How long a landlord has to return your deposit, and what you can claim if they miss it
This page covers residential security deposits in Nebraska, where a landlord has kept some or all of a deposit after a tenancy ends.
It does not cover:
Lease terms and local ordinances can change what applies. Where a city has its own deposit rules, those may differ from the state statute below.
Measured from Termination of the tenancy.
Upon termination of the tenancy, the balance of the security deposit (and any prepaid rent), if any, together with a written itemization, must be delivered or mailed to the tenant within 14 days. No demand or forwarding address is required — the clock runs from termination.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2) ↗A flat penalty of $undefined.
If the landlord fails to comply with §76-1416(2), the tenant may recover the property and money due, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees. In addition, if the failure is WILLFUL and NOT IN GOOD FAITH, the tenant may recover liquidated damages equal to one month's periodic rent OR two times the security deposit, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3) ↗The tenant may recover the landlord's attorney fees.
Court costs and reasonable attorney fees are recoverable on the landlord's failure to comply with the return-and-itemization duty.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3) ↗The clock does not start on the day you decided to leave. In Nebraska it starts Termination of the tenancy — for most leases that is the date you hand back the keys, not the date your notice period began.
““You never demanded the deposit or gave me an address.””
Since the 2019 amendment, no demand or forwarding address is required. You must deliver or mail the balance and a written itemization within 14 days of termination.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2)
““The penalty is twice the deposit, and I'm willing to pay it.””
The statutory liquidated damages for a willful, bad-faith failure are the LESSER of one month's rent or twice the deposit — plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3)
““I'm deducting for damages.””
You may apply the deposit only toward unpaid rent and damages from my noncompliance, and only with a written itemization within 14 days. Normal wear and tear is not deductible.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2)
Every figure on this page comes from the official text, not from a summary. The table below lists each provision used and the date it was last checked against the source.
| Statute | Last verified | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(3) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
Primary reference: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 (Security deposits; prepaid rent). Where the official text and a secondary summary disagree, this page follows the official text and says so. Amendments are recorded on the site changelog.
A self-help letter is the right starting point for a single deposit you can document. Get legal help if:
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Nebraska Security Deposit Rules
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14 days, counted from Termination of the tenancy. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2).
The statute cited for Nebraska does not provide a penalty multiplier beyond returning the deposit and any lawful deductions.
It runs from Termination of the tenancy — the date you vacated and returned the keys, not the date your notice period began.
No — Nebraska County Court handles small claims up to $3,900. Attorney representation is permitted but not required.