deposit-interest

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

Virginia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: Va. Code § 55.1-1226 caps deposits at 2 months' periodic rent and requi… Calculator, statute citation, Last Verified date o

Rule verified: 2026-10-28

Quick answer

No — Virginia law does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits. Virginia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: Va. Code § 55.1-1226 caps deposits at 2 months' periodic rent and requires return within 45 days, and the statute contains no interest provision. The rule comes from Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1226. State statute (official text) · 2026-10-28

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State pre-filled: Virginia — rule applied per Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1226. Switch the state if your property is elsewhere.

StateSecurity deposit ($)Tenancy startTenancy end

What Virginia law does — and does not — require

Virginia has no statewide statute requiring interest on security deposits. Virginia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: Va. Code § 55.1-1226 caps deposits at 2 months' periodic rent and requires return within 45 days, and the statute contains no interest provision.

The statute that governs deposits in Virginia, Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1226, 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; deposit return deadline is 45 days after lease termination

Who the law applies to

All residential landlords statewide (Va. Code § 55.1-1226); deposit cap = 2 months' periodic rent; balance due within 45 days after lease termination with itemized list of deductions

Cities in Virginia that require interest

No local interest mandate found. Arlington County and Fairfax County official tenant-landlord pages both state landlords are NOT required to pay interest on security deposits. One property-management blog claims a 1.5%/yr simple-interest local rule for Arlington/Alexandria/Fairfax - contradicted by the counties' own .gov pages; treat as outdated. City of Alexandria was not separately confirmed from an official page.

States that do require deposit interest

Virginia 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 | Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1226 | | Official text | law.lis.virginia.gov | | Last verified | 2026-10-28 |

⚠️ City of Alexandria official position not directly confirmed (county .gov pages checked instead)

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 Virginia require landlords to pay interest on security deposits?

No. Virginia law does not mandate interest; whatever the lease says governs. No local interest mandate found. Arlington County and Fairfax County official tenant-landlord pages both state landlords are NOT required to pay interest on security deposits. One property-management blog claims a 1.5%/yr simple-interest local rule for Arlington/Alexandria/Fairfax - contradicted by the counties' own .gov pages; treat as outdated. City of Alexandria was not separately confirmed from an official page.

How is deposit interest calculated in Virginia?

Virginia does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits: Va. Code § 55.1-1226 caps deposits at 2 months' periodic rent and requires return within 45 days, and the statute contains no interest provision. The calculator at the top of this page reflects Virginia's rules where a numeric value exists.

When do I get the interest?

N/a - no interest obligation; deposit return deadline is 45 days after lease termination

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 Virginia lease promises interest, that promise is enforceable as a contract even though no statute mandates it.

Independent second source · 2026-10-28