Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 (2026)

Procedures for security deposits

✓ current as of May 2026
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(A) Any security deposit in excess of fifty dollars or one month's periodic rent, whichever is greater, shall bear interest on the excess at the rate of five per cent per annum if the tenant remains in possession of the premises for six months or more, and shall be computed and paid annually by the landlord to the tenant.

(B) Upon termination of the rental agreement any property or money held by the landlord as a security deposit may be applied to the payment of past due rent and to the payment of the amount of damages that the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with section 5321.05 of the Revised Code or the rental agreement. Any deduction from the security deposit shall be itemized and identified by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount due, within thirty days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. The tenant shall provide the landlord in writing with a forwarding address or new address to which the written notice and amount due from the landlord may be sent. If the tenant fails to provide the landlord with the forwarding or new address as required, the tenant shall not be entitled to damages or attorneys fees under division (C) of this section.

(C) If the landlord fails to comply with division (B) of this section, the tenant may recover the property and money due him, together with damages in an amount equal to the amount wrongfully withheld, and reasonable attorneys fees.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 127 cases (31 in the last 5 years), 1981–2026 · leading case: Oldendick v. Crocker, 2016 Ohio 5621 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
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Oldendick v. Crocker, 2016 Ohio 5621 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 47× “R.C. 5321.16 sets forth the procedures, rights and obligations of landlords and tenants with respect to security deposits.”
Smith v. Padgett, 513 N.E.2d 737 (Ohio 1987). · cites it 24× “Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in accordance with our opinion.”
Timoneri v. NorthSteppe Realty, Inc., 2016 Ohio 5901 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 45× “] The lower [c]ourt erred when it denied NorthSteppe['s] Motion for Summary Judgment and found NorthSteppe failed to comply with the statutory requirements for landlords under R.C. 5321.16. [2.] The lower [court] abused its discretion when it accepted Ms.”
Vardeman v. Llewellyn, 476 N.E.2d 1038 (Ohio 1985). · cites it 24× “This case presents the court with an opportunity to review the meaning and intent of one of these sections, R.C. 5321.16 and, more specifically, subsections (B) and (C) thereof.”
Christen v. Cont'l Ents., Ltd., 2020 Ohio 3665 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 19× “Both counts sought to recover the $925 security deposit, damages, and reasonable attorney fees under R.C. 5321.16. On July 6, 2017, Landlords filed an answer and counterclaim on July 6, 2017.”
Alcorso v. Correll, 2021 Ohio 3351 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 16× “Litigation Commences On December 26, 2017, Alcorso filed a complaint in the Rocky River Municipal Court, seeking the return of her $1,200 security deposit, double damages and attorney fees, pursuant to R.C. 5321.16. On May 31, 2019, Correll was granted leave to file a…”
Cruz v. English Nanny & Governess Sch., 2022 Ohio 3586 (Ohio 2022). · cites it 11× “The Ninth District held that under R.C. 5321.16, the Kleins were entitled to costs that they incurred on appeal, including attorney fees, but the court concluded that only an appellate court could award such costs.”
Klein v. Moutz, 118 Ohio St. 3d 256 (Ohio 2008). · cites it 19× “We determined that a conflict exists and ordered that the parties brief the following issue: {¶ 2} “Whether a trial court has the authority to tax costs under R.C. 5321.16 which were incurred at the appellate level.”
Klemas v. Flynn, 611 N.E.2d 810 (Ohio 1993). · cites it 18× “It follows that the damages referred to in R.C. 5321.16 are also punitive damages for purposes of R.”
Albreqt v. Chen, 477 N.E.2d 1150 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 19× “In the absence of an affirmative showing, by way of itemization (see R.C. 5321.16[B]), that there was a specific need to clean the carpet, appellant’s unilateral deduction was improper.”
Christe v. GMS Mgmt. Co., 88 Ohio St. 3d 376 (Ohio 2000). · cites it 12× “First, our determination that attorney fees are costs, as opposed to damages, removes any bar that would prevent subsequent courts of appeals from independently awarding attorney fees for the tenant’s costs of having to continue to pursue or defend the action at the appellate…”
Christe v. GMS Mgmt. Co., 705 N.E.2d 691 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 9× “16(B), four things must happen: (1) the rental agreement must be terminated, (2) the tenant must give written notice of where to send the security deposit, (3) the landlord must send a written itemization of charges that are properly deducted from the security deposit within…”
Show all 127 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(A) — 6 cases
Wiltsie v. Teamor, 624 N.E.2d 772 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993).
Psarras v. Rayburn, 2019 Ohio 2168 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
In Re Ctr. Apts., Ltd., 277 B.R. 747 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2001).
Berning v. Lutheran Hous. Serv. 9, 2024 Ohio 1173 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
Bonesteel v. Nash, 2016 Ohio 3114 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(B) — 71 cases
Oldendick v. Crocker, 2016 Ohio 5621 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “R.C. 5321.16 sets forth the procedures, rights and obligations of landlords and tenants with respect to security deposits.”
Timoneri v. NorthSteppe Realty, Inc., 2016 Ohio 5901 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “] The lower [c]ourt erred when it denied NorthSteppe['s] Motion for Summary Judgment and found NorthSteppe failed to comply with the statutory requirements for landlords under R.C. 5321.16. [2.] The lower [court] abused its discretion when it accepted Ms.”
Smith v. Padgett, 513 N.E.2d 737 (Ohio 1987). “Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in accordance with our opinion.”
Vardeman v. Llewellyn, 476 N.E.2d 1038 (Ohio 1985). “This case presents the court with an opportunity to review the meaning and intent of one of these sections, R.C. 5321.16 and, more specifically, subsections (B) and (C) thereof.”
Albreqt v. Chen, 477 N.E.2d 1150 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983). “In the absence of an affirmative showing, by way of itemization (see R.C. 5321.16[B]), that there was a specific need to clean the carpet, appellant’s unilateral deduction was improper.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16(C) — 73 cases
Oldendick v. Crocker, 2016 Ohio 5621 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “R.C. 5321.16 sets forth the procedures, rights and obligations of landlords and tenants with respect to security deposits.”
Smith v. Padgett, 513 N.E.2d 737 (Ohio 1987). “Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in accordance with our opinion.”
Alcorso v. Correll, 2021 Ohio 3351 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “Litigation Commences On December 26, 2017, Alcorso filed a complaint in the Rocky River Municipal Court, seeking the return of her $1,200 security deposit, double damages and attorney fees, pursuant to R.C. 5321.16. On May 31, 2019, Correll was granted leave to file a…”
Klein v. Moutz, 118 Ohio St. 3d 256 (Ohio 2008). “We determined that a conflict exists and ordered that the parties brief the following issue: {¶ 2} “Whether a trial court has the authority to tax costs under R.C. 5321.16 which were incurred at the appellate level.”
Cruz v. English Nanny & Governess Sch., 2022 Ohio 3586 (Ohio 2022). “The Ninth District held that under R.C. 5321.16, the Kleins were entitled to costs that they incurred on appeal, including attorney fees, but the court concluded that only an appellate court could award such costs.”
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