Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy Permit — North Las Vegas, Nevada · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source: https://www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com/business/permit-application-center
PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements change and vary by project — confirm current details with the building department before you submit.
Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy Permit in North Las Vegas, Nevada
Required whenever a building or space in the City of North Las Vegas changes use or occupancy classification — including changes with no physical alterations. Governed by NLV MC §15.72.220 (Certificate of Occupancy) and the 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) Chapter 10 (Partial or Complete change of occupancy). Per NLV's "Policy for Change of Occupancy" submittal checklist, a change-of-use permit is required even when no construction work is proposed, and the Building Safety and Fire Prevention Division must re-inspect the space before a new Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
When you need this permit
- Per 2024 IEBC §506.1 and NLV MC §15.72.220.B, no change may be made in the use or occupancy of a building that would place it in a different division of the same occupancy group, or in a different occupancy group, unless the building is made to comply with the code for that division/group
- All changes in occupancy or use type require submittal of the Change of Occupancy checklist items, even if no physical alterations are being done
- Prerequisites that must be in place before a building permit application can be accepted: appropriate zoning for the proposed use; any required Special Use Permit, Conditional Use Permit, or Variance already approved; Site Plan Review or Planned Unit Development approval for the site; and compliance with any Planning Commission/City Council conditions of approval
- Project must comply with 2024 IEBC Chapter 10 for Partial or Complete change of occupancy
- Complete building and plumbing code analysis required: type of construction (including whether the building is sprinklered), occupancy classification, actual/allowable floor area, height, and stories, exit analysis, fire-resistive requirements, code reference/year, and required vs. provided plumbing fixture counts
- Where a change of occupancy results in a higher risk category, the building must satisfy 2024 IBC §1609 and §1613 for the new risk category using applicable wind and full seismic forces
- Accessible access and egress required per 2024 IBC Chapter 10 and applicable Chapter 11 items for the affected area
- New occupancy classification must comply with 2024 IECC §C505 where the change increases fossil fuel/electrical energy demand or total interior lighting wattage
- Applications expire 180 days from the date of submittal if permits are not issued
- Following issuance of the Change of Occupancy permit, a Building Safety and Fire Prevention Division inspection is required before a new Certificate of Occupancy is issued
- A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy is available (valid 30 days, renewable once for a total of 60 days) if the Building Official finds no substantial hazard from earlier occupancy of a portion of the building
Required documents
Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.
Not ready yet — 0 of 4 required documents checked.
This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →
Fee schedule
Review timeline
Inspection process
- 1
Building Safety and Fire Prevention Inspection
Required after Change of Occupancy permit issuance and before a new Certificate of Occupancy is issued; confirms the space complies with the code requirements for its new occupancy classification
See the full North Las Vegas inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- A change-of-use application is required even if you aren't doing any construction work — occupancy classification changes must still be reviewed and re-inspected before a new Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
- Planning Commission approval of a special use permit, zoning reclassification, or similar land-use action does NOT itself constitute Building Safety/Fire Prevention approval of a change of occupancy — a separate permit application is still required.
- Applications expire 180 days from submittal if a permit isn't issued; plans and documents are then disposed of unless you request in writing to have them returned.
- If you need to occupy part of the building before the whole project is finished, a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy is available (valid 30 days, renewable once to 60 days total) for a fee of $200-$400 plus a $100/hour premises inspection fee.
- A partial change of occupancy (only part of the building changing use) is handled under 2024 IEBC §1001.2.2.1, separate from a complete change of occupancy.
Frequently asked questions
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.
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 North Las Vegas building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Other permits in North Las Vegas
Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy Permit in other cities
Compare change of occupancy / certificate of occupancy permit fees across Nevada →
Look up this fee in a different city →
Now live
Build your North Las Vegas project checklist
Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in North Las Vegas — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.
Get started →