County Building Permits
White Pine County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated White Pine County, Nevada. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated areas of White Pine County, Nevada. Properties within the incorporated City of Ely require City of Ely permits.
- Department
- White Pine County Building Department
- Address
- 480 Campton Street, Suite 1, Ely, NV 89301
- Phone
- (775) 289-6500
Online Permit Portal
Platform: In-Person Submission • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Obtain Building Permit Application form from White Pine County Building Department office at 480 Campton Street, Suite 1, Ely, NV 89301
- Complete the top half of the Building Permit Application form
- Obtain an official address for the job site from White Pine County Planning if needed
- Prepare required documentation including completed application, plot plan, elevation certificate (if applicable), and building plans
- Submit all required materials and application form to the Building Department office in person or by mail
- Pay permit fees based on valuation of construction
- Plans must be approved by the Building Department prior to permit issuance
- Note: Any work done prior to issuance of permit will be subject to double permit fees
Typical processing time: Contact Building Department at (775) 289-6500 for current processing times; varies based on plan complexity and staff availability in rural area
General Requirements
A building permit is required for all construction, alterations, new structures, and work on septic systems within unincorporated White Pine County. Contact the Building Department at (775) 289-6500 to determine permit requirements for your specific project.
Required Documents
- Completed Building Permit Application
- Official address for job site
- Elevation Certificate (if building site is in Flood Zone other than X)
- Owner/Builder Affidavit (if not a licensed contractor building own residence)
- Plot Plan showing: dimensions, sizes and locations of buildings, distances from roads, distances from ditches/irrigation/drainage/canals, distances between structures, locations for septic and well, easements, utility poles, and other pertinent information
- Two complete sets of building plans showing all floor plans, elevations, wall and roof construction, dimensions, window sizes, doors, heating, plumbing, electrical
- Permit validity
- Contact Building Department for permit validity periods and expiration terms
- Building code
- White Pine County adopts building codes locally. Contact Building Department at (775) 289-6500 for current adopted code editions and amendments.
- Owner-builder
- Property owners may be eligible for Owner Builder Exemption if building their own residence. Must complete Owner/Builder Affidavit. Contact Nevada State Contractors Board for exemption requirements.
- Contractor requirements
- 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 for license verification.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Based on valuation of construction
- Penalty (no permit)
- Double permit fees assessed for work completed prior to permit issuance
- Payment note
- Contact White Pine County Building Department at (775) 289-6500 for current fee schedule, fee amounts, and accepted payment methods
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the White Pine County Building Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (775) 289-6500 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Call to schedule inspection at least 24 hours prior to desired inspection time
- Inspection hours
- Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Required inspections typically include: Footing and Foundation, Under-floor Utilities, Framing/Rough Plumbing/Rough Electrical/Rough Mechanical (can be scheduled together), Insulation, Drywall Nailing, Final. Provide name, address of property, type of inspection required, and permit number when scheduling.
Additional Resources
- Building code: White Pine County adopts building codes locally. Contact Building Department at (775) 289-6500 for current adopted code editions and amendments.
- Verify contractor license: Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) License Lookup
- Owner-builder rules: View rules
- White Pine County Building Department
- White Pine County Regional Planning Department
- Nevada State Contractors Board
- White Pine County Clerk
- License lookup guide: Nevada Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Nevada Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Nevada hub: Nevada Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the White Pine County Building Department before applying.
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