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Most states regulate the way landlords must handle property left behind (abandoned) by departed tenants. Many set notice requirements as to how landlords must contact tenants regarding abandoned property and what to do if the tenant doesn't respond to the notice. States might also regulate how landlords must store abandoned property and dispose of it when tenants don't claim their belongings. Sometimes state rules on abandoned property vary depending on the circumstances of the tenant's departure (for example, if a tenant moves out after giving proper notice versus someone who is evicted in a court proceeding). For details, check your state's statute, listed below. You can find these statutes on the website maintained by the Cornell Legal Information Institute.
Alabama: Ala. Code § 35-9A-423
Alaska: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.260
Arizona: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 33-1314, 33-1370
Arkansas: Ark. Code § 18-16-108
California: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1965, 1980 to 1991
Colorado: Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-20-116, 13-40-122
Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-11b, 47a-42
Delaware: Del. Code tit. 25, §§ 5507, 5715
D.C.: D.C. Code §§ 42-3210.01, 42-3505.01a
Florida: Fla. Stat. §§ 83.67; 715.104 to 715.111
Georgia: Ga. Code § 44-7-55
Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-56
Idaho: Idaho Code § 6-316
Illinois: 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/9-318
Indiana: Ind. Code. §§ 32-31-4-1 to 32-31-4-5, 32-31-5-5
Iowa: Khan v. Heritage Prop. Mgmt., 584 N.W.2d 725, 730 (Iowa Ct. App. 1998)
Kansas: Kan. Stat. § 58-2565
Kentucky: No statute
Louisiana: La. Civ. Code § 2707, La. Civ. Proc. § 4705
Maine: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6005, 6013, 6025-A
Maryland: Md. Code Real Prop., § 8-208, 14-806
Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 30; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 239, § 4
Michigan: No statute
Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 504B.271
Mississippi: Miss. Code §§ 89-7-31, 89-7-35, 89-8-13, 89-8-39
Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.065
Montana: Mont. Code § 70-24-430
Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 69-2302 to 69-2314
Nevada: Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 118A.450, 118A.460
New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:3(VII)
New Jersey: N.J. Stat. §§ 2A:18-72 to 2A:18-84
New Mexico: N.M. Stat. § 47-8-34.1
New York: No statute
North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-25.9, 42-36.2
North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-30.1
Ohio: Ringler v. Sias, 428 N.E.2d 869 (Ohio Ct. App. 1980)
Oklahoma: Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 130
Oregon: Ore. Rev. Stat. §§ 90.425, 105.165
Pennsylvania: 68 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 250.505a
Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-50
South Carolina: S.C. Code §§ 27-40-710(D), 27-40-730
South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws §§ 43-32-25, 43-32-26
Tennessee: Tenn. Code § 66-28-405
Texas: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.014
Utah: Utah Code § 78B-6-816
Vermont: Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4462; Vt. Stat. tit. 12, § 4854a
Virginia: Va. Code §§ 55.1-1249, 55.1-1254 to 55.1-1256
Washington: Wash. Rev. Code §§ 59.18.310, 59.18.312, 59.18.595
West Virginia: W.Va. Code §§ 37-6-6, 55-3A-3
Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)
Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1210