Nevada retainage

Who and what this applies to

Covered private owner–prime agreements and Chapter 338 public works; Chapter 408 NDOT contracts are excluded from these public rules.

Thresholds and scope

Private contracted retainage is capped at 5% of payment; public percentages depend on completion and statutory defect withholding.

The rules

• Private contracted retention cannot exceed 5% of payment. Source
• The private owner–prime provisions exclude a natural-person owner’s single-family residence agreement and public works. Source
• Public bodies withhold 5% until 50% completion. Then satisfactory progress permits stopping/releasing retention. Continued retention without section 338.525 withholding is capped at 2.5% after release of half already retained; with that withholding, 5% and existing retention may continue. Source
• Chapter 408 Department of Transportation contracts are excluded. Source

Primary sources

• NRS 624.609(2)
• NRS 624.622(4)
• NRS 338.515(1)-(4)
• NRS 338.480

Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. This guide covers the projects and rules stated above.

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