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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU / Guest House — Class I Accessory Structure) in Las Vegas, Nevada

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.

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Special Use Permit (SUP) required prior to building permit — file with City of Las Vegas Planning Department
  • Zoning district must be R-A, R-E, R-D, R-1, or R-CL — Class I accessory structures (with kitchen) are NOT permitted in R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-MH, or R-MHP districts (Title 19.04 Table 2, re-read live 2026-07-16)
  • Lot or parcel must exceed 6,500 square feet (required by Title 19.04 Class I Special Use Permit Requirements)
  • Owner-occupancy of the principal dwelling is NOT a condition of renting the ADU as of July 1, 2026: NRS 278.257 (effective 2026-07-01) bars Las Vegas (population 60,000+) from prohibiting an owner from using an ADU as rental housing, superseding the prior LVMC Title 19.04 owner-occupancy-if-rented condition (the city may still prohibit transient/short-term lodging)
  • Building permit required for ADU construction plus separate permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
  • ADU floor area must not exceed 50% of the floor area of the principal dwelling unit (Title 19.08 accessory structure size limit)
  • ADU height: not to exceed two stories or 35 ft, whichever is less
  • One additional parking space required beyond the number normally required for the main dwelling
  • ADU must be aesthetically compatible with the principal dwelling unit
  • ADU must be located in rear or side yard; minimum 3 ft from side/rear property lines and 6 ft separation from main dwelling
  • Must comply with 2024 IRC with Southern Nevada amendments effective January 5, 2026

Required documents

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Fee schedule

ADU building permit (Class I accessory structure — same fee schedule as new residential construction, based on square footage)No ADU-specific fee category in the LV fee estimator; assessed at the same New Construction/Residential rate. Example: 800 sq ft ADU ≈ $1,200–$1,500 total building permit (Admin $55 + Plans Check + Inspection). Use City of Las Vegas Permit Fee Estimator (New Construction / Residential) for actual ADU sq ft.
Varies — same valuation/sqft schedule as new residential construction
Special Use Permit (Planning Department)SUP application fee payable to the City of Las Vegas Planning Department; fee varies by application type — contact Planning at (702) 229-6301 for current SUP fee schedule
Varies
Additional fees: Sewer ConnectionMay apply if ADU adds a new sewer connection or increases sewer load beyond existing ERU
$3,235 per ERU — effective January 1, 2026

Review timeline

Plan reviewLas Vegas’s published plan-review target
10–21 business days

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU / Guest House — Class I Accessory Structure) permit actually take in Las Vegas?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation Inspection

    Required before concrete pour

  2. 2

    Framing Inspection

    Required when framing complete, before insulation

  3. 3

    Final Inspection

    Required upon completion; Certificate of Occupancy or equivalent issued

See the full Las Vegas inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • In Las Vegas, ADUs with kitchen facilities are called 'Accessory Structure (Class I)' in the zoning code — they require a Special Use Permit (SUP) in addition to a building permit
  • Eligible zones for Class I (ADU with kitchen): R-A, R-E, R-D, R-1, and R-CL ONLY — confirm your parcel's zoning before applying; R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-MH zones do NOT allow a full ADU with kitchen
  • Lot must exceed 6,500 sq ft — smaller lots do not qualify for a Class I accessory structure (ADU)
  • As of July 1, 2026, NRS 278.257 bars Las Vegas from requiring the principal dwelling to be owner-occupied as a condition of renting the ADU; the older Title 19.04 owner-occupancy-if-rented rule is superseded (short-term/transient lodging may still be prohibited) Owner-builder
  • ADU building permit fees are assessed at the same residential construction rate as new construction — use the city's Permit Fee Estimator for your ADU square footage
  • Plan review standard is 2-3 weeks (structural) per published Building & Safety timelines
  • Sewer connection charges ($3,235/ERU) may significantly increase total project cost for detached ADUs

Frequently asked questions

Las Vegas requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu / guest house — class i accessory structure) permit for: Special Use Permit (SUP) required prior to building permit — file with City of Las Vegas Planning Department; Zoning district must be R-A, R-E, R-D, R-1, or R-CL — Class I accessory structures (with kitchen) are NOT permitted in R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-MH, or R-MHP districts (Title 19.04 Table 2, re-read live 2026-07-16); Lot or parcel must exceed 6,500 square feet (required by Title 19.04 Class I Special Use Permit Requirements); Owner-occupancy of the principal dwelling is NOT a condition of renting the ADU as of July 1, 2026: NRS 278.257 (effective 2026-07-01) bars Las Vegas (population 60,000+) from prohibiting an owner from using an ADU as rental housing, superseding the prior LVMC Title 19.04 owner-occupancy-if-rented condition (the city may still prohibit transient/short-term lodging); Building permit required for ADU construction plus separate permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical; ADU floor area must not exceed 50% of the floor area of the principal dwelling unit (Title 19.08 accessory structure size limit); ADU height: not to exceed two stories or 35 ft, whichever is less; One additional parking space required beyond the number normally required for the main dwelling; ADU must be aesthetically compatible with the principal dwelling unit; ADU must be located in rear or side yard; minimum 3 ft from side/rear property lines and 6 ft separation from main dwelling; Must comply with 2024 IRC with Southern Nevada amendments effective January 5, 2026. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Las Vegas Building & Safety (Community Development Department) at (702) 229-6251 before starting work.

In Las Vegas, the published ADU building permit (Class I accessory structure — same fee schedule as new residential construction, based on square footage) is: Varies — same valuation/sqft schedule as new residential construction. Additional published fees: Special Use Permit (Planning Department) — Varies; Additional fees: Sewer Connection — $3,235 per ERU — effective January 1, 2026. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Las Vegas's published plan-review target for an accessory dwelling unit (adu / guest house — class i accessory structure) permit is 10–21 business days.

You'll need: Special Use Permit Application; Building Permit Application; Site Plan; Construction Drawings. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Apply through City of Las Vegas Building & Safety (Community Development Department) at First Floor Lobby, City Hall, 495 S. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89101. Phone: (702) 229-6251, email: techs@lasvegasnevada.gov. Office hours: Mon–Thu 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Fri 7:00 AM – 11:30 AM (closed holidays). Official information: https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Business/Planning-Zoning/Building-Safety.

No. ADUs with kitchen facilities (Class I accessory structures) are only permitted in R-A, R-E, R-D, R-1, and R-CL zoning districts, require a Special Use Permit, and require a lot larger than 6,500 sq ft. Check your parcel's zoning district before applying.

Las Vegas Title 19.04 defines a Class I accessory structure as an accessory structure on a residential parcel that provides living quarters with full kitchen facilities — this is effectively the city's term for an ADU or guest house/casita.

No separate ADU fee category exists. ADU building permits are assessed at the same residential construction rate (valuation/sq ft basis) as a new single-family home. Use the City of Las Vegas Permit Fee Estimator selecting 'New Construction / Residential' for your ADU square footage.

Other permits in Las Vegas

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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU / Guest House — Class I Accessory Structure) in other cities

Carson City, NevadaDouglas County, NevadaHenderson, NevadaMesquite, NevadaNorth Las Vegas, NevadaReno, NevadaSparks, NevadaUnincorporated Clark County, Nevada

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