🏠 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 security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The deposit itself is capped at 1.25 months' rent. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: 2x.
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 | 1.25 months' rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | 2x |
| Governing statute | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 |
null 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. null
Nebraska caps the deposit at 1.25 months' rentA Nebraska landlord may not demand more than 1.25 months' rent 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 Nebraska2x — that is the remedy Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
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 penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Nebraska small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (2x) is what you ask the court to award.
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. null
What happens if my Nebraska landlord misses the deadline?
2x. That remedy is written into Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 — 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 1.25 months' rent 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.
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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.