Washoe County, Nevada: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (Justice Court small claims (NRS 73.010) only). Court: Washoe County Justice Court - Small Claims.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (Justice Court small claims (NRS 73.010) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Nevada	4 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after the termination of the tenancy.
Penalty formula	if landlord fails or refuses to return remainder within 30 days: liable for (a) an amount equal to the entire deposit and (b) a court-fixed sum of not more than the amount of the entire deposit; court considers good faith, course of conduct, and degree of harm when setting the additional sum. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242

Where to file

Washoe County Justice Court - Small Claims

Courthouse city: Reno

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

State court directory

Court site located; the court's server blocks automated checks

See how to file in Nevada for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Washoe County

County median gross rent: $1,507 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$983
1 bedroom	$1,224
2 bedrooms	$1,552
3 bedrooms	$1,899
4 bedrooms	$2,222

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,552; two months is $3,104. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,552.

State legal maximum deposit in Nevada: Not more than 3 months' periodic rent ($4,656 at the example rent) for security or surety bond, or a combination thereof, including last month's rent.

Total households in Washoe County: 195,725.

Renter households: 79,319 (40.5% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 3.5%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Washoe County, $1,552 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $10,000 (Justice Court small claims (NRS 73.010) only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Reno
Sparks

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Courthouse details

Address: 1 South Sierra Street, Reno, Nevada 89501

Phone: (775) 325-6500

From the state court directory; the source is a PDF our automated check cannot read

Court contact source

Statewide help

Nevada Legal Services
Free tenant advice and assistance concerning eviction, repairs and illegal lockouts. Phone is the Las Vegas Tenants' Rights Center; Reno: (775) 284-3491 ext. 316. Subsidized-housing tenants should contact a general NLS office; eligibility screening applies.
Phone: (702) 383-6095

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Nevada security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Nevada: 4 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Nevada law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Nevada letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Nevada small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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Free Nevada template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Nevada law (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 calendar days after the termination of the tenancy.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Washoe County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Nevada: 4 years.

Where do I file?

Washoe County Justice Court - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Reno. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.