Vermont Security Deposit Law (9 V.S.A. § 4461)

Vermont law places no dollar or month-based ceiling on the security deposit a landlord may collect. Under 9 V.S.A. § 4461(c), a landlord "shall return the security deposit along with a written statement itemizing any deductions to a tenant within 14 days from the date on which the landlord discovers that the tenant vacated or abandoned the dwelling unit or the date the tenant vacated." For seasonal rentals not used as a primary residence, the window is 60 days. A landlord may retain the deposit only for nonpayment of rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utility or other charges owed to the landlord, and the cost of removing articles the tenant abandoned. The statement and any refund may be hand-delivered or mailed to the tenant's last known address.

Under 9 V.S.A. § 4461(e), a landlord who fails to return the deposit with a statement within 14 days "forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the security deposit." A willful violation makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.