Nevada Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Nevada rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may take possession only through a court action, after the tenant surrenders the unit, or after the tenant abandons it as defined by statute. NRS 118A.480, 118A.390
The rules in Nevada
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may take possession only through a court action, after the tenant surrenders the unit, or after the tenant abandons it as defined by statute. If the landlord unlawfully removes or locks out the tenant, the tenant may file a verified complaint for expedited relief within 5 judicial days, and the court must hold a hearing within 3 judicial days of filing. The tenant may recover possession or end the agreement and recover actual damages, up to $2,500 set by the court, or both. If the agreement ends, the landlord must return prepaid rent and any recoverable deposit. Filing costs are deferred for the tenant and later assessed against the losing party. A late expedited complaint is dismissed, but the tenant keeps other remedies. Source: NRS 118A.480, 118A.390 |
|---|---|
| Landlord shutting off utilities | No. If a landlord willfully interrupts, or causes or permits the interruption of, an essential item or service, the tenant may seek immediate possession through an expedited court complaint, use the essential-services remedies, or end the rental agreement, and may recover actual damages, an amount up to $2,500 set by the court, or both. In setting the award the court considers the landlord's good faith, the parties' course of dealing, and the harm to the tenant. Under NRS 118A.380, if a landlord required to supply essentials such as heat, water, electricity, gas, or a working door lock willfully or negligently fails to and the unit becomes unfit, the tenant gives written notice; if the landlord does not fix it or use best efforts within 48 hours (excluding weekends and legal holidays), the tenant may buy reasonable substitutes and deduct the cost from rent or recover actual damages. Source: NRS 118A.390, 118A.380 |
| Landlord 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. No presumption period is stated in NRS 118A.510. Exceptions include violations caused by the tenant's lack of reasonable care, termination for cause, and rent increases applied uniformly. Source: NRS 118A.510 |
Related questions
Nevada vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may take possession only through a court action, after the tenant surrenders the unit, or after the tenant abandons it as defined by statute. If the landlord unlawfully removes or locks out the tenant, the tenant may file a verified complaint for expedited relief within 5 judicial days, and the court must hold a hearing within 3 judicial days of filing. The tenant may recover possession or end the agreement and recover actual damages, up to $2,500 set by the court, or both. NRS 118A.480, 118A.390 | No. If a landlord willfully interrupts, or causes or permits the interruption of, an essential item or service, the tenant may seek immediate possession through an expedited court complaint, use the essential-services remedies, or end the rental agreement, and may recover actual damages, an amount up to $2,500 set by the court, or both. In setting the award the court considers the landlord's good faith, the parties' course of dealing, and the harm to the tenant. NRS 118A.390, 118A.380 | 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. NRS 118A.510 |
| Arizona | A landlord may not recover or take possession of a rental by action or otherwise, including by willfully cutting essential services, except after abandonment or surrender or as the landlord-tenant act permits. If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover the greater of two months' periodic rent or twice actual damages. If the lease ends, the landlord must return the security the tenant is owed. A.R.S. §§ 33-1374, 33-1367 | A landlord may not take back a rental by willfully cutting off electricity, gas, water or other essential services, and may not terminate utilities provided under the lease except for repairs or as the act allows. If the landlord willfully cuts services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and recover the greater of two months' periodic rent or twice actual damages. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, cooling, water, hot water or essential services, after reasonable notice the tenant may buy the service and deduct the reasonable cost from rent, recover damages for reduced rental value, or get reasonable substitute housing and not pay rent for that period. A.R.S. §§ 33-1374, 33-1367, 33-1364 | A landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an eviction after the tenant (1) complained to a building or housing code agency about a health or safety violation, (2) complained to the landlord about a § 33-1324 maintenance violation, (3) organized or joined a tenants' union, or (4) complained to a wage-price stabilization agency. A complaint within 6 months before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. A.R.S. § 33-1381 |
| California | Lockouts and other self-help evictions are illegal. The landlord must go to court and may not physically remove or lock out the tenant, remove outside doors or windows, or take the tenant's belongings to carry out an eviction. A landlord who does so may be liable for the tenant's actual damages plus penalties of up to $100 per day for the time the unlawful methods were used. Cal. Dept. of Real Estate, California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities (2026 ed.) | A landlord must use the court eviction process and may not use self-help to force a tenant out, such as cutting off water, gas or electricity. A landlord who uses unlawful methods may be liable for the tenant's actual damages (such as hotel and meal costs) plus penalties of up to $100 per day for the time the unlawful methods were used. Cal. Dept. of Real Estate, California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities (2026 ed.) | A landlord may not evict, raise rent, or reduce services within 180 days after the tenant, in good faith, gives a repair notice under § 1942, reports a suspected bed bug infestation, complains about habitability, complains to a housing agency, or takes part in a related inspection, lawsuit, or arbitration. This applies only if the tenant is not behind on rent, and a tenant may invoke it once per 12 months. Retaliation for organizing or joining a tenants' association, or for exercising other legal rights, is also unlawful. Threatening to report a tenant to immigration authorities counts as retaliation. Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5 |
| Idaho | Self-help eviction is unlawful in Idaho. The Attorney General's manual says a landlord may not shut off utilities, change the locks, take the tenant's belongings or do anything other than file a lawful eviction case. Turning a person out of possession by force, threats or menacing conduct is a forcible entry under Idaho law, and a tenant who recovers damages for a forcible or unlawful entry or detention may be awarded three times the actual damages. Idaho Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Manual (July 2026), pp. 27-28; Idaho Code §§ 6-301, 6-317 | The Idaho Attorney General's Landlord and Tenant Manual lists shutting off the utilities among the self-help steps that are unlawful for a landlord trying to force a tenant out; the landlord must use a court eviction instead. The manual notes a landlord or utility may shut off a utility for a reasonable time when repairs are needed. Idaho Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Manual (July 2026), pp. 15-16, 27-28 | No statute — Idaho has no general anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. The Idaho Attorney General's Landlord and Tenant Manual says a landlord may not evict a tenant for asking for repairs or joining a tenants' association, but it cites no statute and sets no presumption period. Tenants in manufactured home communities are protected by statute: the landlord may not end or refuse to renew the tenancy, raise rent, cut services, or threaten eviction because the resident complained in good faith to a code agency or to the landlord, joined or led a resident association, or hired a lawyer or agent. No statute (Idaho Code Title 6 ch. 3 and Title 55 chs. 2-3 checked); Idaho Code § 55-2015 (manufactured home communities only) |
| Oregon | If a landlord unlawfully removes or locks out a tenant, or seriously attempts or threatens to, the tenant may get a court order (injunction) to recover possession, or end the lease and recover up to two months' periodic rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all recoverable security deposits and prepaid rent. The tenant can recover damages without ending the lease or regaining possession. ORS 90.375 | If a landlord willfully cuts or seriously threatens to cut heat, running water, hot water, electricity or another essential service, the tenant may get a court order to restore possession, or end the lease and recover up to two months' rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater; the tenant does not have to move out to recover damages. Separately, if the landlord intentionally or negligently fails to supply an essential service, the tenant may, after written notice and a reasonable time, buy the service and deduct the cost from rent, recover reduced-rent damages, or get substitute housing and owe no rent for that period. ORS 90.375, 90.365 | Landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, serve a termination notice, or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a government agency, made a good-faith complaint to the landlord, joined a tenant organization, testified against the landlord, or successfully defended a possession action within the previous 6 months. Tenant has a defense and the ORS 90.375 remedies. ORS 90.385 |
| Utah | It is unlawful for an owner to willfully exclude a tenant from the premises in any manner except by court process (judicial eviction). 'Willful exclusion' means preventing the tenant from entering with intent to deprive the tenant of entry. The only exception is when the tenant has abandoned the premises: the owner may then remove the contents under the abandoned-property procedure and re-rent. The section does not itself list damages for a lockout. Utah Code §§ 78B-6-814, 78B-6-801(11), 78B-6-816 | Utah's landlord-tenant statutes do not specifically address a landlord shutting off utilities to force a renter out. It is unlawful for an owner to willfully keep a tenant out of the premises in any manner except by court process. Separately, owners must maintain electrical systems, plumbing, heating, and hot and cold water, and a renter may use the written notice-of-deficient-condition process (rent abatement and ending the lease, or repair and deduct) if the owner does not correct such a problem. Utah Code §§ 78B-6-814, 57-22-3, 57-22-4(1), 57-22-6 | No statute — Utah has no general law barring landlord retaliation (for example, for complaining about repairs). One limited rule: an owner may not restrict a renter's ability to ask a public safety agency (such as police or fire) for help, and may not penalize or evict a renter for making reasonable requests for that help. Utah Code 57-22-5.1(10); Utah Fit Premises Act (57-22) and Forcible Entry and Detainer (78B-6 Part 8) checked |
City rules that may add to state law
More Nevada rental law
- Nevada Security Deposit Law
- Nevada Eviction Laws
- Nevada Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Nevada
- Nevada Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Nevada Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Nevada
- Squatters' Rights in Nevada
- Nevada Rental Fee Rules
- Nevada Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Nevada Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Nevada Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Nevada Landlord Selling the House
- Nevada Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Nevada landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Nevada
Compare lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation in all 50 states and DC →
Nevada Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in Nevada?
Self-help eviction is banned. A landlord may take possession only through a court action, after the tenant surrenders the unit, or after the tenant abandons it as defined by statute. If the landlord unlawfully removes or locks out the tenant, the tenant may file a verified complaint for expedited relief within 5 judicial days, and the court must hold a hearing within 3 judicial days of filing. The tenant may recover possession or end the agreement and recover actual damages, up to $2,500 set by the court, or both. (NRS 118A.480, 118A.390)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in Nevada?
No. If a landlord willfully interrupts, or causes or permits the interruption of, an essential item or service, the tenant may seek immediate possession through an expedited court complaint, use the essential-services remedies, or end the rental agreement, and may recover actual damages, an amount up to $2,500 set by the court, or both. In setting the award the court considers the landlord's good faith, the parties' course of dealing, and the harm to the tenant. (NRS 118A.390, 118A.380)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Nevada?
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. (NRS 118A.510)
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.