🏠 NEVADA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Nevada
In Nevada, NRS 118A.242 / 118A.210 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of what was withheld.
The deposit itself is capped at 3 months' rent. If the landlord does not return the remainder within 30 days, they owe you the entire deposit plus up to the amount of the deposit again, set by the court after considering whether the landlord acted in good faith (NRS 118A.242(6)–(7)).
The Nevada statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ NRS 118A.242
The landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit or surety bond, or a combination, including the last month’s rent, whose total value exceeds 3 months’ periodic rent. The landlord must give the tenant an itemized written accounting of the disposition of the deposit and return any remaining portion no later than 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivered personally where rent is paid or mailed to the tenant. Verified against primary statute text (leg.state.nv.us) 2026-08-26.
Read the Nevada source text →Nevada deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Nevada requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 3 months' rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | If the landlord does not return the remainder within 30 days, they owe you the entire deposit plus up to the amount of the deposit again, set by the court after considering whether the landlord acted in good faith (NRS 118A.242(6)–(7)). |
| Governing statute | NRS 118A.242 / 118A.210 |
Every figure here was read from the Nevada statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Nevada
The 30 days clock in NevadaNRS 118A.242 / 118A.210 sets Nevada's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy.
Nevada caps the deposit at 3 months' rentA Nevada landlord may not demand more than 3 months' rent as a security deposit under NRS 118A.242 / 118A.210. 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 Nevada requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 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 NevadaIf the landlord does not return the remainder within 30 days, they owe you the entire deposit plus up to the amount of the deposit again, set by the court after considering whether the landlord acted in good faith (NRS 118A.242(6)–(7)). 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 Nevada, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Nevada the 30 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 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing NRS 118A.242 / 118A.210 and the remedy described above.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Nevada 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 Nevada
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Nevada?
NRS 118A.242 / 118A.210 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld.
What happens if my Nevada landlord misses the deadline?
If the landlord does not return the remainder within 30 days, they owe you the entire deposit plus up to the amount of the deposit again, set by the court after considering whether the landlord acted in good faith (NRS 118A.242(6)–(7)). 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 Nevada?
Nevada caps it at 3 months' rent under NRS 118A.242 / 118A.210. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Nevada 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 30 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.