There remains debate surrounding partial (PN) versus radical nephrectomy (RN) for T1b-T2 renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PN offers nephron-sparing benefits but involves increased perioperative complications. RN putatively maximizes oncologic benefit with complex tumors. We analyzed newly available nephrectomy-specific NSQIP data to elucidate predictors of perioperative outcomes in localized T1b-T2 RCC. We identified 2094 patients undergoing nephrectomy between 2019-2020. Captured variables include surgical procedure and approach, staging, comorbidities, prophylaxis, peri-operative complications, reoperations, and readmissions. 816 patients received PN while 1278 received RN. Reoperation rates were comparable; however, PN patients more commonly experienced 30-day readmissions (7.0% vs. 4.7%, = 0.026), bleeds (9.19% vs. 5.56%, = 0.001), renal failure requiring dialysis (1.23% vs. 0.31%, = 0.013) and urine leak or fistulae (1.10% vs. 0.31%, = 0.025). Infectious, pulmonary, cardiac, and venothromboembolic event rates were comparable. Robotic surgery reduced occurrence of various complications, readmissions, and reoperations. PN remained predictive of all four complications upon multivariable adjustment. Several comorbidities were predictive of complications including bleeds and readmissions. This population-based cohort explicates perioperative outcomes following nephrectomy for pT1b-T2 RCC. Significant associations between PN, patient-specific factors, and complications were identified. Risk stratification may inform management to improve post-operative quality of life (QOL) and RCC outcomes.