Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A § 118A.240
“Security deposit” defined.
Operative Text
1. Any payment, deposit, fee or charge that is to be used for any of the following purposes is a “security deposit” and is governed by the provisions of this section and NRS 118A.242 and 118A.244: (a) Remedying any default of the tenant in the payments of rent. (b) Repairing damages to the premises other than normal wear caused by the tenant. (c) Cleaning the dwelling unit. 2. “Security deposit” does not include: (a) Any payment, deposit or fee to secure an option to purchase the premises; or (b) Any payment to a corporation qualified under the laws of this State as a surety, guarantor or obligator for a premium paid to secure a surety bond or a similar bond, guarantee or insurance coverage for purposes of securing a tenant’s obligations to a landlord as described in NRS 118A.242.
Under Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A § 118A.240, Nevada law defines a "security deposit" as any payment, fee, or charge collected to cover unpaid rent, tenant-caused damage beyond normal wear, or cleaning costs at the end of a tenancy. Payments made to secure a purchase option or premiums paid to a licensed surety or guarantor for a bond or similar coverage are explicitly excluded from this definition. The distinction matters because amounts that qualify as security deposits are subject to the specific rules and limits set out in NRS 118A.242 and 118A.244, while excluded payments are not.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A § 118A.240 means that any move-in charge a property owner collects for potential unpaid rent, tenant-caused damage, or cleaning is classified as a security deposit and must be handled according to NRS 118A.242 and 118A.244. Compliant operators clearly label such charges in the lease and avoid structuring them in ways that obscure their true purpose. Charges that are genuinely purchase-option deposits or surety-bond premiums paid to a qualified third party fall outside this definition and its associated requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A § 118A.240 establishes that most upfront payments a landlord collects—whether called a deposit, fee, or charge—qualify as a security deposit if they are intended to cover unpaid rent, damage, or cleaning. This classification means those funds are protected by the rules in NRS 118A.242 and 118A.244, which govern how deposits must be held and returned. Tenants who believe a landlord has mislabeled a security deposit to avoid those protections may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or reviewing the relevant statutes to understand available remedies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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