Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-125
Security deposits
Operative Text
(a) Any advance or deposit of money, whose primary function is to secure the performance of a rental agreement on any part thereof, shall be governed by this section. This money shall be held and administered for the benefit of the tenant. This money shall not be commingled with any monies of the landlord. The tenant's claim to such money shall be prior to that of any creditor of the landlord, including a trustee in bankruptcy, even if such security funds are commingled. (b) The landlord may only claim such funds as are reasonably necessary to remedy tenant defaults or make repairs due to damage caused by the tenant; said damage being beyond normal wear and tear. Remaining funds shall be returned to the tenant no later than twenty-one (21) days after the time at which the rental agreement would have terminated. Any claim made by the landlord must be made within this time period, pursuant to an itemized list identifying, with specificity, how the security deposit was applied as to each claim. Failure of the landlord to provide the tenant with a written, itemized list during this time period will result in the return of the full amount of the security deposit to the tenant. (c) The wilful retention of a security deposit in violation of this section by a landlord whose interest has expired or terminated shall be a serious violation of this Code.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 8 § 27-125 establishes rules for how security deposits must be handled throughout a tenancy and at its end. Deposits must be kept separate from a landlord's personal funds and are legally considered to belong to the tenant, even taking priority over the landlord's creditors. A landlord may only keep amounts needed to cover unpaid obligations or damage beyond normal wear and tear, and must return any remaining balance—along with a written, itemized accounting of any deductions—within 21 days of the lease's termination date. Willful retention of a deposit in violation of these rules is classified as a serious code violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 8 § 27-125, compliant property operators maintain security deposit funds in a dedicated account that is never mixed with their own operating or personal funds. At the end of a tenancy, operators document any deductions with a written, itemized list that explains specifically how each portion of the deposit was applied, and they deliver both that list and any remaining funds to the former tenant within the 21-day window. Operators who fail to provide the itemized statement within that period are generally required to return the full deposit, and willful retention after a landlord's interest has ended is treated as a serious code violation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 8 § 27-125 gives tenants a protected legal claim to their security deposit funds that ranks ahead of even the landlord's creditors. If a landlord does not return the remaining deposit along with a written, itemized list of any deductions within 21 days of the lease's end, the full deposit amount is owed back to the tenant. Tenants who believe their deposit has been wrongfully withheld may consider raising this provision as a defense in small claims court, filing a complaint with the City of Syracuse's code enforcement office, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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