Can a landlord charge separate pet deposits in Nevada?

No—not as a separate charge on top of your main security deposit. Any money held upfront as security (including for pets, damage, or cleaning) counts toward that one-month limit under NRS 118A.240. A landlord can ask for pet rent (monthly fees) but can't collect extra upfront deposits beyond one month's total rent.

What if I've already paid an illegal deposit? Can I get it back?

Yes. Send your landlord a written request citing NRS 118A.240, asking for the overage back within 14 days. If they refuse, you can file a claim in small claims court or deduct it from your final month's rent in some circumstances. Keep copies of all communication.

Does Nevada allow nonrefundable deposits or fees?

Nonrefundable fees (like application fees) can be charged before you sign the lease, but once you move in, any money held upfront must be refundable and counts toward the one-month cap. If it's called a deposit, it must be refundable under Nevada law.

Security Deposit Limits in Nevada

Why Your Security Deposit Amount Actually Matters

Picture this: You're signing a lease in Las Vegas and your landlord says, "I need first month's rent, last month's rent, and a $2,500 security deposit." You pause. That deposit seems high, but you need the apartment, so you write the check. Flash forward six months, and you're moving out. The landlord claims $1,800 in damages and keeps most of your deposit. Now you're wondering if that initial amount was even legal in the first place—and honestly, that's a question you should've asked before handing over your money.

Security deposits are one of those landlord-tenant issues where landlords often push the boundaries, and tenants don't push back because they don't know the rules. Nevada actually has pretty clear limits on how much a landlord can charge upfront, and knowing those limits could save you hundreds of dollars.

Here's what the law actually says about Nevada deposits

Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 118A.240 sets the ceiling on security deposits, and it's straightforward: a landlord can't collect a security deposit that exceeds the amount of one month's rent. That's it. One month.

So if your monthly rent is $1,200, your landlord can charge you no more than $1,200 as a security deposit. If they're asking for $1,500 or $2,000, they're breaking Nevada law. Period.

Here's the thing: this is a hard cap, and there's no wiggle room for "nonrefundable fees" hidden inside the security deposit amount.

What landlords are actually allowed to charge

Nevada law distinguishes between a security deposit and other upfront costs. Your landlord can ask for:

First month's rent, last month's rent, and a security deposit equal to one month's rent. That's three months of money total in most cases. But they can't add a fourth month just because they want to.

Where people get confused is between security deposits and deposits with other names. Some landlords try to call a fee a "damage deposit," "cleaning deposit," or "pet deposit" thinking it falls outside the cap. Nevada courts have consistently held that if it's money held upfront as security against damage or default, it counts toward that one-month limit (NRS 118A.240). The label doesn't matter—the function does.

Your landlord can also charge application fees before you sign the lease (that's separate from the deposit), and they can charge for actual damages after you move out. Those aren't deposits—those are different charges altogether.

The mistake almost everyone makes

Tenants typically don't fight back because they think, "Well, I'll get it back anyway." That's the wrong assumption. Even if you get your deposit refunded eventually, you've handed over more money than legally required. You've given your landlord free use of your cash for months, and you've created a bigger pool of money from which they can deduct damages (real or imagined).

Real talk—landlords who charge illegal deposits are betting you won't know the law or won't want to argue. They're counting on you being too busy, too stressed, or too unfamiliar with tenant rights to push back. Don't be that tenant. If a landlord asks for more than one month's rent as a security deposit, they're testing the water.

What you can actually do about it

If you're looking at a lease right now and the deposit exceeds one month's rent, you have options before you sign. Push back. Tell the landlord that Nevada law caps security deposits at one month's rent and that you'll only pay the legal amount. Many landlords will back down because they know it's enforceable.

If you've already paid an illegal deposit and you're still renting from this landlord, send a written request (email counts) asking for the overage back. Reference NRS 118A.240. Give them 14 days. Document everything.

If you're moving out and you think your deposit was illegally high, factor that into your damage claims. Nevada law lets you recover damages if a landlord violates deposit rules, plus attorney's fees and court costs in some cases (NRS 118A.360). (More on this below.) That's leverage. — worth keeping in mind

One more thing about last month's rent

Landlords sometimes blur the line between a security deposit and "last month's rent." Technically, these are separate. Last month's rent is held against your final month of tenancy—not against damages. A security deposit is held against damage and lease violations. Nevada allows both, but your total deposit can't exceed one month's rent. If your landlord takes both last month's rent and a security deposit, that security deposit piece still can't be more than one month's rent.

The gray area appears when you move out early. Some landlords try to apply "last month's rent" as a credit toward damages instead of as rent. That's not how it works. If you paid last month's rent, it's for your last month of tenancy. Your security deposit is separate and covers damage only.

How to protect yourself going forward

Before you hand over any money, get the deposit terms in writing. Your lease should state the exact amount of the security deposit and that it complies with Nevada law. Don't accept a verbal promise that "you'll get it back." Write it down.

Take photos of the apartment before you move in and after you move out. Document the condition. Nevada doesn't require landlords to provide move-in inspection reports, but doing one yourself gives you evidence if there's a dispute later.

When your lease ends, request your deposit back in writing. Nevada requires landlords to return deposits within 30 days, with an itemized list of any deductions (NRS 118A.430). If 30 days pass and you haven't heard from your landlord, follow up in writing again. Keep copies of everything.

Your next move today

If you're currently looking at apartments, pull up your lease draft and check that security deposit number. Divide it by your monthly rent. If it's more than 1.0, you've found a problem. Email or call the landlord and ask them to reduce it to one month's rent, citing NRS 118A.240. Do this before you sign. If you've already signed and paid too much, request the overage in writing right now. Don't wait until move-out. The sooner you act, the fresher the issue is in your landlord's mind, and the more likely they'll cooperate without pushback.