Nevada Security Deposit Return: The 30-Day Deadline (2026)

How long a landlord has to return your deposit, and what you can claim if they miss it

At a glance

Return deadline: 30 days after vacating
Measured from: Termination of the tenancy by either party for any reason (including eviction)
Penalty for late or wrongful withholding: no statutory multiplier
Deposit cap: Three months' periodic rent (combined security deposit + last month's rent) — § 118A.242(1).
Small claims cap: $10,000

Who this covers — and who it does not

This page covers residential security deposits in Nevada, where a landlord has kept some or all of a deposit after a tenancy ends.

It does not cover:

Commercial leases
Deposits held in an escrow account or with a third party
Disputes about damage charges in an ongoing (not ended) tenancy
Any state other than Nevada

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.

What the statute actually says

30days

Measured from Termination of the tenancy by either party for any reason (including eviction).

The landlord must return the remaining deposit, or provide an itemized written accounting, no later than 30 days after termination of the tenancy. The landlord may claim only amounts reasonably necessary to remedy unpaid rent, repair tenant-caused damage (other than normal wear), and pay reasonable cleaning costs.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(4) ↗

Penalties

No statutory penalty beyond returning the deposit.

If the landlord fails to return the remaining deposit within 30 days, the landlord is liable for (a) the ENTIRE deposit, plus (b) a court-determined sum of not more than an ADDITIONAL full deposit. So the maximum is 2x the deposit, but the second deposit is discretionary, considering good faith, the course of conduct, and harm to the tenant.
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(6) ↗

Working out your own deadline

The clock does not start on the day you decided to leave. In Nevada it starts Termination of the tenancy by either party for any reason (including eviction) — for most leases that is the date you hand back the keys, not the date your notice period began.

Find the date you vacated and returned the keys. Write it down; everything else depends on it.
Add 30 calendar days. Count calendar days, not business days.
If the landlord has provided a forwarding address, check the statute for whether the deadline is shortened — in some states it is.
Note the date the deadline falls on. If the deposit has not arrived by then, the clock for the penalty starts running.

Common landlord defences and how to answer them

““I deducted for cleaning and damages.””

You may claim only unpaid rent, tenant-caused damage beyond normal wear, and reasonable cleaning — all itemized in writing within 30 days. Normal wear and tear is not deductible.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(4)

““I will keep the deposit and you can sue me.””

If you fail to return my deposit within 30 days, you are liable for my entire deposit, and the court may award up to an additional full deposit — up to double in total.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(6)

““I required 4 months' rent as a deposit.””

Nevada caps the combined deposit and last month's rent at 3 months' rent. Anything beyond that is unlawful.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(1)

Sources and how to verify them

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
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(4)	2026-10-15	official text ↗
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(6)	2026-10-15	official text ↗
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242	2026-10-15	official text ↗
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(1)	2026-10-15	official text ↗

Primary reference: Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 (Security Deposit). 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.

When you need a lawyer instead of a tool

A self-help letter is the right starting point for a single deposit you can document. Get legal help if:

You have received an eviction notice — the timeline is now court-driven
The dispute involves discrimination, unsafe conditions or retaliation
The amount in dispute exceeds $10,000
Your landlord has filed anything in court already

Local legal aid organisations and tenant unions offer free help for qualifying cases. They are independent of this site — we list them because they are the right place to go, not because they link here.

More Nevada guides

Nevada Security Deposit Rules

→ All Nevada tenant rights topics

Common questions

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

30 days, counted from Termination of the tenancy by either party for any reason (including eviction). Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242(4).

Can I claim more than my deposit back in Nevada?

The statute cited for Nevada does not provide a penalty multiplier beyond returning the deposit and any lawful deductions.

Does the 30-day deadline in Nevada start when I give notice or when I move out?

It runs from Termination of the tenancy by either party for any reason (including eviction) — the date you vacated and returned the keys, not the date your notice period began.

Do I need a lawyer to file a deposit claim in Nevada?

No — Nevada small claims (Justice Court) handles civil claims up to $10,000. Attorney representation is permitted but not required.