🏠 NEBRASKA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Nebraska
In Nebraska, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 gives your landlord 14 days after the tenancy ends to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of what was withheld.
The deposit itself is capped at 1 month's rent (plus a pet deposit of up to one-quarter of a month's rent, where appropriate). If the landlord does not comply, you can recover what you are owed plus court costs and attorney fees. If the failure is willful and not in good faith, you can also recover one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3)).
The Nebraska statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416
A landlord may not demand or receive security, however denominated, in excess of one month’s periodic rent, except that an additional pet deposit is allowed. On termination the landlord may apply the deposit to unpaid rent and damages from the tenant’s noncompliance; the balance, if any, together with a written itemization, must be delivered or mailed to the tenant within 14 days. Verified against primary statute text (nebraskalegislature.gov) 2026-08-26.
Read the Nebraska source text →Nebraska deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Nebraska requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 14 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 1 month's rent (plus a pet deposit of up to one-quarter of a month's rent, where appropriate) |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | If the landlord does not comply, you can recover what you are owed plus court costs and attorney fees. If the failure is willful and not in good faith, you can also recover one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3)). |
| Governing statute | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 |
Every figure here was read from the Nebraska statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Nebraska
The 14 days clock in NebraskaNeb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 sets Nebraska's deadline at 14 days from the end of the tenancy.
Nebraska caps the deposit at 1 month's rent (plus a pet deposit of up to one-quarter of a month's rent, where appropriate)A Nebraska landlord may not demand more than 1 month's rent (plus a pet deposit of up to one-quarter of a month's rent, where appropriate) as a security deposit under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Nebraska requires a written, itemized statement within the 14 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in NebraskaIf the landlord does not comply, you can recover what you are owed plus court costs and attorney fees. If the failure is willful and not in good faith, you can also recover one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3)). Whether a remedy applies can turn on the dates, so keep proof of the day you moved out and the day you gave a forwarding address.
What to do in Nebraska, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Nebraska the 14 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 14 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 and the remedy described above.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Nebraska small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — ask for the deposit and any amount the statute allows on top of it.
Common questions about security deposits in Nebraska
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Nebraska?
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 gives your landlord 14 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld.
What happens if my Nebraska landlord misses the deadline?
If the landlord does not comply, you can recover what you are owed plus court costs and attorney fees. If the failure is willful and not in good faith, you can also recover one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3)). You generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Nebraska?
Nebraska caps it at 1 month's rent (plus a pet deposit of up to one-quarter of a month's rent, where appropriate) under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Nebraska landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 14 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
Don’t guess what your document says.
Upload your lease or notice and get every risky clause quoted back with the statute that governs it — including the one above.
Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.