White Pine County Building Permits
Eastern Nevada jurisdiction covering unincorporated White Pine County and City of Ely
Jurisdictions
Unincorporated White Pine County
Covers all unincorporated areas of White Pine County. Building authority resides with the White Pine County Building Department at (775) 289-6500.
City of Ely
Incorporated city within White Pine County. City of Ely Building Department handles all permit authority within city limits at (775) 289-2430.
About White Pine County Permits
Dual Jurisdiction: White Pine County contains two separate permit authorities: unincorporated White Pine County (county level) and the incorporated City of Ely (city level). Jurisdiction depends on property location. Confirm which authority governs your site before applying.
No Online Portal: Neither jurisdiction offers online permit submission. All permits must be submitted in person or by mail. This is a rural Nevada county with limited digital infrastructure.
Building Code Adoption: City of Ely has formally adopted 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC (Ordinance 746, August 2022). Unincorporated county code edition must be confirmed by phone before plan preparation.
Shared Staffing: Both jurisdictions share the same Building Official (Don Hendrickson) and overlapping contact numbers. Phone (775) 289-6500 serves both the county and city. Staffing constraints may affect processing times.
Plan Requirements: Both jurisdictions require detailed plans prepared to sufficient detail for plan check. Book-bought plans may not be accepted. Plans may need to be prepared by licensed professionals per Nevada Revised Statutes 623 and 625 for certain project types.
Contractor Licensing: All contractors must be licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB). Unlicensed contracting is prohibited in Nevada. Contact NSCB at (775) 688-1141 or www.nscb.state.nv.us.
Permit Validity (Ely): In the City of Ely, permits become null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days or if construction is suspended for 180 days. Unincorporated county terms require direct confirmation.
Natural Hazard Context: White Pine County is at high elevation (Ely at 6,435 feet). Design criteria include 36-inch frost depth, site-specific snow loads, and seismic zone D or C. Engineers designing for this area must perform site-specific analysis; generic lower-elevation Nevada plans may be inadequate.