Can I do this? Landlord law checker
Pick your state and ask one of five common landlord questions. Get a plain YES, NO, IT DEPENDS or NO STATE LIMIT, with the exact rule and the official source. Free, no sign-up.
What it checks
- Security deposit amount: is my deposit under the state cap for my rent?
- Late fee: is my late fee under the state limit?
- Entry notice: is my notice (in hours) enough before I enter the unit?
- Rent increase notice: is my notice (in days) enough for a month-to-month tenant?
- Deposit return deadline: am I returning the deposit in time after move-out?
We only answer from laws we've checked against official sources. If a rule has conditions, we say "It depends" and show it. Want the numbers? Try the late fee calculator, the rent increase calculator or the Security Deposit Kit.
State landlord laws
Tennessee, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands: coming soon.
Questions
Is this landlord law checker free?
Yes. The Can I Do This? checker is free, needs no account and collects no personal information. Pick a state, choose a question and enter your numbers.
Where do the answers come from?
Every answer comes from state statutes we checked against official sources (state legislature sites and official code publishers). Each answer shows the exact rule, the statute citation, a link to the official source and the date we last checked it. It covers 50 jurisdictions; Tennessee, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are coming soon.
Which states have no state limit on security deposits?
By our checked data, these states set no statewide cap on the security deposit amount: Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Local rules, rent control or courts can still limit deposits.
Which states have no state cap on late fees?
By our checked data, these states set no statewide late-fee cap: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Fees usually still have to be in the lease and be reasonable.
Which states have no statewide entry notice rule?
By our checked data, these states have no statute setting a notice period for landlord entry: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming. Your lease and local rules still apply.
What does "It depends" mean?
It means the state rule has conditions, such as the tenant's age, the lease type, the building, or a "reasonable notice" standard, so a single yes or no would be misleading. The checker shows the exact rule so you can see which case applies to you.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information about state law only, not legal advice. Your lease, city or county rules and courts can add limits. Check the official source or a licensed attorney before you act.
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.