Nebraska security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Nebraska: What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Keep

Your landlord has 14 days under Nebraska law to return your security deposit, or you may be owed more than what they withheld. If they keep more than they're legally allowed, you can dispute it.

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Nebraska security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

14 days

Statute

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 (subsec. (2) deadline; subsec. (3) remedies)

SETTLED: the balance and a written itemization must be delivered or mailed to the tenant within 14 days after THE DATE OF TERMINATION OF THE TENANCY. The older 'after demand and designation of the location where payment may be made' language is NOT in the current text — NO tenant demand is required to start the clock. If the tenant provides no mailing address or instructions, the landlord must mail the balance and itemization by first-class mail to the last-known address; a landlord cannot use the absence of a forwarding address as an excuse. If the mailing is returned undeliverable, or the balance stays outstanding one year, it becomes abandoned property payable to the State Treasurer.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Nebraska?

Allowed

  • ✓Rent
  • ✓The amount of damages the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with the rental agreement or § 76-1421

Not allowed

  • ✗Ordinary wear and tear (via the § 76-1421 tenant-duty standard incorporated by reference)

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Nebraska?

TWO TIERS under subsec. (3). TIER 1 (no willfulness needed): if the landlord fails to comply with subsec. (2), the tenant may recover the property and money due, COURT COSTS, and REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES. TIER 2 (additional): if the failure is WILLFUL AND NOT IN GOOD FAITH, the tenant may also recover, as liquidated damages, an amount equal to one month's periodic rent OR TWO TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE SECURITY DEPOSIT, WHICHEVER IS LESS. SETTLED: the multiplier base is the SECURITY DEPOSIT, not the amount withheld.

How TenantNex helps

  1. 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
  2. 2. We generate a demand letter citing Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 (subsec. (2) deadline; subsec. (3) remedies) and your exact deadline.
  3. 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
  4. 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.

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Nebraska tenant rights resources

Every fact on this page is verified against Nebraska's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex prepares legal correspondence as a document preparation service, not as your attorney. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Nebraska.

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What TenantNex is — and isn't

TenantNex is a document preparation and delivery service, not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.