How to Evict a Tenant in Nevada (2026)
The legal steps for landlords in Nevada — the notice, the court case, costs, timeline and the mistakes that get cases thrown out — with the statute or official page behind each step.
Short answer: In Nevada a landlord must give the required written notice, file an eviction case in court if the tenant doesn't pay or leave, win a judgment, and have a sheriff or other officer carry out the removal. Changing the locks or removing belongings yourself is not allowed.
Step 1: Have a legal reason and give the right notice
| Unpaid rent | Written notice to pay rent or surrender by the close of business on the 7th judicial day after service (summary eviction). For rent reserved weekly or less where the tenancy has lasted 45 days or less: by noon on the 4th full day after service. Source: NRS 40.253(1) |
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| Lease violation | 5 days' notice to perform the lease condition (cure) or surrender; if not cured within 5 days the tenant is guilty of unlawful detainer. If the violation cannot be cured, no cure notice is required. |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no fault) | Landlord: at least 30 days' written notice for month-to-month (and other non-weekly periodic) tenancies; 7 days for week-to-week; 5 days for tenancy at will. A tenant 60 or older or with a physical or mental disability may request an additional 30 days of possession (not for week-to-week). Tenant: no statute sets a separate notice period for the tenant, but a rental agreement may not require the tenant to give the landlord a different notice of termination than the landlord must give the tenant (30 days for month-to-month). |
Local rent-control or just-cause rules can limit evictions: No statewide rent control statute in NRS Ch. 118A. Rent increases require written notice at least 60 days in advance (30 days for periodic tenancies of less than one month).
Step 2: Write and deliver the notice correctly
| What the notice must say | Written notice to pay the rent or surrender the premises before close of business on the 7th judicial day after service (or, for rent reserved weekly or less in a tenancy of 45 days or less, by noon of the 4th full day). It must name the court with jurisdiction and tell the tenant: (1) they may contest by filing an affidavit with that court before the deadline stating they paid/tendered or are not in default; (2) if the court finds unlawful detainer, it may order the sheriff or constable to post a removal order within 24 hours and remove the tenant 24-36 hours after posting; and (3) they may seek relief under NRS 118A.390 for an unlawful lockout or utility shutoff. Service must be by a sheriff, constable, licensed process server or an attorney's agent: personally; or by leaving it with a person of suitable age at the residence or business and mailing a copy; or, if neither works, by posting it on the property, delivering a copy to a resident there, and mailing a copy. Short-term (4-day) notices have special in-person/witness and posting-plus-overnight-mail rules. Source: NRS 40.253(1)-(3); NRS 40.280(1) |
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| How it must be delivered | Written notices to a tenant under ch. 118A must be served as NRS 40.280 requires. Eviction notices must be served by a sheriff, constable, licensed process server, or an attorney's agent in one of three ways: (1) personal delivery; (2) if the tenant is absent, leaving a copy with a person of suitable age at the tenant's home or work AND mailing a copy; or (3) if neither works, posting in a conspicuous place on the property, giving a copy to any resident there, AND mailing a copy. Proof of service must be filed before the court orders removal. Tenants may deliver or mail notices to the landlord's designated place of business or rent-payment address. Source: NRS 118A.190; NRS 40.280 |
Notice forms:
- Nevada notice to pay rent or quit — requirements and free draft
- Nevada notice to end a month-to-month tenancy — requirements and free draft
Step 3: File the eviction case and go to the hearing
Eviction cases in Nevada are heard in: Justice Court (township where the rental is located).
- Serve the proper notice: 7-judicial-day notice to pay rent or quit (NRS 40.253), or terminate the tenancy (30-day no-cause notice under NRS 40.251 or 5-day cure-or-quit under NRS 40.2516) followed by a 5-judicial-day unlawful detainer notice (NRS 40.254).
- Tenant may contest by filing a tenant's affidavit with the justice court before the notice deadline; if filed, the landlord may not lock the tenant out.
- If the tenant does not comply, the landlord files an affidavit of complaint for eviction with the justice court.
- If the tenant filed an affidavit, the court holds a hearing; if a genuine factual dispute exists the court may refuse summary eviction (formal unlawful detainer action under NRS 40.290 et seq. is the alternative).
- Court may issue an order directing the sheriff or constable to post the order within 24 hours after receipt.
- Removal by sheriff/constable not earlier than 24 hours and not later than 36 hours after posting the order (NRS 40.253(5)).
Court timing: Tenant's affidavit due by close of business on the 7th judicial day after service of a nonpayment notice (5th judicial day for an NRS 40.254 notice). The statute sets no fixed number of days for the hearing.
Source: NRS 40.253; NRS 40.254; NRS 40.2516; NRS 40.251
How long it takes to evict a tenant in Nevada
For unpaid rent, the notice period is 7 judicial days; after that comes the court process (filing, service, the tenant's answer and a hearing), then the final order and removal by an officer. Uncontested cases move fastest; a contested case, an appeal or a crowded court adds weeks. See how long evictions take in every state.
How much it costs to evict a tenant in Nevada
Court filing and service fees are set locally. Verified fees in the largest Nevada counties:
| County | Filing and service fees |
|---|---|
| Clark County (Las Vegas) | $71 to file a Complaint for Summary Eviction (includes $21 NRS Ch. 4 fees); unlawful detainer actions $71-$271 by amount claimed, $246 where notice to quit served under NRS 40.255; e-file fee $2.50 |
| Washoe County (Reno, Sparks) | $71 for Notice of Eviction / Affidavit of Landlord / Affidavit of Tenant (includes $21 NRS Ch. 4 fee); Eviction Order $25; Civil Action Involving Unlawful Detainer $246 |
Add the cost of a lawyer if you hire one, lost rent during the case, and any writ or officer fee to remove the tenant.
Evicting someone without a lease (family member, roommate, guest or squatter)
| Someone with no written lease who pays rent (month-to-month / at will) | Landlord: at least 30 days' written notice for month-to-month (and other non-weekly periodic) tenancies; 7 days for week-to-week; 5 days for tenancy at will. A tenant 60 or older or with a physical or mental disability may request an additional 30 days of possession (not for week-to-week). Tenant: no statute sets a separate notice period for the tenant, but a rental agreement may not require the tenant to give the landlord a different notice of termination than the landlord must give the tenant (30 days for month-to-month). |
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| Someone who was never a tenant (squatter / unauthorized occupant) | Summary court process for forcible entry/detainer by an unlawful or unauthorized occupant. The owner (or authorized representative or authorized occupant) serves a written notice to surrender that tells the occupant they are guilty of forcible entry or detainer, gives them 4 judicial days to leave, names the court, explains their right to contest by filing an affidavit with the court by close of business on the 4th judicial day, warns that the sheriff or constable may remove them within 24 hours of a court order, and explains storage and disposal of belongings (disposable 14 calendar days after removal or surrender; storage costs must be paid first). It must be served in person before a witness (no witness needed if a sheriff, constable or licensed process server serves it), or by leaving it with a suitable person and mailing it, or by posting and mailing it (addressed to 'Current Occupant' if unknown). If the occupant does not leave, the owner files an affidavit of complaint; if no contest affidavit was filed and the evidence suffices, the court must order removal within 24 hours of the sheriff's receipt. If all known adult occupants are arrested for housebreaking or unlawful occupancy, the owner may retake possession and change the locks, posting and filing a notice that gives the occupant 21 days to seek reentry in court. Owners can recover treble damages for forcible entry. |
Mistakes that get eviction cases dismissed — or get landlords sued
| Changing locks / shutting off utilities | Prohibited. If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts (or causes/permits interruption of) any essential item or service, the tenant may recover immediate possession, actual damages, and/or an amount up to $2,500 fixed by the court. Source: NRS 118A.390 |
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| Retaliation | Landlord may not terminate/refuse to renew, raise rent, decrease essential services, or bring or threaten a possession action because the tenant in good faith complained of building/housing/health code violations, complained to the landlord or law enforcement of a violation of Ch. 118A or a criminal statute, organized or joined a tenants' union, instituted or defended a habitability proceeding, filed a fair housing complaint, or is a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking (among other listed acts). Tenant gets NRS 118A.390 remedies and a defense to a retaliatory possession action. Source: NRS 118A.510 |
| Accepting rent after the notice | No general statute says whether accepting rent waives an eviction. Nevada law does say that after a pay-rent-or-quit notice for a summary eviction, the landlord may not refuse rent the tenant offers just because the tenant has not also paid collection fees, attorney's fees, other non-rent costs, a reasonable late or bounced-check charge, or a security deposit. Source: NRS 40.253(11) |
Federal rules that can change the process
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: eviction protection: A landlord may not evict a covered servicemember or their family during military service without a court order. When the servicemember's ability to pay is materially affected by service, the court must on request stay the case for 90 days or adjust the lease. Knowingly evicting without a court order is a federal misdemeanor. More
- VAWA housing protections: An applicant or tenant cannot be denied, evicted or cut off from assistance because they are or were a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. The abuse cannot be treated as a serious lease violation by the victim. The landlord may 'bifurcate' (split) the lease to evict the abuser and keep the victim housed. Covered programs must also have an emergency transfer plan. A transfer is available on request if the tenant reasonably fears imminent harm, or if a sexual assault happened on the premises within the prior 90 days. More
- CARES Act 30-day notice to vacate (covered dwellings): The landlord of a covered dwelling may not require the tenant to leave until 30 days after giving a notice to vacate. The 120-day filing moratorium in the same section expired in July 2020, but the 30-day notice subsection has no expiration date in its text. More
- HUD 30-day nonpayment notice (public housing and project-based Section 8): Before filing an eviction for nonpayment, the landlord must give written notice at least 30 days in advance. The notice must itemize the rent owed by month, explain how to pay it off and by what date, and explain how to recertify income or request a hardship exemption. The notice cannot be served before the day after rent is due. If the tenant pays the amount owed within the 30 days, the landlord may not file the eviction. More
Nevada eviction FAQ for landlords
How much notice does a landlord have to give to evict for unpaid rent in Nevada?
Written notice to pay rent or surrender by the close of business on the 7th judicial day after service (summary eviction). For rent reserved weekly or less where the tenancy has lasted 45 days or less: by noon on the 4th full day after service.
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Nevada?
Court fees are set locally — for example, Clark County (Las Vegas): $71 to file a Complaint for Summary Eviction (includes $21 NRS Ch. 4 fees); unlawful detainer actions $71-$271 by amount claimed, $246 where notice to quit served under NRS 40.255; e-file fee $2.50.
Can a landlord change the locks to evict a tenant in Nevada?
Prohibited. If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts (or causes/permits interruption of) any essential item or service, the tenant may recover immediate possession, actual damages, and/or an amount up to $2,500 fixed by the court.
How do you evict a tenant without a lease in Nevada?
Landlord: at least 30 days' written notice for month-to-month (and other non-weekly periodic) tenancies; 7 days for week-to-week; 5 days for tenancy at will. A tenant 60 or older or with a physical or mental disability may request an additional 30 days of possession (not for week-to-week). Tenant: no statute sets a separate notice period for the tenant, but a rental agreement may not require the tenant to give the landlord a different notice of termination than the landlord must give the tenant (30 days for month-to-month).
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.