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Block / Screen Wall Permit in Carson City, Nevada

Required for construction of masonry block walls, screen walls, and retaining walls on residential and commercial properties in Carson City. Governed by the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) and 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted by CCMC 15.05.020. Seismic Design Category E applies — all masonry walls must be designed for seismic loads.

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Fences and walls over 6 feet high require a permit (over 6 feet requires engineering), per Carson City 'Work Exempt from Permit' handout
  • Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) require a permit; walls 4 feet or under that support a surcharge or impound Class I, II, or III-A liquids also require a permit
  • All fences and walls must satisfy the International Building Code and International Fire Code as currently adopted by Carson City (CCMC Title 18 Appendix C, Development Standards, Section 1.13)
  • Height of a fence, wall or hedge is measured from the highest adjacent ground (natural or filled)
  • Submit via online portal with structural plans (masonry walls in Seismic Design Category E require engineering)
  • Plans must show wall location, height, dimensions, footing design, and reinforcing steel
  • Seismic Design Category E: structural engineering required for masonry walls

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Block / Screen Wall Permit FeeCarson City has no separate block/screen-wall fee. Walls are assessed under the single Building Division Permit Fee Schedule: 1.5% of total project value (residential; 1% non-residential) per CCMC 15.05.020 Section 109, $65.00 minimum permit fee. Small residential screen/garden walls are typically at or near the $65 minimum; larger retaining walls with engineering are valued on materials and labor. [Re-verified 2026-07-16: rates confirmed in live CCMC 15.05.020 §109.2; Appendix C §1.13 fence/wall height rules re-read verbatim on Municode (Ord. No. 2024-7, § 16, 11-7-2024); Seismic E/frost 24 in. re-confirmed on the Adopted Codes and Design Criteria sheet (rev. 10-1-2020, still the linked version).]
Varies — valuation-based (1.5% of value, $65 min)
Reinspection Fee
$65.00 per hour (CCMC 15.05.020 §109.2 Other Inspections schedule; or the total hourly cost to the jurisdiction, whichever is greater)

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Carson City building department
~5–15 business days

How long did your Block / Screen Wall Permit permit actually take in Carson City?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing / Foundation

    Before concrete pour — verify reinforcing steel, footing depth (below frost line, 24 inches minimum), and seismic anchorage

  2. 2

    Final

    Wall complete, masonry units and mortar verified, drainage provided

See the full Carson City inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Permit thresholds (Carson City 'Work Exempt from Permit' handout): fences/walls up to 6 feet high are exempt — over 6 feet requires a permit and engineering; retaining walls up to 4 feet (footing bottom to wall top) are exempt unless they support a surcharge or impound Class I/II/III-A liquids.
  • Zoning height limits (CCMC Title 18 Appendix C, Section 1.13): a fence, wall or hedge up to 6 feet is permitted in any yard, EXCEPT in a front-yard setback or within 5 feet of a street-side property line, where the limit is 4 feet (3 feet if sight-obscuring material); within a sight-distance area the limit is 3 feet. Height is measured from the highest adjacent ground (natural or filled).
  • Split-rail fences up to 5 feet are allowed along the front/street-side line in MH1A, SF5A, SF2A and SF1A districts; barbed fences are a permitted accessory use in CR, A, MH1A, SF5A, SF2A and SF1A (elsewhere only with the Director's prior written approval).
  • Carson City's Seismic Design Category E requires that masonry walls (block walls, retaining walls) be designed by a structural engineer to resist seismic loads.
  • Frost line depth is 24 inches — wall footings must extend below this depth.
  • Ground snow load is 30 PSF — retaining walls adjacent to areas with heavy snow accumulation should account for lateral snow/ice loads.

Frequently asked questions

A fence or wall over 6 feet high requires a permit and engineering. A retaining wall requires a permit if it is over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), or 4 feet and under if it supports a surcharge or impounds Class I/II/III-A liquids. Due to Carson City's Seismic Design Category E, masonry walls require engineer-stamped plans. (Carson City 'Work Exempt from Permit' handout; CCMC 15.05.020.)

In Carson City, the published Block / Screen Wall Permit Fee is: Varies — valuation-based (1.5% of value, $65 min). Additional published fees: Reinspection Fee — $65.00 per hour (CCMC 15.05.020 §109.2 Other Inspections schedule; or the total hourly cost to the jurisdiction, whichever is greater). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a block / screen wall permit in Carson City typically runs 5–15 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Carson City Building Division — Community and Economic Development at (775) 887-2310.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Site Plan; Structural Plans and Calculations. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Carson City requires 2 inspection(s) for a block / screen wall permit, in order: Footing / Foundation, Final. Schedule each through Carson City Building Division — Community and Economic Development ((775) 887-2310).

Apply through Carson City Building Division — Community and Economic Development at 108 E. Proctor St., Carson City, NV 89701. Phone: (775) 887-2310, email: bldgdiv@carsoncity.gov. Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12:00 PM–1:00 PM). Official information: https://www.carsoncity.gov/government/departments-a-f/community-development/building-division.

Carson City, Nevada has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — Chapters 2–34 and Appendices C, H, I and J, as amended by 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments; adopted via CCMC 15.05.020; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — Chapters 2–43 and Appendices A, B, C, G, H, J and K, as amended by 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments; 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — Chapters 2–17 and IAPMO Installation Standards and Appendices A–E, G–L; 2018 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — Chapters 2–17 and Appendices B, C and F, as amended; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Chapters 2–15 and Appendix A; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — (statewide floor 2024 IECC via NRS 701.220/GOE does not supersede this pre-existing adoption; confirm with Building Division if 2024 IECC has been enforced); 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — Chapters 2–7; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Chapters 1–15; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Chapters 2–7 and Appendices A, B and C; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — Chapters 2–11; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — as amended by 2018 Northern Nevada Fire Amendments; 2018 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code — as amended by 2018 Northern Nevada Wildland Urban Interface Amendments; 2009 ICC/ANSI A117.1 — Accessibility (2017 publication may be used as alternative means and methods); 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments — adopted by Carson City; published November 2, 2018 by the Northern Nevada Chapter ICC; covers amendments to IBC, IRC, IEBC, IECC, IFGC, IMC, UMC, UPC, and 2017 NEC. Local amendments apply — see the Carson City overview page for the full list.

Up to 6 feet in any yard, except in a front-yard setback or within 5 feet of a street-side property line, where the limit is 4 feet (or 3 feet if built of sight-obscuring material); within a sight-distance area the limit is 3 feet. Height is measured from the highest adjacent ground. (CCMC Title 18 Appendix C, Development Standards, Section 1.13, Ord. 2024-7.)

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-16.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Carson City building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Block / Screen Wall Permit in other cities

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