Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A § 118A.480
Landlord’s recovery of possession of dwelling unit.
Operative Text
The landlord shall not recover or take possession of the dwelling unit by action or otherwise, including willful diminution or interruption or causing or permitting the diminution or interruption of any essential item or service required by the rental agreement or this chapter, except: 1. By an action for possession or other civil action or summary proceeding in which the issue of right of possession is determined; 2. When the tenant has surrendered possession of the dwelling unit to the landlord; or 3. When the tenant has abandoned the dwelling unit as provided in NRS 118A.450.
Under Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A § 118A.480, a landlord in Nevada is prohibited from retaking a rental unit through self-help measures, including deliberately cutting off or allowing the cutoff of essential services or items required by the rental agreement or state law. The only lawful paths to regaining possession are a formal court proceeding where the right to possession is adjudicated, a voluntary surrender by the tenant, or an abandonment by the tenant as defined under NRS 118A.450. This provision draws a clear line between legal eviction processes and illegal lockouts or utility shutoffs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A § 118A.480 means that compliant Nevada property owners pursue possession exclusively through the courts—filing an eviction or other civil action—rather than through self-help tactics such as changing locks, removing doors, or cutting utilities. Operators who manage maintenance and service requests carefully document any service interruptions to demonstrate they were not willful or intended to pressure a tenant to vacate. Recognizing the narrow exceptions for tenant surrender and abandonment under NRS 118A.450 helps operators understand when a formal court proceeding may not be required.
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.480 gives Nevada tenants a legal shield against landlords who attempt to force them out by shutting off heat, water, electricity, or other essential services, or by any other self-help method outside of court. If a landlord takes such actions, a tenant may raise this provision as a defense in any related court proceeding or may file a complaint with the appropriate local or state housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations in Nevada can help residents understand the range of remedies potentially available under this statute.
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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