Tools · Contractor deposit rules

Contractor deposit rules in Nevada

Nevada caps the down payment on owner-occupied home work at $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, unless the contractor has filed a $100,000 consumer-protection bond. A widely shared 2026 consumer guide states this rule backwards.

Rules verified against the statute and Nevada State Contractors Board on 2026-07-17.

What applies at your job value

Pick your state and a rough job value. The requirements that apply at that value appear below, with the official source behind each one. Your final signed contract price decides, not the estimate.

Choose a state and a value to see the requirements that apply at that size of job.

The rules, cited

Down payment cap

On residential improvement work for an owner-occupied single-family home, the down payment may not exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the aggregate contract price, whichever is less. The inseparable exemption: a contractor who has filed a $100,000 consumer-protection bond with the board is not bound by the cap, so a bonded contractor asking more is not breaking the rule. Ask whether the bond is filed before judging the ask.

Nevada Revised Statutes 624.940 and 624.970 (opens in new tab) · Nevada State Contractors Board (opens in new tab)

  • Every Nevada license carries a monetary limit; a license that caps out below your contract value is a real warning sign.
  • The down-payment cap protects owner-occupied single-family homes; investment property runs under different rules.

Check them before you sign

Check a Nevada contractor license (NSCB License Search) (opens in new tab) is the official, free search run by Nevada State Contractors Board. Then see the public evidence we hold: check the business by name, or browse contractors with public evidence.

Common questions

How much can a contractor ask for up front in Nevada?

On residential improvement work for an owner-occupied single-family home, the down payment may not exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the aggregate contract price, whichever is less. The inseparable exemption: a contractor who has filed a $100,000 consumer-protection bond with the board is not bound by the cap, so a bonded contractor asking more is not breaking the rule. Ask whether the bond is filed before judging the ask. The cap binds on the final signed contract price.

When does a contractor need a license in Nevada?

A Nevada contractor license is required for essentially all construction work. The only exemption is repair or maintenance under $1,000 including labor and materials, where no permit is needed and the work is not plumbing, electrical, heating or cooling.

What protects me if the work goes wrong in Nevada?

Nevada's Residential Recovery Fund can pay an owner-occupant up to $40,000 per claim for losses caused by a licensed contractor on a single-family residence. Work done by an unlicensed contractor is outside the fund, which is one more reason the license check comes first.

How do I check a contractor's license in Nevada?

Use the free official search: Check a Nevada contractor license (NSCB License Search). It is run by Nevada State Contractors Board and takes minutes. Checking before you sign costs nothing.

This is guidance from the public rules, not legal advice. The thresholds bind on your final signed contract price, not an estimate, and state law changes. Check the board's current page before you sign or pay anything.

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