 return), covers how and when the deposit itself must be returned — it simply does not mandate interest on top.

How interest must be paid

Interest accrues as N/a. N/a - no interest obligation; full deposit (minus permissible itemized deductions) due within one month after lease termination (§ 44-7-34)

Who the law applies to

Residential rentals statewide under O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 to 44-7-37; landlords with 10+ units must offer pre-move-in and pre-move-out inspections (§ 44-7-33); Safe at Home Act of 2024 capped deposits at 2 months' rent (§ 44-7-30.1, per Nolo - not verified on .gov in this pass); return due within 1 month after termination

Cities in Georgia that require interest

Atlanta 2020 ordinance allows renters to pay security deposits in installments over 3 months (no interest element); no Atlanta/Savannah deposit-interest mandate found.

States that do require deposit interest

Georgia has no statewide requirement. If you are moving or own rentals across state lines, these states do — each rate is the statutory value verified on the state page:

State	Statutory rate
Massachusetts	5% per annum, or the lesser amount of interest actually received from
Ohio	5% per annum
Maryland	greater of 1.5%/year or U.S. Treasury 1-year yield curve rate (leases
Minnesota	1% per annum
New York	Interest actually accrued/paid on the deposit in the interest-bearing

The statute behind it

| Field | Value | | --- | --- | --- | | Citation | O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-30 to 44-7-37 (esp. § 44-7-31 placement in trust, § 44-7-34 return) | | Official text | law.justia.com | | Last verified | 2026-10-28 |

Cross-checked against: Justia - Georgia Code § 44-7-34 (2025 edition) Return of security deposit (official portal code.revisor.ga.gov unreachable from this environment), GeorgiaLegalAid.org - What should I know about security deposits?, Nolo - Landlord-Tenant Laws in Georgia (2-month cap under Safe at Home Act 2024).

Statutes get amended. If you are relying on this page — for a move-out, a dispute, or a lease draft — click through to the official text and confirm the current wording.

FAQ

Does Georgia require landlords to pay interest on security deposits?

No. Georgia law does not mandate interest; whatever the lease says governs. Atlanta 2020 ordinance allows renters to pay security deposits in installments over 3 months (no interest element); no Atlanta/Savannah deposit-interest mandate found.

How is deposit interest calculated in Georgia?

Georgia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-31 requires deposits be held in trust for the tenant and § 44-7-34 requires return within one month after lease termination (itemized deductions; normal wear and tear excluded) - the Security Deposits article contains no interest provision. The calculator at the top of this page reflects Georgia's rules where a numeric value exists.

When do I get the interest?

N/a - no interest obligation; full deposit (minus permissible itemized deductions) due within one month after lease termination (§ 44-7-34)

Can my lease require the landlord to pay interest anyway?

Yes — a lease can always give you more than state law requires, never less. If your Georgia lease promises interest, that promise is enforceable as a contract even though no statute mandates it.

Independent second source · 2026-10-28