Up to $10,000 · 3 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In North Carolina, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Court (Magistrate, District Court), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: North Carolina generally gives you 3 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $96 (About $96 plus service, by county.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-210; deadlines: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 1-52. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: General civil limit 3 yrs for contract, property damage, and personal injury.
Suing for something else in North Carolina: North Carolina unpaid loan · North Carolina property damage · North Carolina unpaid rent · North Carolina contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Virginia ($5,000, 5 years) · South Carolina ($7,500, 3 years) · Georgia ($15,000, 6 years) · Tennessee ($25,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026