Nevada’s eviction process is fast, and it puts the first move on the tenant. After a landlord serves a notice, a tenant who wants a hearing has to file an answer with the court before the deadline [1][3]. If the tenant doesn’t, the court can order an eviction without a hearing, and a lockout can follow within days [3].
At a glance
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 7 judicial days to pay, move or file an answer [1][3]
- Weekly tenancies of 45 days or less
- Until noon on the 4th full day [1]
- Order posted
- Within 24 hours of reaching the constable or sheriff [1][3]
- Lockout
- 24 to 36 hours after the order is posted [1][3]
- Late fees in a rent notice
- No more than 5% of the periodic rent [3]
Step 1: The notice
Most Nevada evictions start with a written notice. Which one depends on the reason.
| Reason | Notice | What comes next |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid rent | 7 judicial days to pay rent or quit | Landlord can file for summary eviction |
| Unpaid rent, weekly tenancy of 45 days or less | Until noon on the 4th full day | Landlord can file for summary eviction |
| No cause (lease over or no lease), monthly rent | 30 days | 5-day notice to quit |
| No cause, weekly rent | 7 days | 5-day notice to quit |
| Nuisance, waste, unlawful business, drug violation, unapproved subletting | 3 days | 5-day notice to quit |
| Other lease violation | 5 days to fix it or leave | 5-day notice to quit |
A no-cause notice is only available once the lease has ended or if there’s no lease [2]. A tenant who is 60 or older, or has a disability, can ask in writing, with proof, for 30 more days under a no-cause notice. If the landlord refuses, the tenant can ask the court [2]. Rent is still owed during the extra time unless a court orders otherwise [2].
The 7-day notice to pay rent or quit
For unpaid rent, the tenant has until the close of business on the seventh judicial day after the notice is served [1]. Judicial days don’t count the day of service, weekends or certain legal holidays [3].
The Henderson Justice Court’s notice form spells out the tenant’s three choices [3]:
- File an answer with the court by the deadline, which gets the tenant a hearing.
- Pay the total rent owed by the deadline. The landlord then has no legal basis to evict for nonpayment.
- Move out before the deadline.
The notice has to list the rent owed, and late fees can’t be more than 5% of the periodic rent [3]. Once the notice is served, the landlord can’t refuse a rent payment just because it doesn’t include things like collection costs or attorney’s fees [1][2].
Step 2: The tenant’s answer
To contest the eviction, the tenant files a sworn answer, often called a tenant’s affidavit , with the justice court named in the notice, along with a copy of the notice [1][3]. At the Henderson Justice Court, filing it costs $71, and the fee can be waived for people who qualify [3]. If a tenant files on time and the landlord gets a file-stamped copy, the landlord can’t lock the tenant out [1].
The Clark County answer form for unpaid rent lets a tenant check defenses such as [4]:
- the rent is paid in full, or the landlord refused a full payment,
- the landlord accepted a partial payment,
- the amount includes fees that aren’t rent or late fees,
- the late fee is more than 5% of regular rent,
- the landlord hasn’t provided a free way to pay rent,
- the tenant gave written notice of a habitability problem the landlord didn’t try to fix within 14 days, or an essential service problem (heat, air conditioning, water, electricity, gas, a working door lock) not fixed within 48 hours,
- the notice wasn’t served as the law requires,
- discrimination, or retaliation for a protected act.
The same form lets a tenant ask the court to delay enforcement of an eviction order for up to 10 days [4].
Step 3: The court
If the tenant doesn’t act, the landlord files a complaint for summary eviction. In Las Vegas Justice Court that filing fee is $71 [2]. Without an answer, the court may issue an eviction order [2].
If the tenant answered, the court holds a hearing [1][2]. If the judge finds no legal defense, the court can order the tenant removed. If the tenant has a legal defense, the summary case ends and the dispute goes forward as a regular case [1].
Step 4: The lockout
Once the order reaches the constable or sheriff, it’s posted on the door within 24 hours, and the lockout happens 24 to 36 hours after posting [1][3]. In Las Vegas, the constable posts the notice the next business day after the order arrives and the landlord pays the lockout fee [2].
After a lockout:
- The landlord must keep the tenant’s belongings safe for 30 days, and can charge reasonable costs for inventory, moving and storage [2].
- A tenant can file within 5 days to get essential personal items back, and the court holds a hearing within 5 days of filing [1][2].
What changed in 2025
Nothing, for summary evictions. The Legislature passed AB 283 in 2025, which would have required landlords to file an affidavit with the court and have the court summon the tenant, instead of making the tenant file first [6]. Governor Lombardo vetoed it in June 2025 [5][6]. So the tenant-files-first process described above is still Nevada law.
Where to get help
- Civil Law Self-Help Center (civillawselfhelpcenter.org): free forms and instructions for Clark County tenants and landlords [4].
- Your justice court: the court named in your notice. Its clerks can explain filing, but not give legal advice.
- Legal aid: tenants with low incomes may qualify for free help.
Sources
- NRS 40.253: Unlawful detainer, summary eviction for nonpayment of rent
- Clark County, Las Vegas Township Constable: Eviction Process
- Henderson Justice Court, 7-Day Eviction Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (form, rev. 02/09/2026)
- North Las Vegas Justice Court / Civil Law Self-Help Center, Tenant's Affidavit in Opposition to Summary Eviction Regarding Nonpayment of Rent (rev. 01/07/2026)
- Office of the Governor of Nevada, Veto message on AB 283 (2025)
- National Low Income Housing Coalition, Nevada Fails to Pass Law Amending Eviction Process
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How long does a tenant have after a 7-day eviction notice in Nevada?
Seven judicial days after the notice is served. Judicial days don't count the day of service, weekends or certain legal holidays. In that time the tenant can pay the rent owed, move out, or file an answer (a tenant's affidavit) with the justice court to get a hearing.
What happens if a tenant doesn't respond to an eviction notice in Nevada?
The landlord can ask the court for an eviction order without a hearing. The constable or sheriff posts the order within 24 hours of receiving it and returns 24 to 36 hours after posting to lock the tenant out.
Can a Nevada landlord change the locks without going to court?
No. Self-help evictions, like changing the locks without a court order, are illegal in Nevada. A tenant locked out this way can ask the court for help.
Did Nevada change its eviction law in 2025?
Not the summary eviction process. The Legislature passed AB 283, which would have required landlords to file in court first, but Governor Lombardo vetoed it in June 2025. Tenants still have to file an answer to get a hearing.