The rule in Nevada
Nevada limits a residential security deposit to 3 months' rent. The wording in NRS 118A.242(1), (4): “exceeds 3 months' periodic rent.”
The return deadline is 30 days, counted after the tenancy ends. The text reads: “no later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy.”
Of the 44 jurisdictions verified here, 15 give landlords less time and 9 give more; the median is 30 days. 19 others also allow 30 days, among them Iowa, Kansas, Maine and Massachusetts.
What the cap means in dollars: $1,000 rent: up to $3,000, $1,500 rent: up to $4,500 and $2,000 rent: up to $6,000.
Worked date: if the clock starts on November 30, 2026, the deadline falls on December 30, 2026.
In neighbouring states with verified rules: Arizona allows 14 business days and caps deposits at one and a half months' rent, California allows 21 days and caps deposits at one month's rent, Idaho allows 21 days and sets no cap, Oregon allows 31 days and sets no cap and Utah allows 30 days and sets no cap.
If a deposit is not returned, the small claims limit in Nevada is $10,000 (small claims rules); at the cap, a full-deposit claim fits whenever rent is $3,333 a month or less.
Source: Nevada Legislature, NRS chapter 118A · last checked October 20, 2026.
If the deposit does not come back
The statute above sets the deadline; what happens after it passes is covered in general terms in the guide on a deposit that is not returned, and the way each state starts and counts the clock is compared in how deposit deadlines are counted.
Questions
How much can a landlord charge as a security deposit in Nevada?
3 months' rent, under NRS 118A.242(1), (4).
How long does a landlord in Nevada have to return a deposit?
30 days: “no later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy” (NRS 118A.242(1), (4)).
When does the Nevada deadline start?
The clock runs after the tenancy ends.