Nebraska · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Nebraska security deposit law

How much a landlord in Nebraska can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.

Short answer

In Nebraska, the deposit limit is: One month's rent. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 14 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must deliver or mail you the balance of the deposit and a written itemization of anything kept.

deposit limit: 1 month's rent
to return a deposit: 14 days
deposit penalty: See below

Security deposit in Nebraska

Limit: One month's rent. A landlord may also charge a pet deposit of up to one-quarter (25%) of one month's rent. The limit does not apply to public housing agencies.
Deadline to return it: Within 14 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must deliver or mail you the balance of the deposit and a written itemization of anything kept. If you do not give a mailing address, the landlord must mail it first-class to your last known address. Give your new address in writing. If the mailing comes back undeliverable, or a refund check is not cashed for one year, the money goes to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property, so you can still claim it there.
Itemized list: Yes. A written itemization of the amount not returned must come with the balance within 14 days. The statute does not require receipts.
What may be deducted: Unpaid rent and the damages the landlord suffered because you did not follow the lease or your duties under § 76-1421 (for example, damage you caused). You are not liable for damages from being removed by a government order because the landlord let the unit become unfit to live in.
Interest: No. The statute does not require interest.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly: If the landlord does not return the deposit and itemization on time, you can recover the money due plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. If the failure was willful and not in good faith, you can also get liquidated damages equal to one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less.
Law: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416

Get your deposit back, step by step

Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Nebraska: If you do not give a mailing address, the landlord must mail it first-class to your last known address.
Wait for the deadline: Within 14 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must deliver or mail you the balance of the deposit and a written itemization of anything kept.
If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $7,500, not counting interest and costs (raised from $6,000 on July 1, 2025). Small claims court in Nebraska on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Nebraska

Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Security deposit demand letter for Nebraska

A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.

Small claims court in Nebraska

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $7,500, not counting interest and costs (raised from $6,000 on July 1, 2025).

How to file in Nebraska

Questions about security deposits in Nebraska

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Nebraska?

One month's rent. A landlord may also charge a pet deposit of up to one-quarter (25%) of one month's rent. The limit does not apply to public housing agencies.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Nebraska?

Within 14 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must deliver or mail you the balance of the deposit and a written itemization of anything kept. If you do not give a mailing address, the landlord must mail it first-class to your last known address. Give your new address in writing. If the mailing comes back undeliverable, or a refund check is not cashed for one year, the money goes to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property, so you can still claim it there.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Nebraska?

If the landlord does not return the deposit and itemization on time, you can recover the money due plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. If the failure was willful and not in good faith, you can also get liquidated damages equal to one month's rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Nebraska?

Unpaid rent and the damages the landlord suffered because you did not follow the lease or your duties under § 76-1421 (for example, damage you caused). You are not liable for damages from being removed by a government order because the landlord let the unit become unfit to live in.

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Nebraska?

No. The statute does not require interest.

What is the small claims limit in Nebraska?

$7,500, not counting interest and costs (raised from $6,000 on July 1, 2025).

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Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.