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Las Vegas, Nevada

Second chance apartments in Las Vegas: renting with a record

Nevada does not limit what criminal history a private landlord can look at, and we found no Las Vegas ordinance that does, so most landlords set their own rules. The state does seal many eviction court files, and a landlord that rents the unit to someone else must refund any application or screening fee for work it never did. The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority looks back three years for drug, violent and safety-related crimes in public housing, counts arrests as evidence, and lets you ask for an informal review within 10 business days of a denial.

Checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice. We don't list or recommend landlords; these are the rules and the official help in Las Vegas.

On this page
  1. Nevada law
  2. Las Vegas rules
  3. Public housing and vouchers in Las Vegas
  4. Where to get help in Las Vegas
  5. Avoiding rental scams in Nevada
  6. Where to go next

Nevada law

Nevada (statewide)

Nevada has no state law that limits what criminal history a private landlord may consider. We found no provision in the state's landlord-tenant chapter (NRS chapter 118A) that bars landlords from asking about, or turning someone down for, an arrest or conviction.1

The chapter does say what a landlord must disclose and refund (see the next facts), but it does not set a lookback period or a list of offenses a landlord may or may not use. Having a record is not a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act, so the national guide's points still apply.

Application fees

Since October 1, 2025, a Nevada landlord who collects an application fee, credit report fee or background check fee must refund it if the unit goes to a different applicant and the landlord never did the work the fee was for, such as processing your application or running the report. A landlord also may not charge these fees for a household member under 18.1,2,3

The rule comes from Assembly Bill 121 (2025), which names no other start date, so it took effect on Nevada's default date of October 1 following passage. The statute counts as household members people who live with you and are related by blood, adoption, marriage or domestic partnership. We did not find a state cap on the size of an application fee, or a state rule that makes a landlord hand you its screening criteria before you pay. It is still worth asking what the landlord checks before you pay (see the national guide).

Eviction records

Nevada seals many eviction court files. A summary eviction file is sealed automatically when the court dismisses the case, 10 judicial days after the court denies the eviction, or 31 days after you file a tenant's affidavit if the landlord does not follow up within 30 days. A court may also seal the file if you and the landlord agree in writing, or if you ask and the judge finds the eviction should be set aside or sealing is in the interests of justice and not outweighed by the public's interest in knowing what is in the file.4,5

Once a file is sealed under this law, the statute says the proceedings are "deemed never to have occurred." For the court to decide what is in the interests of justice, it looks at things like circumstances you could not control and how much time has passed since the eviction order. Sealing applies to the court file; a screening company may still hold an older copy, so check your report and dispute it under the FCRA (see the national guide).

Sealed criminal records

When a Nevada court seals a criminal record under one of the sealing laws that NRS 179.285 lists, the proceedings are treated as if they never happened, and you may properly answer "accordingly" to any inquiry about the arrest, conviction, dismissal or acquittal.6

The law has exceptions for certain agencies and uses that NRS 179.301 lists, and it applies to records sealed under the sections the statute names. It speaks of "any inquiry" and does not single out landlords, so ask the court clerk or a legal help provider how it applies to your case. Our record-clearing page for Nevada explains how sealing works.

Las Vegas rules

Las Vegas (city)

We found no city ordinance limiting criminal-history screening by private landlords in Las Vegas as of October 29, 2026.7

The searches turned up criminal-history rules only for business licenses, permits and worker cards, not for renting a home. Nevada law is the main source of renting rules in the city.

Clark County

Clark County's code (chapter 12.48, adopted August 4, 2020) bars refusing to rent because of a person's source of income, which it defines to include housing choice vouchers and other rent assistance. It has a separate rule against refusing to rent because of an earlier eviction caused by COVID-19 job or income loss.8

This is a county code. We did not confirm whether it covers rentals inside Las Vegas city limits or only unincorporated areas of the county. It does not limit looking at a criminal record. It does not apply to an owner of a single rental unit, or to a building of two units or fewer where the owner lives in one.

Public housing and vouchers in Las Vegas

Lookback and offenses

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) will deny public housing admission if any household member is currently engaged in, or has engaged within the past three years in, drug-related criminal activity, violent criminal activity, other criminal activity that may threaten the health, safety or welfare of other tenants or SNRHA staff, or criminal sexual conduct (ACOP section 3-III.D, page 3-26).9,10

The policy says its evidence includes "any record of convictions, arrests, or evictions for suspected drug-related or violent criminal activity" within the past three years, so an arrest without a conviction can count. The same section says that after weighing the factors in sections 3-III.F and 3-III.G, SNRHA may decide case by case not to deny. It also denies families with a pattern of unpaid rent or of disturbing neighbors or damaging property at earlier homes in the past three years. This is the public housing policy. It is a different document from the voucher plan.

Required denials

SNRHA's public housing policy repeats the federal required denials (section 3-III.B, pages 3-23 to 3-24): lifetime sex-offense registration, a conviction for making methamphetamine on federally assisted property, an eviction from federally assisted housing for drug crimes within three years, and drug use or alcohol abuse that SNRHA has reasonable cause to believe may threaten other residents. It adds that "currently engaged" in illegal drug use means any use in the previous three months.9,10

SNRHA says it will admit an otherwise-eligible family evicted from federal housing for drugs in the past three years if it can verify that the person finished a supervised drug rehabilitation program it approves, or no longer lives in the household. For a family with a lifetime registrant, the policy follows HUD in offering to remove that person from the household (section 3-III.F, page 3-36). The national guide covers the federal rules.

Background check and what SNRHA weighs

SNRHA runs criminal background checks on all adult household members through a screening company and may not charge you for them. Before denying you because of a criminal record, it must send you a copy of the record and give you a chance to dispute its accuracy and relevance (section 3-III.E, page 3-29).9,10

Section 3-III.F (pages 3-34 to 3-35) lists what SNRHA will consider: how serious the case was, how long ago it happened and the person's age then, the effect of a denial on family members who were not involved, and evidence of counseling, treatment or rehabilitation. For an arrest it may look at the police report and whether charges were filed, dropped, dismissed or ended in an acquittal. It says evidence of criminal conduct will be considered if it indicates a "demonstrable risk to safety and/or property." It uses the preponderance of the evidence standard.

Informal review

If SNRHA denies you public housing, the notice must say why and how to ask for an informal review. You must ask in writing, in person, by email or by first-class mail, no later than 10 business days from the date of the denial notice. SNRHA will schedule the review and send you written notice of it within 10 business days of your request (ACOP chapter 14, part I, pages 14-2 to 14-4).9,10

A person other than the one who made the decision, or that person's subordinate, conducts the review. You can present written or oral objections, and the reviewer makes a recommendation to SNRHA, which makes the final decision. For a waiting-list denial the request goes to 340 North 11th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101. SNRHA will hold the review by phone or video on request in some cases, such as a disability accommodation or lack of child care or transportation.

Vouchers

Voucher (Housing Choice Voucher) screening rules are in SNRHA's separate HCV Administrative Plan, which SNRHA lists on its Plans, Policies & Reports page. We could not open that plan, so this page does not state the voucher lookback periods; ask SNRHA before you apply.11,12

SNRHA's main number is 702-477-3100, and its office is at 340 N. 11th Street, Las Vegas. Its plan page links to the plan as a file we could not read. If you are denied a voucher, ask for the written reasons and for the informal review the federal rules require.

Where to get help in Las Vegas

211 and housing counseling

Dial 211 anywhere in Nevada for a referral specialist, or call 1-866-535-5654, or text your 5-digit ZIP code to 898-211. HUD's locator lists HUD-participating housing counseling agencies near a Las Vegas ZIP code; you can also call HUD at 800-569-4287.16,17,18

The state page says 211 helps people reach resources such as food, housing, healthcare and employment. For the HUD locator, enter your ZIP code and a distance, or pick Nevada from the state list. HUD says eviction and homeless counseling are free; other counseling may cost a small fee that agencies must waive if you cannot afford it.

Avoiding rental scams in Nevada

Nevada Attorney General and SNRHA

The Nevada Attorney General warns that rental scammers use unusually low rent, pressure to act fast, payment by wire transfer or reloadable card for a "hold" or deposit, and applications that collect personal and financial information. Check who owns the property on the county assessor's website, and avoid a landlord who will not meet you in person.19,20

The Attorney General's release dates from 2017; the advice still matches the FTC guidance in the national guide. SNRHA's July 1, 2025 alert says scammers pose as SNRHA staff by email, text and social media, claim a unit is available and ask for an immediate deposit before you sign or have an inspection. SNRHA says these messages are not from SNRHA, and to call your caseworker or its call center at 702-477-3100 with concerns. SNRHA's alert says to report scams to the Nevada Attorney General (online complaint form, aginquiries@ag.nv.gov or 702-486-3420), the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and local police.

Sources

Each source was opened and checked on October 29, 2026.

  1. NRS Chapter 118A: Landlord and Tenant: Dwellings (Rev. 4/15/2026, through the 2025 session)Nevada Legislature
  2. Assembly Bill No. 121 (2025), enrolled, section 4.5Nevada Legislature
  3. NRS 218D.330: Effective date of legislative measure when not specifically prescribedNevada Legislature
  4. NRS 40.2545: Unlawful detainer: Sealing of eviction case court file under certain circumstancesNevada Legislature
  5. Eviction (Civil Division), including eviction sealing informationLas Vegas Justice Court (Clark County)
  6. NRS 179.285: Order sealing records: Effect; proceedings deemed never to have occurred; restoration of civil rightsNevada Legislature
  7. Las Vegas Code of Ordinances (searched for criminal history, fair chance, landlord, tenant screening and rental applicant)City of Las Vegas, via Municode Library
  8. Clark County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12.48 (Ord. No. 4798, 2020)Clark County, Nevada, via Municode Library
  9. Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP), effective September 1, 2026 (approved by the Board of Commissioners June 25, 2026)Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
  10. SNRHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy, effective 9/1/26 (PDF)Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
  11. SNRHA HCV Administrative Plan (posted January 29, 2026)Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
  12. Plans, Policies & ReportsSouthern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
  13. Civil DivisionLas Vegas Justice Court (Clark County)
  14. Eviction Resources (court handout, file dated 2020)Las Vegas Justice Court (Clark County)
  15. About The Self Help CenterCivil Law Self-Help Center (Clark County courts)
  16. Nevada 211Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division (Department of Health and Human Services)
  17. Housing Counseling Services searchU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  18. About Housing Counseling: Common Questions and AnswersU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  19. Attorney General Laxalt Warns Nevadans of Rental Listing Scams (March 9, 2017)Nevada Attorney General
  20. Scam Alert (July 1, 2025)Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority

Where to go next

All guides