What it looks like
- A deposit far larger than the work or materials delivered
- Invoices for work that has not been done
- Change orders you never signed
- A final bill well above the contract price
- Suppliers or subcontractors saying they were never paid, or a lien on your property
What Nevada law says
For residential improvement contracts on an owner-occupied single-family home signed on or after October 1, 2023, NRS 624.970 generally caps the down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, unless the contractor has posted a special consumer bond. Progress payments may not exceed the value of the work performed, and change orders must be in writing. A down payment that violates the cap makes the contract voidable by the owner. Similar limits apply to pool and spa contracts (NRS 624.940) and residential solar contracts (NRS 624.875).
Diverting money received for a specific project, and willfully failing to pay for materials or labor when the contractor has been paid, are grounds for discipline under NRS 624.3012. Diversion of construction funds can also be a crime under NRS 624.750.
The facts that matter
These are the questions that decide whether there is a practical path to recovery.
- The contract price and payment schedule
- Every payment made, with dates
- How much work was complete when each payment was requested
- Which change orders you signed
- Whether subcontractors and suppliers were paid
Proof to gather
- The contract and all invoices
- Checks, statements, and receipts
- Signed and unsigned change orders
- Lien notices or letters from suppliers
- An independent estimate of the value of the work actually performed
See our guide to documenting a contractor dispute.
Options that usually fit
Case review and demand letter
A fixed-fee review of your file and a formal demand, when the breach and the amount are clear.
Contractors Board complaint
For clear licensing violations: abandonment, code problems, departures from plans, substandard work.
Bond and Recovery Fund claims
Two sources of recovery that do not depend on the contractor's ability to pay.
Small claims and Justice Court
Usually the best route for disputes under about $7,500. You do not need a lawyer.
Criminal complaints
Unlicensed contracting, diversion of funds, and theft. Where to report, and what to expect.
Common questions
How much can a Nevada contractor ask for as a deposit?
On most residential improvement contracts for an owner-occupied home signed on or after October 1, 2023, the down payment is generally limited to $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. There are exceptions, including for contractors who have posted a special consumer bond. Pool, spa, and solar contracts have similar limits.
Do I have to pay for a change order I never signed?
Residential improvement contracts in Nevada must provide that changes are made by written change order. If you did not sign one, the contractor may have difficulty collecting for the extra work, although the outcome depends on what was said and done.
This page is general information about Nevada law, not legal advice. Every dispute turns on its own facts and documents.