What it looks like
- A block wall cracked, leaning, or lifted
- Water or drainage directed onto your property
- Damage from a neighbor's construction, excavation, or grading
- A fallen tree or limb
- Damage from vibration, vehicles, or equipment
What Nevada law says
Damage caused by a neighbor's activity or by a condition on their property can support claims for nuisance, negligence, and trespass. Under NRS 40.140 a court can order a nuisance stopped and award damages. The Nevada Supreme Court has also held that nuisance damages can include personal inconvenience, discomfort, and annoyance, without proof of physical harm to the person (Land Baron Investments v. Bonnie Springs Family LP, 2015).
Deadlines vary with how the claim is framed. Claims for trespass or injury to real property generally must be brought within three years, injury to a person within two, and other claims within four (NRS 11.190, 11.220). Do not wait.
Money claims up to $10,000 can be brought in small claims court, and up to $15,000 in Justice Court. Neither can order a neighbor to stop doing something. An order to stop requires District Court.
Our approach. For physical damage we arrange an inspection by our expert, starting at $500. The report covers the cause and the corrections required. Without a qualified opinion on cause, damage claims usually stall.
The facts that matter
These are the questions that decide whether there is a practical path forward.
- What is damaged, and when you first noticed it
- The cause, established by someone qualified
- Whether the neighbor was told, and what they did
- The cost to repair, from written estimates
- Whether the cause is still active and the damage is getting worse
How to document it
Proof to gather
- An expert inspection report on cause and corrections
- Dated photographs over time
- Two or three written repair estimates
- Your written notice to the neighbor and any reply
- Your insurance claim file, if you made one
See our guide to keeping an incident log.
Options that usually fit
Step 1: Case review and cease and desist letter
$275. A written analysis of your evidence and a formal letter from the firm.
Step 2: Complaints to the city, county, or HOA
$995. We identify the rule being broken, file with the agencies that enforce it, and follow up.
Step 3: District Court action
A lawsuit asking a judge to order the nuisance stopped, with damages where they can be proven.
Common questions
Should I file a claim with my own insurance?
It is often the fastest way to get repairs paid for, and your insurer may pursue the neighbor afterward. Weigh it against your deductible and the effect on your premiums.
Can I recover my attorney fees?
Usually not. In Nevada each side generally pays its own attorney fees unless a statute, rule, or contract says otherwise. There are limited exceptions, including a discretionary award when a party wins a money judgment of $20,000 or less, and disputes governed by CC&Rs.
This page is general information about Nevada law, not legal advice. Every dispute turns on its own facts and documents.