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Nebraska Security Deposit Law: How Many Days and What to Do

In Nebraska, a landlord has 14 days after your lease ends to return a security deposit or send an itemized list (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416). Most states allow 30 days; Nebraska is shorter.

Last checked 2026-07-14

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Details of the return rules

In Nebraska, a landlord has 14 calendar days or 365 calendar days (if mailing returned undeliverable or balance remains outstanding one year, treat as abandoned property to State Treasurer under Unclaimed Property Act) to return a security deposit.

Nebraska statutory deadlines
When it appliesDeadlineStarts from
Deposit return14 daysafter the date of termination of the tenancy

Nebraska return rule: 14 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Key facts

Deadline14 calendar days; trigger: after the date of termination of the tenancy
Additional deadline 2365 calendar days (if mailing returned undeliverable or balance remains outstanding one year, treat as abandoned property to State Treasurer under Unclaimed Property Act); trigger: after mailing if undeliverable, or while returned balance remains outstanding
Penalty formulatenant may recover property and money due, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees; if landlord's failure is willful and not in good faith, tenant may also recover liquidated damages equal to one month's periodic rent or two times the amount of the security deposit, whichever is less
Bad faith requiredYes
Statute citationNeb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416

How does Nebraska's deadline compare with other states?

Nebraska's return deadline is 14 days. The middle of the comparable state deadlines is ≈30 days. Use the dates and questions above to see which deadline applies to you.

Strip plot · Nebraska · return deadline · 14 days vs ≈30 day median · verified 2026-07-14
Primary return rules from state statute records.
Nebraska and nearby deadlines
StateReturn rule
Nebraska14 days
Alaska14 days
Arizona14 days
Hawaii14 days
Kansas14 days
New York14 days
See all 51 jurisdictions
All state return rules
StateReturn rule
Montana10 days
Alaska14 days
Arizona14 days
Hawaii14 days
Kansas14 days
Nebraska14 days
New York14 days
Vermont14 days
Florida15 days
Delaware20 days
Rhode Island20 days
California21 days
Connecticut21 days
Idaho21 days
Minnesota21 days
South Dakota21 days
Wisconsin21 days
Colorado30 days
Georgia30 days
Iowa30 days
Louisiana30 days
Maine30 days
Massachusetts30 days
Michigan30 days
Missouri30 days
Nevada30 days
New Hampshire30 days
New Jersey30 days
New Mexico30 days
North Carolina30 days
North Dakota30 days
Ohio30 days
Pennsylvania30 days
South Carolina30 days
Texas30 days
Utah30 days
Washington30 days
Wyoming30 days
Oregon31 days
District of Columbia45 days
Illinois45 days
Indiana45 days
Maryland45 days
Mississippi45 days
Oklahoma45 days
Virginia45 days
Alabama60 days
Arkansas60 days
West Virginia60 days
KentuckyNo fixed return deadline
TennesseeNo fixed return deadline

Source: state statute records · checked 2026-07-14 · n=48 fixed rules among 51 jurisdictions · method: first listed return deadline; calendar months plotted as ≈30 days · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6

What happens if the landlord misses the deadline?

tenant may recover property and money due, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees; if landlord's failure is willful and not in good faith, tenant may also recover liquidated damages equal to one month's periodic rent or two times the amount of the security deposit, whichever is less The statutory amount depends on the facts and any conditions in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416; it is separate from the deposit owed.

Nebraska is one of 36 states where the law sets a multiple of the deposit.

Deposit penalty rules across the 50 states and DC
RuleStatesShare
The law sets a multiple of the deposit ← Nebraska3671%
The law names another remedy (forfeiture, fees, damages)1020%
Read the cited remedy; no multiple is set510%

With a deposit of $1,072 (median county rent), a claim for the deposit plus the maximum penalty is $3,216; fits under the $7,500 small claims limit.

Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6

What do you have to do before you can claim the penalty?

Send the required information to start the clock.

    Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend or holiday?

    Nebraska law does not clearly say whether a deposit deadline moves when it falls on a weekend or holiday.

    To be safe: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, treat the deadline as passed only after the next business day. Example: October 10, 2026 is a Saturday, so wait until October 12, 2026 before saying the deadline has passed.

    What Nebraska law requires of the landlord

    The deposit return rule is 14 calendar days or 365 calendar days (if mailing returned undeliverable or balance remains outstanding one year, treat as abandoned property to State Treasurer under Unclaimed Property Act). The law also requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.

    Return window
    14 calendar days or 365 calendar days (if mailing returned undeliverable or balance remains outstanding one year, treat as abandoned property to State Treasurer under Unclaimed Property Act)
    Itemization
    Required
    Receipts threshold
    No separate threshold recorded
    Interest
    No statewide interest requirement in the verified data.

    Is interest owed on a deposit in Nebraska?

    Nebraska is one of 37 states where interest is not required by state law.

    Deposit interest rules across the 50 states and DC
    RuleStatesShare
    Required by state law36%
    Owed only in some cases1122%
    Not required by state law ← Nebraska3773%

    Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6

    FAQ

    How do I confirm the Nebraska deadline?

    Use the questions above to match your dates to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416, and keep proof of each date.

    What is the small claims limit in Nebraska?

    See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Nebraska court guide

    City data on this page currently includes Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Grand Island, Kearney, Fremont, Hastings, Norfolk.

    Statute text, sources and changes

    Statute says

    Upon termination of the tenancy, property or money held by the landlord as prepaid rent and security may be applied to the payment of rent and the amount of damages which the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with the rental agreement or section 76-1421. The balance, if any, and a written itemization shall be delivered or mailed to the tenant within fourteen days after the date of termination of the tenancy. If no mailing address or instructions are provided by the tenant to the landlord, the landlord shall mail, by first-class mail, the balance of the security deposit to be returned, if any, and a written itemization of the amount of the security deposit not returned to the tenant's last-known mailing address. If the mailing is returned as undeliverable, or if the returned balance of the security deposit remains outstanding for one year, it shall be considered abandoned property to be reported and paid to the State Treasurer in accordance with the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416

    What this means

    Sources

    Download these values (CSV)

    Changes

    • : Record verified against the cited statute.

    Verified 2026-07-14 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6