Key takeaways
Abandoned Property Laws by State
Indiana has the longest abandoned property
Indiana
Indiana has the longest abandoned property notice period on record at 90 days, the time a landlord must hold a tenant's belongings after notice before disposing of them.
Texas and Vermont follow at
Vermont
Texas and Vermont follow at 60 days each, and Washington requires 45 days. Eleven states, including Connecticut, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, share the most common period on record at 30 days.
Delaware, Maine, Nebraska, and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
Delaware, Maine, Nebraska, and New Hampshire require the shortest period on record at 7 days, less than a tenth of Indiana's 90-day requirement.
Map
Abandoned Property Notice Period by State 2026 Map
| Rank | State | Days After Notice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 90 |
| 2 | Texas | 60 |
| 2 | Vermont | 60 |
| 3 | Washington | 45 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 30 |
| 4 | Kansas | 30 |
| 4 | Nevada | 30 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 30 |
| 4 | New Mexico | 30 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 30 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 30 |
| 4 | South Dakota | 30 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 30 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 30 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 30 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 28 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 28 |
| 6 | California | 18 |
| 7 | Alaska | 15 |
| 7 | Hawaii | 15 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 15 |
| 7 | Oregon | 15 |
| 7 | Utah | 15 |
| 7 | Wyoming | 15 |
| 8 | Alabama | 14 |
| 8 | Arizona | 14 |
| 9 | Florida | 10 |
| 9 | Missouri | 10 |
| 9 | Montana | 10 |
| 9 | Virginia | 10 |
| 10 | Delaware | 7 |
| 10 | Maine | 7 |
| 10 | Nebraska | 7 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 7 |
Indiana (90 days) requires landlords to wait longest before disposing of abandoned property. Delaware, Maine, Nebraska, and New Hampshire (7 days each) require the shortest wait on record.
Days After Notice: highest, median, and lowest
Abandoned Property Laws by State Table
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|
Rank
|
State
|
Days After Notice
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana
|
90 |
| 2 |
Texas
|
60 |
| 2 |
Vermont
|
60 |
| 3 |
Washington
|
45 |
| 4 |
Connecticut
|
30 |
| 4 |
Kansas
|
30 |
| 4 |
Nevada
|
30 |
| 4 |
New Jersey
|
30 |
| 4 |
New Mexico
|
30 |
| 4 |
North Carolina
|
30 |
| 4 |
Pennsylvania
|
30 |
| 4 |
South Dakota
|
30 |
| 4 |
Tennessee
|
30 |
| 4 |
West Virginia
|
30 |
| 4 |
Wisconsin
|
30 |
| 5 |
Minnesota
|
28 |
| 5 |
North Dakota
|
28 |
| 6 |
California
|
18 |
| 7 |
Alaska
|
15 |
| 7 |
Hawaii
|
15 |
| 7 |
Oklahoma
|
15 |
| 7 |
Oregon
|
15 |
| 7 |
Utah
|
15 |
| 7 |
Wyoming
|
15 |
| 8 |
Alabama
|
14 |
| 8 |
Arizona
|
14 |
| 9 |
Florida
|
10 |
| 9 |
Missouri
|
10 |
| 9 |
Montana
|
10 |
| 9 |
Virginia
|
10 |
| 10 |
Delaware
|
7 |
| 10 |
Maine
|
7 |
| 10 |
Nebraska
|
7 |
| 10 |
New Hampshire
|
7 |
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States With the Longest and Shortest Abandoned Property Notice Periods
Highest
90
Indiana
Lowest
7
New Hampshire
Top 10 Highest — Days After Notice
States With the Longest Abandoned Property Notice Periods
Indiana requires landlords to hold a tenant's abandoned property for 90 days after notice, the longest period on record and 12 times longer than the 7-day minimum. Texas and Vermont follow at 60 days each, and Washington requires 45 days.
Eleven states share the most common period on record at 30 days: Connecticut, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Minnesota and North Dakota require 28 days, just short of that 30-day mark.
States With the Shortest Abandoned Property Notice Periods
Delaware, Maine, Nebraska, and New Hampshire require the shortest period on record at 7 days after notice. Florida, Missouri, Montana, and Virginia require 10 days, and Alabama and Arizona require 14 days.
California's 18-day period sits well below the 30-day cluster and just above the 15-day group of Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.
Quick Answers
What state has the longest abandoned property notice period?
What state has the shortest abandoned property notice period?
How many days must a landlord hold abandoned property in Texas?
How many states require a 30-day abandoned property notice period?
What is the abandoned property notice period in California?
Methodology
Abandonment periods reflect the number of days a landlord must hold a tenant's abandoned personal property after notice before disposal, listed by state as of 2026. Not every state has a specific period on record.
Sources
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