The law in plain English
Return deadline
Under Ohio Rev. Code Section 5321.16, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 30 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.
Required notice
Ohio generally requires the deposit balance and a written itemization within 30 days after termination and delivery of possession.
This dispute type
Pet-related deposit disputes usually turn on proof. In Ohio, landlords still need to handle the refund and deduction notice correctly, and renters usually ask whether the charge reflects actual damage or just the landlord's assumption that pets always create extra cost.
Penalty leverage
If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: You can recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus an equal amount in damages (effectively 2x), plus reasonable attorney's fees