What the Board can do
When a complaint against a licensed contractor is validated, the Board's investigator typically inspects the work and may issue a notice to correct. If the contractor does not comply, the Board can take disciplinary action. Under NRS 624.300 and 624.341, the Board can:
- order the contractor to correct the work at its own cost, pay another licensed contractor to do it, or pay the owner a specified sum to correct the condition;
- impose fines, which go to the state and not to the owner;
- suspend, limit, or revoke the license;
- require a larger bond.
For owner-occupied single-family homes, a Board complaint is also the usual route into the Residential Recovery Fund.
What the Board cannot do
The Board is not a court. It does not award general damages, such as compensation for delay, inconvenience, or lost use. Its leverage is the contractor's license. If your goal is a money judgment for the full amount of your loss, a complaint alone may not get you there.
Grounds the Board acts on
| Problem | Statute |
|---|---|
| Abandonment, failure to complete for the contract price, lack of diligence, failure to honor the contract or a written warranty | NRS 624.301 |
| Departure from plans or specifications, disregard of building codes, working without a permit | NRS 624.3011 |
| Diversion of funds, failure to pay subcontractors and suppliers | NRS 624.3012 |
| Fraudulent or deceitful acts, non-compliant residential contracts | NRS 624.3016 |
| Substandard workmanship | NRS 624.3017 |
The deadline
A complaint against a licensee must be filed in writing within four years after the act or omission (NRS 624.331). The clock generally runs from what the contractor did or failed to do, not from when you discovered it. Do not wait.
When a complaint is the right tool
We recommend a Board complaint when the violation is clear on the documents and squarely within the Board's authority. The Board's investigators handle a large volume of complaints, and a complaint that is organized, specific, and supported by proof is far more likely to be acted on than a long narrative.
A strong complaint includes the contract, proof of payments, dated photographs, permit and inspection records, an independent inspection report, and a short timeline.
How we help
Many owners file Board complaints on their own, and you can. Others would rather not deal with an agency process. Our Board complaint service is a limited-scope, fixed-fee engagement: we prepare and file the complaint, organize the supporting file, and handle communication with the Board through the investigation. The fee is quoted at your case review. This option can make sense even for smaller disputes that would otherwise go to small claims court.
Unlicensed contractors
The Board also takes complaints about unlicensed contracting. It can issue cease and desist orders and citations and refer the matter for prosecution, but it cannot discipline a license that does not exist, and the Recovery Fund is not available. See unlicensed contractors.
This page is general information about Nevada law, not legal advice. Every dispute turns on its own facts and documents.