Up to $15,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Utah, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims (Justice or District Court), where you can sue for up to $15,000.
Your deadline: Utah generally gives you 6 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 $100 (Tiered: about $60 (≤$2,000), $100 ($2,000–$7,500), $185 ($7,500–$15,000), plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Utah Code § 78A-8-102; deadlines: Utah Code §§ 78B-2-307, 78B-2-309, 78B-2-305. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Written contract 6 yrs; oral contract 4; property damage 3; personal injury 4.
Suing for something else in Utah: Utah unpaid loan · Utah property damage · Utah unpaid rent · Utah contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Idaho ($5,000, 5 years) · Wyoming ($6,000, 10 years) · Colorado ($7,500, 6 years) · New Mexico ($10,000, 6 years) · Arizona ($3,500, 6 years) · Nevada ($10,000, 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