Wisconsin Security Deposit Rules (2026): The 21-Day Deadline, the Check-In Sheet and Carpet Cleaning

Wisconsin has some of the most detailed deposit rules in the country, set partly by statute and partly by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) in its rental rules, ATCP 134. The headline is simple: 21 days to return the deposit, with an itemized statement of anything kept. The details, such as the 7-day check-in sheet and the ban on withholding routine carpet cleaning, are where renters win or lose money. This guide explains them in plain English.

Wisconsin deposit rules at a glance

• Return deadline: 21 days after you move out at the end of the lease (Wis. Stat. 704.28; ATCP 134.06(2)); if you leave early, the 21 days generally run from the earlier of the lease end or a new tenant moving in
• Itemized statement: any amount kept must be listed in a written, itemized statement
• Check-in sheet: when a deposit is taken, you have 7 days after the tenancy starts to inspect the unit and return a check-in sheet noting existing damage and defects
• What can be kept: unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear caused by you or your guests, and certain unpaid utility charges
• Routine carpet cleaning: a landlord may not withhold routine carpet cleaning costs from the deposit
• Interest: Wisconsin does not require interest on deposits
• If the rules are broken: a tenant may sue and recover twice the actual loss, plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees (Wis. Stat. 100.20(5))

Laws and administrative rules change, so check the current versions before you rely on any deadline.

Is there a limit on deposits?

Wisconsin does not set a statewide cap on the size of a security deposit, so the amount is whatever the lease says. Check whether any extra payment is described as a fee or as part of the deposit: DATCP’s guidance treats some advance payments as part of the deposit, and the deposit rules then apply to them.

The 7-day check-in sheet

The check-in sheet is your best protection. Walk through every room within 7 days of moving in and write down every stain, scratch, chip, dent, missing screen and dirty appliance, then return the sheet and keep a copy. Add dated photos and video, including inside the oven, fridge and cabinets, the bathroom fixtures, the carpet and the basement. At move-out, the landlord can only charge for damage that was not there when you arrived.

Routine carpet cleaning and painting

DATCP’s guidance is that a lease may require a tenant to pay for routine painting or carpet cleaning, but a landlord may not withhold routine carpet cleaning costs from the security deposit or collect them in advance. Damage beyond normal wear, such as pet stains or burns, is different and can be charged. Read your lease carefully so you know what it asks of you, and keep receipts for anything you pay for.

What can and cannot be deducted

Common move-out items and how they are usually treated

Item	Usually
Faded paint, light scuffs	Normal wear and tear
Carpet worn in walkways	Normal wear and tear
Routine carpet cleaning	Can’t be withheld from the deposit
Oven caked with grease, dirty fridge	Can be charged if beyond normal use
Pet stains, burns, holes	Can be charged as damage
Furniture, trash or food left behind	Can be charged for removal

The difference between “dirty from living there” and “damaged” is where most disputes sit, which is why a professional move-out clean and your own photos are worth having.

Renting across the river?

The St. Croix Valley sits right on the state line, and many people move between Hudson or River Falls and the Minnesota side. The rules are different: Minnesota has its own deposit statute, with its own deadline, interest rule and inspection rights. If your rental is in Minnesota, read our Minnesota deposit guide instead.

Student rentals in River Falls

Student houses near the university often have several tenants on one lease and one deposit. Agree in writing at the start how a refund or deduction will be split, who fills in the check-in sheet, and who books and pays for the move-out clean. Move-outs bunch up at the end of the school year, so book the clean early; it is much harder to find a slot in the last days of the lease.

Leaving early or subletting

If you leave before the lease ends, the deposit timing works differently: the 21 days generally run from the earlier of the lease end date or the date a new tenant moves in, and you may still owe rent until the unit is re-rented, depending on the lease and the law. Ask the landlord in writing how they will handle it, and keep the unit clean and ready to show; a clean, photo-ready unit re-rents faster.

Common mistakes that cost renters money

• Not returning the check-in sheet within 7 days
• No forwarding address in writing
• Leaving the fridge full or the freezer iced up
• Forgetting the basement, garage or storage
• Assuming routine carpet cleaning will come out of the deposit, or paying for it twice

If your deposit isn’t returned

Count 21 days from your move-out. If nothing has arrived, write to the landlord quoting Wis. Stat. 704.28 and ATCP 134.06, give your forwarding address, and keep a copy. Most disputes settle at this stage, especially when you have a copy of the check-in sheet and dated photos. If they do not, small claims court handles most deposit cases, and DATCP’s consumer protection bureau takes landlord-tenant complaints and publishes a tenant guide. This guide is general information, not legal advice; check the current statute and rules.

A move-out plan that protects your deposit

• Three to four weeks out: give notice as your lease requires, find your check-in sheet and photos, and book your clean for the day after the movers
• One week out: set aside paint, chemicals and electronics for a county Clean Sweep collection or registered recycler
• The day before: defrost and empty the fridge and freezer
• Moving day: remove everything, including the basement, garage and storage
• Cleaning day: kitchen and appliances, bathrooms, registers, baseboards, window tracks and floors, then photograph each room
• Hand-back: return all keys and openers, give your forwarding address in writing and note the date

Moving out in winter

Salt, sand and slush make winter move-outs harder. Ask the movers to use floor runners, put a mat at every door, and book the clean after the last box has gone. Entry floors, the bottom of walls near doors and the garage floor are where winter shows most, so include them.

What a move-out clean covers

Our move-out cleaning starts at $190 and follows the checklist landlords use: inside the oven, fridge and cabinets, bathrooms descaled, registers and baseboards wiped, window tracks cleared and floors vacuumed and mopped, with the basement and garage on request. If anything on the checklist is missed, tell us within 36 hours and we come back to put it right. Carpet cleaning is not offered in the St. Croix Valley at the moment.

See what affects cleaning prices in Hudson and River Falls, check move-out cleaning in the St. Croix Valley, or get a free quote.