Nevada Rent Control Laws: Landlord/Tenant Guide 2024

In theory, rent control should be simple: It involves government-mandated limitations on how much landlords can raise rent. In practice, however, it is an incredibly complex subject, with few U.S. states agreeing on implementation strategies. Rent control aims to create affordable housing, but rental market analysts rarely agree on its effectiveness.

Nevada rent control is actually very simple, but that’s mostly because the state has none. This lack of rent control can significantly benefit landlords, as the state allows complete flexibility in setting and raising rent prices. Conversely, tenants in Nevada may be frustrated by the lack of pricing protections as large metropolitan areas like Las Vegas and Reno continue to face a shortage of affordable housing options.

Whether you’re a landlord curious about best practices and compliance when raising rent in Nevada or a tenant curious about the protections the state provides in lieu of rent control, our comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about Nevada rent control. Keep scrolling for answers to all your burning questions.

Key Takeaways

• Nevada does not currently have any rent control laws at either the state or local level.
• For many years, Nevada was a “Dillon’s Rule” state, limiting local municipalities’ ability to enact rent control laws.
• Legislation passed in 2015 has left the legality of local rent control in a gray area.
• Multiple state-wide rent control bills have come close to passing in recent years, making it important for landlords to stay current with changes to Nevada’s rent control law.
• Nevada landlords must give tenants 60 days’ notice for any rent raises (or 30 days’ notice for short-term leases).

Rent Control Laws in Nevada: An Overview

Nevada does not currently have any rent control laws at the state or local level. These include rent control laws that typically lock in rent rates at a specific amount and rent stabilization laws that allow for small incremental rent increases determined by a local or state government. As one of the few states with no rent control laws, Nevada is very landlord-friendly, allowing individual landlords to freely price units and increase rents at their discretion.

Historically, Nevada has been a “Dillon’s rule” state. In other words, it has followed Supreme Court Justice John F. Dillon’s famous 1868 case ruling, which limited local municipalities from enacting laws unless their state’s legislature explicitly grants them the power to do so. In effect, this has prevented local municipalities in Nevada from enacting rent control laws of their own accord.

The passage of Senate Bill 29 in 2015 loosened the restrictions, potentially clearing the way for cities to pass local rent control laws. As of 2024, no municipalities in Nevada have enacted rent control laws, though major cities such as Henderson, Reno, and Las Vegas have all had discussions about the legality and practicality of doing so. SB 29 has left the legality of local rent control laws in a nebulous place, with lawmakers making multiple attempts to pass bills that clarify the legality of Nevada rent control laws.

As recently as 2023, Nevada lawmakers made multiple attempts to pass rent control laws in the state. Senate Bill 426 would have established state-wide rent control but died in the state Senate. The state legislature passed Senate Bill 371, which would have granted local municipalities the ability to address the affordable housing shortage with rent control measures, but Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed it.

Nevada landlords and tenants should continue to monitor state and local politics closely. The legality of rent control is actively being debated in the state, and lawmakers are also trying to reintroduce SB 371, which was previously vetoed.

Rent Increase Limitations

Nevada has no state or local rent increase limitations. SB 426, which died in Nevada’s Senate, would have limited rent increases to 5% after the first year of tenancy. While that bill is dead, Nevada lawmakers have continued efforts to introduce similar measures in 2024. Landlords and tenants should continue to monitor the quickly changing legal landscape surrounding rent control in Nevada.

Although there is no state limit on rent increases, Nevada requires landlords to provide adequate written notice when raising rents. The Nevada code was amended in 2021 to increase the mandatory notice period. Landlords must give tenants with a month-to-month lease at least 60 days’ notice before raising rent or 30 days’ notice for any shorter terms, such as week-to-week leases (NRS 118A.300). In addition, tenants are protected from having their rent increased in retaliation by their landlord (NRS 118A.510).

Eviction Laws

Nevada’s eviction process and laws are landlord-friendly, allowing for no-fault and just-cause evictions.

No-fault evictions are allowed if the landlord gives their tenant adequate written notice (NRS 40.251). This gives Nevada landlords great flexibility in pricing their rental units to remain in line with market conditions. For further understanding, Nevada law requires the following notice periods:

• Fixed-term leases: 30 days’ notice prior to the expiration of the lease agreement
• Month-to-month leases: 30 days’ notice
• Week-to-week leases: 7 days’ notice

Landlords may be legally required to grant an additional 30 days to tenants over the age of 60 or those with physical or mental disabilities. Tenants who qualify must submit a written request that includes proof of their age or disability.

Nevada code also allows landlords to file just-cause evictions in the following scenarios:

• Tenant lease violations: Landlords can give a 5-day cure or quit eviction notice to tenants who violate the terms of their lease agreement (NRS 118A.430).
• Tenant failure to pay rent: Landlords can issue a 7-day pay-or-quit eviction notice to tenants who have not paid their rent by the due date (NRS 40.253).
• Illegal activity: Landlords can issue a 3-day notice to vacate tenants for a wide range of illegal activities, including illegally subletting, drug use, waste, endangering other tenants, or running an illegal business. If the tenant fails to vacate within 3 days, landlords can file a 5-day eviction notice (NRS 40.2514).

It is illegal for landlords to evict a tenant or refuse to renew their lease as retaliation for any of the protected actions outlined in Nevada’s rent code (NRS 118A.510). Nevada’s eviction laws give landlords great flexibility in managing their rental units, but landlords must remain compliant with the eviction process.

Landlord Rights and Responsibilities

Despite Nevada’s rental market being free of rent control, landlords and tenants have rights and responsibilities regarding raising rent prices.

Nevada landlords have the right to:

• Increase rent by any amount at their own discretion, as long as they provide the proper notice.
• Choose not to renew tenant leases as long as the decision is non-retaliatory, and they give the proper notice.
• Evict tenants who commit lease violations, fail to pay rent, or commit illegal activity.

Nevada landlords must:

• Provide 60 days’ notice to month-to-month tenants before increasing rent or 30 days’ notice to week-to-week tenants.
• In the case of no-fault evictions, grant an additional 30 days to tenants who are over 60 years old or have mental or physical disabilities.
• Comply with Nevada’s eviction process, including mandatory notice periods and going through the courts rather than attempting self-help evictions.
• Ensure that any rent increases, evictions, or lease non-renewals are not taken as a retaliation against tenants.

Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

Nevada tenants might not enjoy any rent control protections, but the state’s rental laws grant tenants certain other rights and responsibilities when dealing with their landlords and lease agreements.

Nevada tenants have the right to:

• Receive 30-60 days’ notice prior to rent increases, depending on the type of rental agreement.
• Receive either 7 or 30 days’ notice if their landlord decides not to renew the lease.
• Enjoy their living space without harassment or retaliatory action from their landlord.
• They can legally break their lease if the landlord violates the lease agreement, fails to maintain safe and habitable living conditions, or wilfully interrupts essential services.

Nevada tenants must:

• Pay rent in full by the agreed-upon date.
• Give proper notice when terminating their lease agreement.
• Comply with all eviction notices, whether due to lease non-renewal or a violation by the tenant.

Navigating Rent Control Laws with TurboTenant

Nevada’s lack of rent control can greatly benefit landlords, but it requires carefully balancing strong lease agreements, finding quality tenants, and making intelligent rent increases.

TurboTenant’s property management software can help guide landlords through these complex issues so they can enjoy the full benefits of Nevada’s rent control-free market. Our tools include:

• Rental applications: Find quality candidates with our free online applications, including full tenant screening reports that the applicants cover.
• Nevada-specific lease agreements: Simplify lease creation using TurboTenant’s fully customizable Nevada lease templates.
• Automated rent collection: Set up recurring payments, custom late fees, and automatic payment reminders.

Sign up for a free TurboTenant account today. Our team is here to help you maximize your rental investments.

Nevada Rent Control Laws FAQs