Michigan Security Deposit Deadline Calculator (2026)
A Michigan landlord who wants to use part of a deposit must mail a notice of damages within 30 days after the occupancy ends, and sue or return the balance within 45 days. Enter the termination date to see both dates. The rule is MCL 554.609 and 554.613.
What starts the clock
Both clocks run from termination of the occupancy. The statute text does not define that term; if the move-out date is unclear (late key return, belongings left behind), plan from the earliest date and ask a Michigan attorney which one starts the clock.
Worked examples (2026 dates)
| Clock starts | Mail the notice of damages (30 days) | Sue for the damages claimed or return the balance (45 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 29, 2026 | Sunday, June 28, 2026 (a weekend day: do not assume it rolls to Monday, act the business day before) | Monday, July 13, 2026 |
| Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | Friday, August 14, 2026 | Saturday, August 29, 2026 (a weekend day: do not assume it rolls to Monday, act the business day before) |
| Friday, August 28, 2026 | Sunday, September 27, 2026 (a weekend day: do not assume it rolls to Monday, act the business day before) | Monday, October 12, 2026 |
What the calculator does not know
- The tenant must give a forwarding address in writing within 4 days after the occupancy ends (MCL 554.611).
- If the 30-day notice is missed, MCL 554.610 makes it the landlord's agreement that no damages are due, and the full deposit is owed.
- Failing to comply with the 45-day rule waives the damages claimed and makes the landlord liable for double the amount of the deposit retained (MCL 554.613(2)).
- The notice must carry the printed 7-day response sentence in 12 point boldface (MCL 554.609(4)); the free article quotes it.
Read the rule itself: MCL 554.609 and 554.613. The free article explains the Michigan deposit deadline in full, and the Michigan Small Landlord Compliance Guide puts every deadline and notice in one place, each cited to the statute.
Other states
Informational only, not legal advice. Dates are computed from the day counts in the statute text as described above, checked against the 2026 text; a court may count differently. For a dispute or anything expensive to get wrong, talk to a Michigan landlord-tenant attorney.