Clark County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

All unincorporated areas of Clark County, including the Las Vegas Strip (south of Sahara Avenue), Blue Diamond, Enterprise, Paradise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, and outlying areas. Use the Jurisdiction Locator tool at http://gisgate.co.clark.nv.us/gismo/apps/jurisdiction/app/index.html to verify if a property is in unincorporated Clark County.

Department

Clark County Building and Fire Prevention Department

Address

4701 W Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Phone

(702) 455-3000

Email

eplansubmittal@clarkcountynv.gov , pacenter@clarkcountynv.gov

Website

https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/building___fire_prevention/index.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Prepare your documents: completed building permit application, site plan/plot plan, construction drawings/plans (sealed by architect/engineer as required), contractor license information, owner-builder affidavit if applicable, energy compliance documentation, and any additional documents such as grading plans or geotechnical reports.
2. Determine permit type and check if project qualifies for 'Simple Online Permit' or requires full plan review.
3. Submit via Accela Citizen Access portal: register/log in, select permit type, upload required documents, and pay intake/plan check fees.
4. County staff reviews submission for code compliance. Average review times: Commercial 21 days, Commercial Minor 14 days, Standard Plan 21 days, Custom Single Family Residence 21 days, Residential Minor 14 days, Revisions 10 days.
5. Final approval and permit issuance: pay remaining fees upon approval. Permit must be visibly posted at job site.
6. Schedule inspections via portal at key milestones: foundation, framing, MEP rough-ins, and final.

Typical processing time: 7-21 business days depending on project complexity

Source: Clark County Building and Fire Prevention Department

General Requirements

New construction of buildings or structures, additions, remodels, structural changes, installation or modification of plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems, fencing over exempt heights (above 6 ft for certain types), re-roofing if replacing structural roof components or exceeding exempt limits, windows/doors/glazing when changing sizes/types or affecting fire-rated assemblies, retaining walls over certain dimensions, and sign construction.

Required Documents

• Completed Clark County building permit application
• Site plan/plot plan with lot dimensions, setbacks, existing structures
• Construction drawings/plans (sealed as required for additions/structural work)
• Contractor license/architect/engineer information
• Owner-builder affidavit if applicable
• Energy compliance documentation
• Grading/drainage plans if applicable
• Geotechnical reports if applicable

Permit validity

Permits valid for 180 days from date of issuance. If work does not begin within 180 days, permit may expire. Renewal requires submitting application to ExpiredPermits@ClarkCountyNV.Gov with minimum renewal fee of $54.00.

Building code

2024 International Building Code (IBC) with Southern Nevada Amendments, 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) - effective January 11, 2026

Owner-builder

Owners may act as their own contractor on their primary residence. Must complete owner-builder affidavit. Cannot sell or lease property within one year of completion without proper licensing. Commercial work requires licensed contractor.

Contractor requirements

All contractors must be licensed by Nevada State Contractors Board. License verification at https://www.nscb.nv.gov/ or call (702) 486-1100.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$54.00

Plan check fee

Included in permit fee calculation (varies by valuation)

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based per Table 3-E Building Valuation Data. $1-$500: $54 flat. $501-$2,000: $54 + $1.683 per $100 above $500. $2,001-$25,000: $79.29 + $7.371 per $1,000 above $2,000. $25,001-$50,000: $248.82 + $4.725 per $1,000 above $25,000. $50,001-$100,000: $366.95 + $3.402 per $1,000 above $50,000. $100,001+: $537.05 + $2.934 per $1,000 above $100,000.

Reinspection fee

$110 per reinspection; After-hours inspections $110/hour (3-hour minimum if not contiguous); Additional plan reviews $110/hour

Penalty (no permit)

Work without permit penalty equal to permit fee (cap $4,000 residential / $50,000 commercial); Investigation fee 3x inspection hourly rate

Payment note

Online payment via Accela portal; credit card accepted

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory buildings (sheds), 200 sq ft or less, with no plumbing/electrical/mechanical
• Roof covering replacements (re-roofing) provided no structural repairs and less than 64 sq ft of roof sheathing replaced
• Type A fencing up to 6 ft (not part of pool barrier)
• Type B fencing/retaining walls up to 24 inches height
• Platforms or decks 30 inches or less above grade (accessory to single-family dwelling)
• Walks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over basement
• Windows or doors replacement/glazing if same size/type, not changing structural or fire-rated elements

Important: Zoning and land use regulations still apply even when building permit is not required.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Accela Citizen Access portal (online)
• (702) 455-3000 (phone)

Inspection hours

Monday - Thursday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Closed Fridays)

Time windows

Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Typical inspection sequence: Foundation/under-slab, Framing/structural, MEP rough-ins (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), Insulation, Drywall, Final inspection

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) with Southern Nevada Amendments, 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) - effective January 11, 2026
• Verify contractor license: Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB)
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Desert Conservation Program
• Jurisdiction Locator Tool
• License lookup guide: Nevada Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Nevada Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Nevada hub: Nevada Contractor License & Permit Hub