Nevada · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Nevada security deposit law

How much a landlord in Nevada 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 Nevada, the deposit limit is: Three months' rent in total, counting the security deposit, any surety bond and last month's rent together. The landlord must return it as follows: No later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return what is left of the deposit with a written itemized accounting, either by handing it to you where you pay rent or by mailing it to your present address (or last known address).

deposit limit
3 months' rent
to return a deposit
30 days
deposit penalty
Up to 2×

Security deposit in Nevada

Limit
Three months' rent in total, counting the security deposit, any surety bond and last month's rent together. The lease may also allow a reasonable nonrefundable cleaning charge.
Deadline to return it
No later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return what is left of the deposit with a written itemized accounting, either by handing it to you where you pay rent or by mailing it to your present address (or last known address). Give the landlord your new address in writing.
Itemized list
Yes. The landlord must give you an itemized, written accounting of how the deposit was used. The statute does not require receipts.
What may be deducted
Only amounts reasonably needed for unpaid rent, repairing damage you caused beyond normal wear, and reasonable cleaning costs. A lease cannot make the security deposit nonrefundable (except a reasonable cleaning charge).
Interest
No. The statute does not require interest.
Move-in checklist
Yes, in effect. Every written lease must include a signed record of the inventory and condition of the unit. If there is no written lease, the law presumes you must return the unit in the same condition as when you moved in, except for normal wear. NRS 118A.200(3)(k), (5).
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord fails or refuses to return the rest of the deposit within 30 days, you can recover the entire deposit plus an extra amount set by the court of up to the entire deposit again (up to double in total). The court considers whether the landlord acted in good faith and how much harm you suffered.
Law
NRS 118A.242

Get your deposit back, step by step

  1. Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
  2. Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Nevada: No later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return what is left of the deposit with a written itemized accounting, either by handing it to you where you pay rent or by mailing it to your present address (or last known address).
  3. Wait for the deadline: No later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return what is left of the deposit with a written itemized accounting, either by handing it to you where you pay rent or by mailing it to your present address (or last known address).
  4. If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
  5. If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $10,000 (money only). Small claims court in Nevada on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Nevada

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.

Enter your deposit and move-out dateThe result appears as you type.

An estimate from the dates you enter and the rule in our data, not legal advice. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business days, and we don't skip holidays.

Security deposit demand letter for Nevada

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.

Your letter is made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.

The name on your lease or rent receipts.

We suggest 14 days.

One or two sentences. This text goes into the letter as written.

Small claims court in Nevada

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $10,000 (money only).

How to file in Nevada

Questions about security deposits in Nevada

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

Three months' rent in total, counting the security deposit, any surety bond and last month's rent together. The lease may also allow a reasonable nonrefundable cleaning charge.

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

No later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return what is left of the deposit with a written itemized accounting, either by handing it to you where you pay rent or by mailing it to your present address (or last known address). Give the landlord your new address in writing.

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

If the landlord fails or refuses to return the rest of the deposit within 30 days, you can recover the entire deposit plus an extra amount set by the court of up to the entire deposit again (up to double in total). The court considers whether the landlord acted in good faith and how much harm you suffered.

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

Only amounts reasonably needed for unpaid rent, repairing damage you caused beyond normal wear, and reasonable cleaning costs. A lease cannot make the security deposit nonrefundable (except a reasonable cleaning charge).

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

No. The statute does not require interest.

What is the small claims limit in Nevada?

$10,000 (money only).

More for Nevada renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.