Fallon building permits

Requirements

• It is unlawful to construct or commence construction of any building or structure without first applying for and receiving a permit from the city engineer (City Code § 17.08.010)
• Application made on forms furnished by the city clerk/Building Department, accompanied by a detailed written statement or plans (City Code §§ 17.08.020, 17.08.030)
• Two (2) sets of plans required, including one (1) wet-stamped set; minimum plan sheet size 11" x 17", maximum 24" x 36" (City of Fallon Permit Application form)
• Plans must show compliance with the 2024 IRC/IBC and 2024 IECC as adopted by City of Fallon Ordinance No. 788 (12-2-2025), and with the 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments snow-load table (IBC Table 1608.2.1, City of Fallon and Lyon County entry)
• Each residence/business building must connect properly to the city's water, sewer, and lighting systems; each residence or apartment must have a toilet; minimum floor space of 500 sq ft (habitable structures generally), 800 sq ft for a single-family residence (exclusive of garage/storage), per City Code § 17.08.040
• Site plan must show zoning, setbacks (front/side/side/rear), and FEMA flood zone status per the City of Fallon Permit Application form
• R-1 zoning dimensional standards apply: front yard ≥20 ft, rear yard ≥20 ft, side yards ≥5 ft (one side ≥10 ft absent rear alley access); minimum lot size varies by R-1 sub-district (5,000-10,000 sq ft)
• All work must be performed per the filed plans and not below the minimum requirements of the adopted building code (City Code § 17.08.050)
• A new permit is required before altering or changing approved plans (City Code § 17.08.060)
• Applicants for new-home building permits must pay a park-fund fee established by the city council, in addition to other permit fees (City Code § 17.08.080)

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationTwo sets of plans (one wet-stamped), submitted in person to the Building Department at 55 W. Williams Avenue, or by email/fax for eligible minor work
• RequiredDetailed Statement or Construction PlansFull set of plans or a detailed written statement of proposed work, plus a plat or other document showing owner name/address, per City Code § 17.08.030
• RequiredSite PlanShows lot lines, zoning, setbacks (front/side/side/rear), and FEMA flood zone designation

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A permit from the city engineer is required before commencing construction, alteration, enlargement, or remodeling of any building or part of a building (City Code §§ 17.08.010, 17.08.030)
• It is unlawful to alter or change approved plans after a permit has been granted without first giving notice of the change to, and receiving a new permit from, the city engineer (City Code § 17.08.060)
• Detached accessory buildings (garages, sheds, etc.) not exceeding 15 feet in height may occupy up to one-half of the rear yard if not closer than 5 feet to the rear property line, and may not encroach on the front half of a corner lot (City Code § 21.28.010)
• Accessory uses on an R-1 lot must not be closer than 15 feet to a main building on an adjoining lot, nor closer than 10 feet to a main building on the same lot (City Code § 21.32.010(C))
• Two (2) sets of plans, one wet-stamped, sized 11"x17" to 24"x36", per the City of Fallon Permit Application form

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationSubmitted in person to the Building Department at 55 W. Williams Avenue
• RequiredConstruction Drawings / Detailed StatementPlans or written statement of the scope of work, per City Code § 17.08.030
• RequiredSite PlanShowing lot lines, setbacks, and location of the addition/accessory structure relative to the main building

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A construction permit from the city engineer is required for 'the erection of a building... plumbing mechanical, electrical, excavation and other work covered in the codes adopted' (City Code § 17.08.010)
• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by City of Fallon Ordinance No. 788 (City Code § 17.04.020(J))
• The Permit Application form's 'Minor Electrical & Plumbing' section requires specifying the number of amps for an electrical service change, or checking 'new electric circuits'
• Application made to the Building Department; NV Contractors License number required on the application unless work is being done by an eligible Home Owner/Builder

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationIncludes a 'Minor Electrical & Plumbing' checklist section for service changes, new circuits, and related work; submitted at 55 W. Williams Avenue

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A construction permit from the city engineer is required for plumbing work (City Code § 17.08.010)
• Governed by the 2024 UPC, with Appendices A, B, and D, as adopted by City of Fallon Ordinance No. 788; the UPC's standard Table 104.5 permit-fee table is replaced by the City's own 'Table B' (City Code § 17.04.020(G))
• The Permit Application form's 'Minor Electrical & Plumbing' section covers water service replacement, sewer service replacement, and gas line add/replace (with footage)
• The Water Heater section of the application covers gas, electric, gas-to-electric, electric-to-gas conversion, and relocation

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationIncludes 'Water Heater' and 'Minor Electrical & Plumbing' checklist sections; submitted at 55 W. Williams Avenue

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A construction permit from the city engineer is required for mechanical work (City Code § 17.08.010)
• Governed by the 2024 IMC (Sections 112 and 113 deleted) and the 2024 UMC (Table 104.5 replaced with the City's own 'Table C'), both adopted by City of Fallon Ordinance No. 788 (City Code § 17.04.020(E), (H))
• 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) also adopted for fuel-gas-fired equipment and gas piping (City Code § 17.04.020(D))
• The Permit Application form's 'HVAC Installations' section covers change-out, new installation, electric-to-gas unit conversion, and A/C or heat pump (with tonnage)

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationIncludes an 'HVAC Installations' checklist section (change-out, new, electric-to-gas, A/C or heat pump with tonnage); submitted at 55 W. Williams Avenue

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A construction permit from the city engineer is required for re-roofing/siding, falling under the general construction-permit requirement of City Code § 17.08.010
• Governed by the 2024 IRC/IBC roofing chapters as adopted by City of Fallon Ordinance No. 788, together with the 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments' ground-snow-load table (IBC Table 1608.2.1, amended to read 'City of Fallon and Lyon County')
• The Permit Application form's 'Re-Roof & Siding' section requires specifying tear-off vs. recover (maximum 2 layers), composition shingle year rating, stucco, or siding

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit Application (Roofing/Siding)Includes a 'Re-Roof & Siding' checklist section; submitted at 55 W. Williams Avenue

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A construction permit from the city engineer is required for solar PV installation as electrical/structural work under City Code § 17.08.010 ('erection of a building... plumbing mechanical, electrical... and other work covered in the codes adopted')
• Structural/mounting design must comply with the 2024 IBC/IRC as adopted by City of Fallon Ordinance No. 788, including the 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments ground-snow-load table (IBC Table 1608.2.1, 'City of Fallon and Lyon County')
• Electrical interconnection must comply with the 2023 NEC (including Article 705 interconnected/utility-interactive system requirements) as adopted by City Code § 17.04.020(J)
• No dedicated solar-specific plan-requirements document (of the kind some larger Nevada/Montana cities publish) was found published by the City of Fallon; applicants should submit under the standard Building Permit Application and confirm submittal specifics (one-line diagram, structural calculations, module/inverter listings) directly with the Building Department

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationStandard permit application; submit as a Building/Electrical permit at 55 W. Williams Avenue. No solar-specific application or checklist was found published by the City

Fee schedule

Requirements

• It is unlawful to construct, or commence construction — a term expressly including 'erection of a building... and other work covered in the codes adopted' — without a permit from the city engineer; demolition of a structure is treated as construction-related work requiring a permit under this same section (City Code § 17.08.010)
• Application made on Building Department forms with a detailed statement of the work (City Code § 17.08.020)
• Demolition work must comply with the safeguards during construction/demolition provisions of the adopted 2024 IBC
• Moving a building (as distinct from demolishing it) instead requires the separate process in Chapter 17.28: application to the city clerk, inspection and report by the building inspector, and a City Council public hearing with notice mailed to owners within 300 feet before an order approving or rejecting the move is entered (City Code §§ 17.28.030-17.28.060) — confirm with the Building Department which pathway (demolition vs. moving permit) applies to a given project

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationStandard construction permit application, describing the demolition scope of work; submitted at 55 W. Williams Avenue

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fences and walls located in required yards may not exceed 6 feet in height, except as provided in §§ 21.28.081-21.28.083; the more stringent height requirement governs where a fence sits on a shared lot line (City Code § 21.28.080)
• Fences within a required front yard, or within the 'clear vision zone' of a corner lot (the triangle formed by lot lines and a line 20 feet from the intersecting lot lines), may not exceed 3 feet in height; a 4-foot non-visual (e.g., chain-link) barrier may substitute for a 3-foot fence (City Code § 21.28.081(A))
• Fences within the clear-vision zone of two intersecting alleys may slope from 3 feet up to 6 feet over a 20-foot distance from the corner, or use a 6-foot fence along the zone's diagonal (City Code § 21.28.081(B))
• Yards containing a swimming pool or similar 'attractive nuisance' must be protected by a fence at least 8 feet high (City Code § 21.28.082)
• Chain-link fencing in the M-1 industrial district may exceed 6 feet if it remains open, unless another provision requires solid screening (City Code § 21.28.083)
• Barbed wire in required yards is prohibited city-wide, except up to 3 strands atop 6-foot-or-taller chain link in the M-1/industrial district (City Code § 21.28.084)
• No fence or wall may be located in, or extended into, a public right-of-way or easement without a revocable permit issued by the city engineer through the Building Department (City Code § 21.28.085, cross-referencing § 17.08.010)

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Fallon Building Department Permit ApplicationUsed for fences requiring a revocable right-of-way/easement permit, or any fence work the Building Department determines requires a construction permit; submitted at 55 W. Williams Avenue

Fee schedule