South Dakota Tenants
A professional demand letter citing South Dakota's security deposit statute (SDCL § 43-32-24), the 14-day return deadline, and the forfeiture-plus-$200 remedy for bad-faith retention. Ready in minutes.
Deadline
14 days
to return your deposit after move-out
Penalty
up to $200
punitive, plus forfeiture; no multiplier
Statute
§ 43-32-24
South Dakota Codified Laws
Under SDCL § 43-32-24, your landlord must return your deposit, or a written statement of what is withheld and why, within 14 days of the end of your tenancy (measured from the later of move-out or your forwarding address). On request, a full itemized accounting is due within 45 days.
South Dakota does not use a 2× multiplier. A landlord who fails to comply forfeits the right to withhold, and bad-faith retention exposes the landlord to:
So a $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld can support a judgment for the deposit plus up to $200 and costs. Most landlords settle quickly once they realize you know the law.
Note: Outdated sources sometimes claim a 2× penalty — that figure describes commercial leases, not residential. The residential statute provides forfeiture plus a $200 punitive cap, not a multiplier. Deposits are capped at one month’s rent absent a written special-condition agreement.
Every letter follows the structure courts expect — your facts, the statute, a specific demand, and a deadline. Here's the skeleton; the generator fills the brackets from your answers and computes South Dakota's deadlines under § 43-32-24.
[Date]
[Your name]
[Your forwarding address]
[Landlord's name and address]
RE: Security Deposit — Formal Demand for Return of $[Amount]
I am the former tenant of [rental property address]. You accepted a security deposit of $[Amount], and my tenancy ended on [move-out date]. My forwarding address for return of the deposit is stated above, which I am providing to you in writing.
Under § 43-32-24, you were required to [return the deposit or provide an itemized statement] within [the statutory period]. That period has passed, and you have done neither. [The specific consequence South Dakota law attaches, cited by section.]
I demand return of $[Amount] no later than [deadline]. If I do not receive it, I am prepared to pursue all remedies available under [statute], including filing suit in the appropriate court.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
14 days after you move out.
A landlord who fails to comply forfeits the right to withhold; bad-faith retention (including failing to provide the statement or accounting) adds punitive damages not to exceed $200 under § 43-32-24. There is no damages multiplier for residential leases.
SDCL § 43-32-24. We verify these against the statute text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.
Sources & verification
The South Dakota rules on this page were verified against the statute text itself:
Last verified against primary sources on .
How we verify this →Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.
Properly formatted, addressed to your landlord by name, citing the exact South Dakota statutes that apply to your situation.
SDCL § 43-32-24 and any others triggered by your circumstances — not generic legalese.
The letter computes the exact dollar amount you're entitled to demand based on your deposit and the deductions at issue.
Download instantly, print, sign, and send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.
Most South Dakota landlords return the deposit within days of receiving a properly drafted demand letter.
Generate my letter — $39