Las Vegas building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Las Vegas, Nevada.
Last verified 2026-07-16 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- First Floor Lobby, City Hall, 495 S. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Phone
- (702) 229-6251
- Office hours
- Mon–Thu 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Fri 7:00 AM – 11:30 AM (closed holidays)
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Las Vegas's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Las Vegas — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Nevada does not mandate a single statewide building code edition. Under NRS 278.580, the governing body of each city or county may adopt its own building code, specifying design, soundness, and materials of structures, together with rules and ordinances for enforcement — a home-rule framework in which each jurisdiction selects and amends its code independently. There is no state-mandated IBC or IRC edition. The one statewide floor is for energy: under NRS 701.220, the Governor's Office of Energy (GOE) is required to adopt the most recently published edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) on a triennial basis. Upon adoption by GOE, local governments must incorporate that edition as the minimum energy standard and may adopt higher or more stringent requirements. GOE adopted the 2024 IECC, effective August 18, 2024, pursuant to NAC 701.185. Because building code editions, local amendments, and energy code effective dates vary by jurisdiction across Nevada, always confirm the current adopted edition and any local amendments with your specific city or county before submitting plans.
- 2024 International Building Code (IBC) with Southern Nevada local amendments — effective January 5, 2026
- 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) with Southern Nevada local amendments — effective January 5, 2026
- 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective January 5, 2026
- 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective January 5, 2026
- 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with Southern Nevada local amendments — effective January 5, 2026
- 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) — effective January 5, 2026
- 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — effective January 5, 2026
- 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) with Southern Nevada local amendments — effective January 5, 2026 (NOTE: UPC, not IPC)
- 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) with Southern Nevada local amendments — effective January 5, 2026 (NOTE: UMC, not IMC)
- 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with local amendments — effective January 5, 2026
- 2019 City of Las Vegas Administrative Code — remains in effect
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit — New Construction (Custom Single-Family)
Required for all new single-family custom homes in the City of Las Vegas. Covers structural, framing, envelope, and all associated systems under 2024 IRC.
From$1,488Residential Addition / Remodel
Required for additions to existing single-family dwellings and interior/exterior remodels that affect structural elements, square footage, or systems. Covered under 2024 IRC with Southern Nevada amendments.
$1,004Electrical Permit
Required for all new electrical service installations, panel upgrades, service change-outs, wiring work, and rooftop solar PV systems. Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with local amendments.
From$96Plumbing Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems including water supply, drainage, gas piping, and water heaters. Governed by the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — NOT the IPC.
From$22Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for installation, replacement, or alteration of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Governed by the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — NOT the IMC.
From$100Re-Roof Permit
Required for replacement or overlay of roofing materials on existing residential or commercial structures. Over-the-counter permit for same-for-same material replacement.
From$119Rooftop Solar PV Permit
Required for residential and commercial rooftop photovoltaic (solar) system installations. Requires both a structural/building permit and an electrical permit.
$259Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU / Guest House — Class I Accessory Structure)
In the City of Las Vegas, ADUs/guest houses are regulated as 'Accessory Structure (Class I)' under Title 19.04 of the Las Vegas Municipal Code. A Class I accessory structure provides full living quarters including kitchen facilities ancillary to the principal dwelling. A Special Use Permit (SUP) is required in addition to a building permit. Zoning eligibility is limited to R-A, R-E, R-D, R-1, and R-CL residential districts only (confirmed against Title 19.04 Table 2, re-read live 2026-07-16 — R-CL was omitted from an earlier pass). Must comply with 2024 IRC.
See fee scheduleDemolition Permit
Required for full or partial demolition of structures within the City of Las Vegas. Includes residential and commercial buildings, interior demolition for gut renovations, and accessory structures.
$115Commercial Tenant Improvement (TI)
Required for interior renovations to existing commercial spaces. Covers changes to walls, ceilings, flooring, building systems, and occupancy. Governed by the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) with Southern Nevada amendments.
From$990Swimming Pool / Spa Permit
Required for installation of in-ground and above-ground swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs. Las Vegas pools require additional considerations for desert climate, seismic loads, and water conservation.
From$406Block / Screen Wall Permit
Required for construction of freestanding masonry walls, block walls, ornamental iron fences, chain-link fences, and screen walls on residential and commercial properties.
From$114EV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit
The City of Las Vegas has no dedicated EV-charger or EVSE line item in its online Permit Fee Estimator or Building & Safety fee schedule. Installing a Level 2 (240V) home EV charger -- whether a hardwired wall unit or a new NEMA 14-50 outlet -- requires a City of Las Vegas Electrical Permit, billed under the general residential electrical categories (minor electrical work / new circuit, or service upgrade if the panel needs to be upsized), issued by the Department of Planning, Building & Safety Division under the 2023 NEC with local amendments. Work at an address in unincorporated Clark County instead goes through the Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention, not the City.
From$64Sign Permit
Required for new, replacement, relocated, or campaign/political signs in the City of Las Vegas -- pole, monument, wall/roof, and free-standing outdoor advertising (billboard) sign types are itemized on the City's Sign Permit Application. On-premise signs erected under a Planning Department sign certificate, and all off-premise signs, additionally require a Title 19 Planning Department sign certificate/tag. Governed by LVMC Title 19.14 (Sign Standards) for permitted sign types, area, height, and setback by zoning district, and 2024 IBC Chapter 31 for structural requirements.
From$0.50Fire Sprinkler System Permit (NFPA 13 / 13R / 13D)
Required for installation, alteration, or extension of automatic fire sprinkler systems -- commercial NFPA 13, residential NFPA 13R (up to 4 stories), and NFPA 13D one- and two-family dwelling systems -- in the City of Las Vegas. Issued by Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (LVF&R) Fire Prevention Division, Fire Engineering section, separate from the Department of Building & Safety's structural/building permit. Governed by the 2024 International Fire Code with Southern Nevada and City of Las Vegas amendments (Ordinance #6918), effective January 5, 2026.
From$148.00Fire Alarm System Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or extension of fire alarm and detection/occupant-notification systems in the City of Las Vegas. Issued by Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (LVF&R) Fire Prevention Division, Fire Engineering section, separate from the Department of Building & Safety's structural/building permit. Contractors must hold a Nevada C-2C Fire Detection license. Governed by the 2024 International Fire Code with Southern Nevada and City of Las Vegas amendments (Ordinance #6918), effective January 5, 2026.
From$247.00Certificate of Occupancy Assessment (Change of Use / Occupancy)
The City of Las Vegas does not issue a separate stand-alone 'change of use permit' product. A change in use or occupancy that would place a building in a different division of the same occupancy group, or in a different occupancy group, is processed as a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) Assessment by Building & Safety when no construction is proposed or has previously been required. Where construction work is proposed for the new use, the change is instead processed through a standard Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement permit, with an updated C of O issued at final inspection (see the Commercial Tenant Improvement permit type). A C of O belongs to the building, unit, or space -- not the tenant -- so a change of business name or ownership alone does not require a new C of O.
See fee schedule
Property Access
Las Vegas's permit history is searchable by address
874,682 permits in our copy of Las Vegas's register — searchable by street address, with permit type, status, issued date and valuation where the city publishes them. This is what we hold, not a statement of everything Las Vegas has issued.
874,312 of these 874,682 permits — 100% — carry an issued date, and those run from 1919 to 2026. The remaining 370 have no date at all.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-08)
- 81units
81 buildings · $45.2M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 2,967units
12 of 12 months reported · #2 in Nevada coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-08)
- 1,939units
1,375 buildings · $822.2M valuation
8 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 2,329units
2,026 buildings · $1,053.1M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-08 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Nevada building activity
Tips & gotchas
- CRITICAL: The City of Las Vegas (incorporated, lasvegasnevada.gov) is DISTINCT from unincorporated Clark County, which includes the Las Vegas Strip, Paradise, and other unincorporated communities. This record covers City of Las Vegas only. Do not use Clark County fee schedules or processes for this jurisdiction.
- Las Vegas uses the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — NOT the IPC/IMC used in most other states. Contractors must be aware of this difference.
- 2024 codes (IBC, IRC, IECC, UPC, UMC, NEC, etc.) became effective January 5, 2026 per City Council action of July 16, 2025. Verify with Building & Safety (702-229-6251) for projects in transition.
- The fee schedule is NOT available as a downloadable PDF. All building permit fees must be estimated using the online Permit Fee Estimator at lasvegasnevada.gov. Final fees are calculated by staff at application submittal.
- All fees shown are ESTIMATES from the city's fee estimator tool. The $55 Administration Fee is applied to ALL permits. Final fees are determined by staff at application.
- Additional fees not included in permit fees: Sewer Connection ($3,235/ERU eff. Jan 1 2026), Residential Construction Tax (1% of valuation or $1,000/dwelling), Clark County Transportation Tax ($1,000/single-family dwelling), Traffic Impact Fee ($195/dwelling), Desert Conservation Program ($550/acre + $58 admin).
- Las Vegas is in Seismic Design Category D0 — higher than many western cities. All structural work (foundations, framing, walls, pools) must account for seismic loads in design.
- Climate Zone 3B (hot-dry desert) drives unique IECC compliance requirements: high SHGC restrictions for windows, less insulation emphasis than northern climates, cooling-dominated energy compliance.
- The city's Building Official is Michael Cunningham, P.E., C.B.O. The permit technician email is techs@lasvegasnevada.gov.
- Permit fee redirected (301) from old URL /Government/Departments/Building-Safety to canonical /Business/Planning-Zoning/Building-Safety — always use the canonical URL.
- The City's live Permit Fee Estimator covers every cited line item across New Construction/Residential (1000-4000 sq ft), Residential Addition, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Over The Counter (re-roof, demolition, exterior improvements, service changes, boilers/tankless), Wall Fence, Pool Spa, and Commercial TI. The 2024 Code Adoption Industry Notice PDF is effective Jan 5, 2026, and NRS 278.257 is in effect as of 2026-07-01. Note that the estimator's category tabs are not organized strictly by trade: 'service changes' and 'boilers/tankless water heaters' appear under the Over The Counter category, not the standalone Electrical/Mechanical tabs. The 1,000 sq ft new-construction Plans Check/Inspection split has shifted in the estimator while the total is unchanged. R-CL is also an eligible ADU zoning district per Title 19.04 Table 2, alongside R-A/R-E/R-D/R-1.