The Madison security deposit demand letter that gets deposits back.
Your Madison landlord must act within 21 days after the tenant surrenders the premises under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06; Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5). If they missed it, the statute is written on your side. We cite the statute, mail your demand USPS Certified, and track the response.
The law that protects your deposit
Deposits in Madison are governed by Wisconsin state law: Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § 134.06; Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5). Violations of ATCP 134 can make the landlord liable for double the tenant's pecuniary loss plus attorney's fees under § 100.20(5). Full Wisconsin deadline & penalty guide →
If the landlord ignores your letter
Deposit claims from Madison are typically filed in the small-claims court serving Dane County — designed for people without lawyers, with modest filing fees.
Madison at a glance
Population ~280,000 (U.S. Census 2024 estimate, rounded). Every deposit dispute here runs on the same clock: the 21-day statutory window — and a certified letter is the documented first step.
General legal information, not legal advice. City-specific ordinances change; verify current rules or consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney.