Nevada building permits

Where to get a building permit in Nevada

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Our Nevada city guides, with each department's contacts, fees, inspections and project rules:

• Las Vegas

Nevada state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Nevada

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Nevada building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

NRS 278.610

• Permit required once a building official is appointed. After a building official is appointed pursuant to NRS 278.570, it is unlawful to erect, construct, reconstruct, alter or change the use of any building or other structure within the territory covered by the building code or zoning regulations without obtaining a building permit from the building official.¹
• Permit may not be issued for a person acting for another unless licensed. A building official shall not issue a building permit to a person acting for another unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the building official that he or she is licensed as a contractor for that work pursuant to the provisions of chapter 624 of NRS.¹

Homeowners doing their own work

NRS 624.031; NRS 278.573

• Owner-builder exemption for own residence. An owner of property who is building or improving a residential structure on the property for his or her own occupancy and not intended for sale or lease.⁷
• 1 year. The sale or lease, or the offering for sale or lease, of the newly built structure within 1 year after its completion creates a rebuttable presumption for the purposes of this section that the building of the structure was performed with the intent to sell or lease that structure.⁷
• Must apply to the Board. An owner of property who requests an exemption pursuant to this subsection must apply to the Board for the exemption.⁷
• Affidavit goes to the building department with the permit application. An owner-builder must also obtain the required signatures and submit the original to the building department with their application for a building permit.⁶
• Owner must directly supervise. I must directly supervise the construction.⁶
• Subcontractors must be licensed. Any subcontractor(s) working on this project must be properly licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board.⁶
• Building official must give the owner a statement to acknowledge. The owner of the residence shall acknowledge in writing receipt of the statement.⁸

Contractor licensing

NRS 624

• $500. By law, anyone who contracts for or bids on a construction project valued at $500 or more (total labor and materials) must be licensed by the NSCB.⁶
• Contracting without an active license is unlawful. It is unlawful for any person or combination of persons to engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor within the state of Nevada or submit a bid on a job situated within this state without having an active license.⁹
• First offense misdemeanor. The first offense is a misdemeanor…⁹
• Second offense gross misdemeanor. …second offense a gross misdemeanor…⁹
• Third offense Class E felony. …and third offense a Class E felony.⁹

Handyman limits

NRS 624.031

• $1,000. Any work to repair or maintain property the value of which is less than $1,000, including labor and materials, unless…⁷
• A building permit is required to perform the work…⁷
• The work is of a type performed by a plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, heating or air-conditioning contractor…⁷
• $500. The value of which is $500 or more…⁷
• $1,000. Work to repair or maintain property valued at less than $1,000, including labor and materials, unless certain conditions apply (e.g., building permit required, type of work, contractor’s license).¹⁰

Selling a home with unpermitted work

NRS 113.130; NRS 113.150; Form 547

• (c) Any construction, modification, alterations, or repairs made without required state, city or county building permits?¹¹
• 10 days. At least 10 days before residential property is conveyed to a purchaser…¹¹
• Purchaser may rescind if the form is not served. 1. If a seller or the seller’s agent fails to serve a completed disclosure form in accordance with the requirements of NRS 113.130, the purchaser may, at any time before the conveyance of the property to the purchaser, rescind the agreement to purchase the property without any penalties.¹¹
• No duty to disclose an unknown defect. 1. NRS 113.130 does not require a seller to disclose a defect in residential property of which he is not aware.¹¹

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

NRS 278.257 (added by 2025 Nev. Stat. 2376, AB 396)

• Large counties and cities must adopt ADU ordinances. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, each governing body of a county whose population is 100,000 or more and each governing body of a city whose population is 60,000 or more shall adopt an ordinance that authorizes the development and use of an accessory dwelling unit on residential property.¹²
• Ordinance cannot prohibit separate kitchen facilities. (a) Prohibit separate kitchen facilities for the accessory dwelling unit.¹²
• Ordinance cannot require more than one extra parking space, if existing and street parking meet the need. (b) Require more than one additional parking space for the accessory dwelling unit provided that the existing parking for the primary residence and street parking satisfy the anticipated parking needs for the accessory dwelling unit.¹²
• Ordinance cannot require a side or rear setback more restrictive than for the primary residence. (c) Require any side or rear setback for the accessory dwelling unit that is more restrictive than the requirements for the primary residence.¹²
• Ordinance cannot prohibit use as rental housing; may prohibit transient lodging. The ordinance may prohibit the owner of the residential property from using the accessory dwelling unit as transient lodging.¹²
• ADUs must meet residential building, housing and health and safety codes; not commercial codes such as sprinklers. (a) Must meet all applicable building codes, housing codes and any other codes regulating the health and safety of residential property.¹²
• City of Reno adopted an ADU ordinance on October 8, 2025. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): On October 8, 2025, City Council adopted an ordinance allowing ADUs in the City of Reno.¹³

Applies to

Counties with population 100,000 or more; cities with population 60,000 or more¹²