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● Wyoming · Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208

Your landlord in Wyoming kept your deposit? Here's how to get it back.

Under Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208, your landlord had 30 days (15 days after a forwarding address; 60 days if there is damage) to return your security deposit or itemize deductions. If they blew that deadline, Wyoming law can make them owe damages plus your fees.

Return deadline
30 days
The law
Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208
Penalty exposure
damages + fees
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How long does your Wyoming landlord have?

Wyoming's security-deposit statute, Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208, gives your landlord 30 days (15 days after a forwarding address; 60 days if there is damage) after your tenancy ends to either return your full deposit or send you an itemized list of lawful deductions. This is a hard deadline — not a suggestion.

If your landlord let that window pass without returning your money and without a proper written accounting, they have almost certainly violated the statute — and in most states that alone forfeits their right to keep a single dollar.

What Wyoming makes a landlord pay for withholding your deposit

This is the leverage most renters don't know they have. Under Wyoming law, a landlord who wrongfully withholds a deposit can be liable for missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold; you may recover the full deposit plus court costs.

In plain terms: you can pursue your full $1,500 back — plus the penalties and fees described above — on top of returning what they owe. A landlord who ignores a vague email will think twice when a letter spells out Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208 and the number it could cost them in court.

How to get your deposit back in Wyoming

  1. Put it in writing — and cite the law. A demand letter that names Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208, the 30 days deadline, and the statutory penalty is far harder to ignore than a phone call or a "please refund my deposit" text.
  2. Give a firm deadline. Demand return of the withheld amount within 10 days, sent by certified mail so you have a paper trail.
  3. Keep your evidence. Photos, your move-out date, and any forwarding address you provided all strengthen your position.
  4. Be ready for small claims. If they still refuse, Wyoming small claims court handles deposit disputes routinely — and your cited letter becomes Exhibit A.

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Answer a few questions and we'll generate a letter citing Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208, your exact deadline, and the penalty your landlord now faces — ready to sign and send.

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Wyoming security deposit FAQ

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Wyoming?

Under Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208, your landlord generally has 30 days (15 days after a forwarding address; 60 days if there is damage) after your tenancy ends to return your deposit or provide an itemized statement of any deductions. Missing that deadline usually forfeits their right to keep any of it.

What if my landlord keeps my deposit without a good reason in Wyoming?

Wyoming law provides for missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold; you may recover the full deposit plus court costs. For example, you can pursue your full $1,500 back — plus the penalties and fees described above. That exposure is exactly what makes a properly worded demand letter effective.

Do I need a lawyer to get my deposit back in Wyoming?

Usually no. A demand letter that cites Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208, the 30 days deadline, and the penalty your landlord faces resolves most disputes. If it doesn't, security-deposit cases are common and inexpensive in Wyoming small claims court.

What should a Wyoming security deposit demand letter include?

It should state the amount withheld, the date your tenancy ended, the specific statute (Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208), the return deadline your landlord missed, and the statutory penalty they now risk — then demand payment by a firm date. DepositProtector builds this for you automatically.