Nevada Security Deposit Law: Limits, Deadlines, and Penalties
What Nevada landlords can charge, when deposits must be returned, and what it costs to get it wrong. Last reviewed 2026-08-12.
How much can a landlord charge in Nevada?
The total of the security deposit plus any surety bond may not exceed three months' periodic rent. A tenant may offer to purchase a surety bond in place of some or all of the deposit, but only if the landlord agrees — landlords cannot require the bond option and are not obligated to accept it.
Nevada has no separate pet deposit statute; any pet deposit counts toward the overall three-month cap, though a lease may include a reasonable nonrefundable cleaning fee.
When must the deposit be returned?
The landlord must return the remaining deposit with an itemized written accounting no later than 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivered in person or mailed to the tenant's present or last-known address. The statute provides no extensions.
An itemized, written accounting of the disposition of the deposit is required, showing deductions for unpaid rent, repairs beyond normal wear and tear, and reasonable cleaning costs. Tenants can dispute items within 30 days of receiving the accounting.
What happens if a landlord misses the deadline?
If the landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the accounting within 30 days, the tenant can recover the entire deposit plus additional damages of up to the full deposit amount, with the court weighing whether the landlord acted in good faith and the harm caused.
Interest and holding requirements
Nevada law does not require landlords to pay interest on residential security deposits.
No statutory requirement. NRS 118A.242 does not require a separate account, escrow, or bond for holding the tenant's deposit.
What Nevada landlords get wrong
Nonrefundable fees are prohibited except a reasonable cleaning charge expressly agreed to in the rental agreement — label anything nonrefundable carefully in the lease. On request, you must give the tenant a signed receipt for the deposit; a tenant may lawfully withhold rent until a requested receipt is provided. If the tenant used a surety bond and disputes your itemized claim in writing within 30 days, the surety cannot report to credit agencies without first obtaining a judgment.
The law itself
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Nevada?
Up to three months' rent — one of the highest caps in the country. The limit covers the security deposit and any surety bond combined, so a landlord cannot stack a bond on top of a full three-month deposit. Most Nevada landlords charge far less in practice, typically one month's rent, to stay competitive.
How long does a Nevada landlord have to return a security deposit?
Thirty days after the tenancy terminates. The landlord must hand-deliver or mail the remaining deposit along with an itemized written accounting of any deductions to your present or last-known address. If nothing arrives within 30 days, you can sue for the entire deposit plus additional damages up to the deposit amount.
Can a Nevada landlord charge a nonrefundable cleaning fee?
Yes, but only a cleaning charge in a reasonable amount that the rental agreement expressly designates as nonrefundable. All other nonrefundable charges tied to the deposit are prohibited. Deductions from the refundable deposit itself are limited to unpaid rent, repairs for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and reasonable cleaning costs.
What is a surety bond in place of a security deposit in Nevada?
Instead of paying a cash deposit, a tenant may buy a surety bond covering some or all of it — but only if the landlord agrees to accept one. Landlords cannot require a bond, and the deposit plus bond together cannot exceed three months' rent. The bond premium is nonrefundable to the tenant.
Keep reading
Deposit deadlines are easy to miss — until they cost you triple.
Vantric tracks your leases, deposits, and move-out dates in one place, built for landlords with 1–10 units.
Start Free TrialThis page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes change — verify against the official text linked above or consult a local attorney before acting.