Housing

Know your rights as a renter in Clark County

Most of your rights as a Nevada tenant are in one law, NRS chapter 118A, and a lease can't take them away. Here are the ones that come up most, with the deadlines and forms.

What to do first

1. Get your signed lease. The landlord must give you one free copy when you sign, and more copies within a reasonable time if you ask (they can charge a reasonable fee for extras) (NRS 118A.200(2)).

2. Know who your landlord is. When you move in, the landlord must tell you in writing who manages the property, who in Nevada accepts legal papers for the landlord, who owns it, and a local emergency phone number (someone in the county or within 60 miles), and keep that current (NRS 118A.260). Posting it in the elevator or in two visible spots counts (NRS 118A.270). If they never told you, whoever signed the lease for them is treated as their agent. If you ask in writing and still don't get it, you can recover your actual damages or $25, whichever is more (NRS 118A.410).

3. Put everything in writing. Repair requests, notices to end a lease, and complaints all carry more weight, and some only count, when they're written. Send important ones certified mail with a return receipt and keep copies.

Key deadlines

Situation	Rule	Source
Landlord wants to come in	At least 24 hours' notice, during normal business hours, unless it's an emergency or you agree otherwise	NRS 118A.330(3)
Ending a lease for domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking	Written notice within 90 days of what happened; the lease ends 30 days after notice or at the end of the rental period, whichever comes first	NRS 118A.345(1), (4)
Moving out for care or treatment (60 or older, or a disability)	30 days' written notice, given within 60 days after you relocate	NRS 118A.340(1)
Death of a spouse or co-tenant (you're 60 or older, or have a disability)	60 days' written notice, given within 3 months after the death	NRS 118A.340(2)
Fire or serious damage makes the place unusable and you move out	Tell the landlord within 7 days after you leave that you're ending the lease	NRS 118A.400(1)(a)
Landlord doesn't hand over the unit on move-in day	No rent is owed until you get it; you can end the lease with 5 days' written notice	NRS 118A.370

Read from NRS chapter 118A as posted by the Nevada Legislature, October 2026.

When your landlord can come in

You can't unreasonably refuse entry to inspect, make repairs or agreed improvements, supply services, or show the unit to buyers, lenders, new tenants or contractors. In an emergency the landlord can come in without asking. Otherwise it takes 24 hours' notice and normal business hours, unless you agree to something else for that visit (NRS 118A.330). Outside those reasons the landlord needs a court order, your abandonment of the unit, or a 14-day notice to fix a problem you're responsible for (NRS 118A.330(4), 118A.440). If the landlord enters unlawfully or keeps demanding entry to harass you, you can ask a court to stop it or end the lease, and recover your damages (NRS 118A.500(2)).

Retaliation is illegal

A landlord can't raise your rent, cut essential services, refuse to renew, end your tenancy, or file or threaten an eviction to get back at you for (NRS 118A.510(1)):

Reporting a building, housing or health code problem to a government agency in good faith, or a citation that came from your report.
Complaining to the landlord or police about a violation of the landlord-tenant law or a crime.
Starting or joining a tenants' union.
Raising habitability in a court case.
Refusing to sign off on a new rule the landlord adopted after you moved in.
Making a fair housing complaint or using fair housing rights.
Being a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, or ending a lease for that reason.

Retaliation is a defense in an eviction case, and you can sue for your losses plus up to $2,500 (NRS 118A.510(2), 118A.390). It isn't retaliation if you caused the code problem, the tenancy ended for cause, the repairs can only be done with the unit empty, or a rent increase applies equally to all tenants (NRS 118A.510(3)).

What your lease must say, and can't say

A written lease has to be signed by both sides and cover, among other things: how long it lasts, the rent and when it's due, children and pets, included services, required fees and deposits and how deposits are refunded, late and bounced-check charges, the landlord's inspection rights, who will live there, who pays which utilities, a signed move-in inventory and condition record, and how to report a nuisance or code violation (NRS 118A.200(3)). The rent has to be listed as one total figure that includes any mandatory fees (NRS 118A.200(6)). With no written lease, the law presumes no limits on kids or pets, free maintenance and trash service, no late fees, and that you return the place in the same shape except for normal wear (NRS 118A.200(5)).

A lease can't make you give up your rights under chapter 118A, agree to a confession of judgment, pay the landlord's lawyer fees (a winner-gets-fees clause is allowed), excuse the landlord from liability for the landlord's own conduct, or give the landlord a different termination notice than you get. Those terms are void, and you can recover any damages they caused you (NRS 118A.220). Deposit rules are on My landlord has my security deposit.

Ending your lease early: domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking

1. Write a notice of termination. It applies if you, a co-tenant, or a relative living with you is the victim. Say why you're ending the lease (NRS 118A.345(1)-(3)). The Self-Help Center's sample letter is in the Forms section below.

2. Attach one document. For domestic violence: a protection order, a police report showing you reported it, or a signed affidavit from a qualified third party such as a licensed doctor, psychologist, social worker or counselor, qualifying staff of a domestic violence agency, or a member of the clergy. For harassment, sexual assault or stalking: a police report or a temporary or extended protection order (NRS 118A.345(2)-(3), (12)).

3. Send it within 90 days of what happened, by certified mail, and keep a copy (NRS 118A.345(4)).

You owe rent only through the end date. The landlord can't keep your deposit because you ended early, can't tell the abuser where you are, and can't describe it as an early termination to a future landlord. If you pay for it, the landlord must rekey or replace the lock and must refuse the abuser a key or entry unless police are present (NRS 118A.345(5)-(11)).

Ending your lease early: disability, age or a death

If you're 60 or older or have a disability and your condition means you have to move for care you can't get at home, give 30 days' written notice within 60 days after you move, with reasonable proof of the condition and the need to relocate. A co-tenant may be able to end the lease too (NRS 118A.340(1), (3)). If your spouse or co-tenant dies and you're 60 or older or have a disability, give 60 days' written notice within 3 months of the death (NRS 118A.340(2)).

Fire or serious damage

If a fire or accident you didn't cause badly damages the unit, you can move out at once and tell the landlord within 7 days that the lease is over, or stay in the usable part (if that's lawful) and pay less rent. Either way, prepaid rent and your recoverable deposit come back if the lease ends. The landlord may also end the lease (NRS 118A.400).

Mobile home parks

If you own your home and rent the space in a park, NRS chapter 118B applies instead of 118A, and the park must use a formal eviction, not a summary one (NRS 118A.180(2)(a), 40.253(12)). The park needs a reason to end your tenancy and must put it in writing with specific facts. The notice is 10 days for unpaid rent or utilities, 5 days for a nuisance or law violation (3 days for certain serious crimes after a court order), 180 days for a change in land use, and 45 days for other reasons (NRS 118B.190). Rent increases need 90 days' written notice (NRS 118B.150). If the park cuts a service or amenity, your rent has to drop to match (NRS 118B.153). If the home is unfit for more than 48 hours, for example no fuel, water, electricity or sewer, you can reduce your rent or get substitute housing at the park's cost (NRS 118B.220). If a park closes, it must give 180 days' notice and pay to move your home up to 150 miles, or pay fair market value if it can't be moved (NRS 118B.177).

If the park claims a lien on your home for unpaid rent or utilities, it can't sell the home until 4 months after the first missed payment, and it must mail a notice of sale 10 to 30 days before the sale (NRS 108.315(4)). Paying the full amount owed before the sale stops it (NRS 108.320). To challenge the lien, file a Notice of Opposition in the justice court within 5 days after you get the notice of sale, and send certified copies to the park and the state Housing Division (NRS 108.355). Complaints about parks go to the Nevada Manufactured Housing Division. If you rent the mobile home itself from its owner, the regular summary eviction rules apply; see the eviction page.

Business (commercial) tenants

Chapter 118A doesn't cover commercial leases; NRS chapter 118C and your lease do, and the lease wins where they conflict (NRS 118C.200(6)). Unless the lease says otherwise, a commercial landlord can't cut utilities you pay for directly, remove doors, locks or landlord-supplied fixtures, or lock you out without a court order, except for repairs, emergencies, abandonment, or when you're behind on rent. To change the locks for unpaid rent, the landlord must first send written notice by certified mail at least 3 days before, then post on the door where to get the new key, which you get during your business hours once you pay (NRS 118C.200). If the landlord breaks those rules, you can get back in or end the lease and recover your damages plus one month's rent or $500, whichever is more, plus attorney fees and costs (NRS 118C.200(5)). To get back in fast, file a sworn "verified complaint for reentry" in the justice court; after you post a bond of one month's rent the judge can put you back in, with a hearing 1 to 5 judicial days later (NRS 118C.210). The Self-Help Center has no form for this one, so consider a lawyer. For unpaid rent, the landlord can give a commercial tenant a 5-day pay-or-quit notice; for other reasons it must use a formal eviction, because the summary process doesn't cover commercial space (NRS 40.2512(1)(a), 40.254).

Forms

Sample Letter to Terminate Lease Due to Domestic Violence, Harassment, Stalking or Sexual Assault (includes a sample third-party affidavit) — PDF
Notice of Opposition to Mobile Home Lien — PDF. Filing fee $71, or apply to waive it: Las Vegas | Henderson | North Las Vegas

Forms and fee from the Civil Law Self-Help Center.

Free help

Civil Law Self-Help Center — Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave, 1st floor. Free forms and legal information for tenants and landlords.

Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — 725 E. Charleston Blvd. 702-386-1070. Free legal help for tenants who qualify.

Neighborhood Justice Center — 200 E. Lewis Ave., 4th floor, Las Vegas. 702-455-3898. Free, confidential mediation for landlord-tenant disputes.

Good to know

Specific problems have their own pages: locked out or utilities shut off, repairs, belongings left behind, security deposits and eviction notices. Chapter 118A also doesn't cover some housing, including low-rent public housing run by a housing authority and hotel or motel stays under 30 days unless you clearly meant to stay longer (NRS 118A.180(2)); if that's you, get advice from Legal Aid.