Nevada security deposit rules.
The Nevada rules for residential security deposits in plain English: how much can be charged, how fast it comes back, whether interest is owed, and what catches operators out.
Last reviewed · Statute: Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
Capped at three months’ rent — the highest cap among states with caps.
When it has to come back
30 days from termination, with itemised deductions.
Interest
No interest is required.
Where the money has to sit
No segregation requirement.
What catches operators out
- Despite the high cap, retention disputes are common because Nevada has very strict written-itemisation rules.
- Failing to return or account within 30 days makes the landlord liable for the entire deposit plus a court-fixed sum of up to the deposit amount. The statute has no attorney-fee provision.
What this looks like with Standby in Nevada.
When a resident takes a Standby certificate there is no cash deposit to hold, so the cap, the return deadline and the interest rules above have nothing to attach to. You are covered up to the full deposit and draw on it when you need to.
When a resident pays cash instead, Standby handles that deposit under your lease and Nevada law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Nevada. Furnished units, senior leases, mobile-home tenancies and short-term rentals can differ, and city ordinances may override the state default. Check the statute before relying on a figure for a specific lease.