Security Deposit Interest in Minnesota: 1% per annum (2026)
Minnesota requires landlords to pay 1% per annum simple, non-compounded interest on security deposits, paid with the deposit return within 3 week… Calculator, statute citation, Last Verified date o
Quick answer
Yes — Minnesota requires landlords to pay interest on qualifying security deposits. Minnesota requires landlords to pay 1% per annum simple, non-compounded interest on security deposits, paid with the deposit return within 3 weeks after tenancy termination (interest amounts under $1 excluded). The rule comes from Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subds. 2-3 (2025). State statute (official text) · 2026-10-28
Calculator pre-loaded with this state:
The current rate in Minnesota
Minnesota sets a statutory rate of 1% per annum. Deposits 'shall bear simple noncompounded interest at the rate of one percent per annum' (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 2). Any interest amount less than $1 is excluded. The statute fixes this rate directly — it does not float with what a bank happens to pay.
How interest must be paid
Simple, noncompounded, per annum; computed from the first day of the month after full payment of the deposit. No annual mid-tenancy payment required; interest is paid with the deposit, which must be returned within 3 weeks after termination of tenancy (5 days if tenant vacates due to legal condemnation), following receipt of the tenant's forwarding address.
Who the law applies to
All residential tenancies statewide; no dollar threshold on the deposit itself - the only monetary cutoff is that interest under $1 is excluded.
Cities that add their own rules
Minneapolis and St. Paul layer on renter-protection ordinances (Minneapolis Ord. § 244.2040 / Renter Protection Ordinance; St. Paul Ord. 20-14, deposit caps and screening rules) but neither adds a separate deposit-interest requirement - the statewide 1% governs. St. Paul was considering further tenant protections in 2025 (no interest provision surfaced).
How Minnesota compares in the Midwest
Minnesota sets the lowest fixed statutory rate among the Midwest states that require interest:
| State | Rate | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 0.01% (2025 announced rate; formula-based, near-zero in recent years) | interest required |
| Indiana | — | no statewide requirement |
| Iowa | — | no statewide requirement |
| Kansas | — | no statewide requirement |
| Kentucky | — | no statewide requirement |
| Michigan | — | no statewide requirement |
| Minnesota | 1% per annum | interest required |
| Missouri | — | no statewide requirement |
| Nebraska | — | no statewide requirement |
| North Dakota | accrued interest (no statutory minimum rate located) | interest required |
| Ohio | 5% per annum | interest required |
| South Dakota | — | no statewide requirement |
| Wisconsin | — | no statewide requirement |
The statute behind it
| Field | Value | | --- | --- | --- | | Citation | Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subds. 2-3 (2025) | | Official text | www.revisor.mn.gov | | Last verified | 2026-10-28 |
Cross-checked against: Minnesota Legislature - Landlords and Tenants handbook (official publication; deposit plus simple interest).
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 Minnesota require landlords to pay interest on security deposits?
Yes. Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subds. 2-3 (2025), qualifying landlords in Minnesota must pay interest — currently 1% per annum. All residential tenancies statewide; no dollar threshold on the deposit itself - the only monetary cutoff is that interest under $1 is excluded.
How is deposit interest calculated in Minnesota?
At 1% per annum. Simple, noncompounded, per annum; computed from the first day of the month after full payment of the deposit. The calculator at the top of this page applies exactly this rule to your deposit amount and dates.
When do I get the interest?
No annual mid-tenancy payment required; interest is paid with the deposit, which must be returned within 3 weeks after termination of tenancy (5 days if tenant vacates due to legal condemnation), following receipt of the tenant's forwarding address.
Independent second source · 2026-10-28Related guides
- All states: security deposit interest by state · rent increase rules by state
- Tools: deposit interest calculator · rent increase calculator
- Neighboring states: Illinois · Indiana
- Also moving? Read Minnesota rent increase rules.
This page is information, not legal advice — see the full disclaimer.