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Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy in Elko, Nevada

Elko Municipal Code Section 2-1-4(A)(1) requires anyone who 'changes the occupancy capacity of a building or structure' to first obtain a building permit — the same general permit-application mechanism used for demolition and other regulated activities under Title 2, Chapter 1; no distinct change-of-use-specific application, checklist, or fee schedule is separately published by the City. Section 2-1-9 (Certificate of Occupancy) separately and additionally requires that no building or structure be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification be made, until the building official has issued a Certificate of Occupancy (or, for a 'shell' building not yet intended for occupancy, a Certificate of Completion).

Verified 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A permit is required before 'changing the occupancy capacity' of a building or structure, per Elko Municipal Code Section 2-1-4(A)(1) — submitted via the universal Building Permit Application Form (Bldg box checked, work described as a change of occupancy/use); no distinct change-of-use-specific application, checklist, or fee schedule is published (confirmed by review of the Building Forms, Building Fees, and Building Codes/Design Standards pages, the same gap this data set's Demolition Permit entry documents for that activity)
  • No building or structure may be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building, structure, or portion thereof may be made, until the building official has approved it for use/occupancy by issuing a Certificate of Occupancy, per Elko Municipal Code Section 2-1-9(A)(1)
  • A Certificate of Occupancy does not approve or waive any violation of the Code and creates no warranty or guarantee, express or implied (Section 2-1-9(A)(1)); a final inspection is equivalent to a Certificate of Occupancy for buildings classified in Occupancy Group U
  • A Certificate of Completion (rather than a Certificate of Occupancy) may be issued for a building constructed as a 'shell' and not yet intended for occupancy (Section 2-1-9(A)(1))
  • Buildings/structures that were compliant when built and occupied but were later rendered noncompliant solely by a subsequent Code amendment are not required to obtain a new Certificate of Occupancy to continue that existing use — unless the use or occupancy is thereafter discontinued or abandoned for twelve (12) months or more, in which case a new Certificate of Occupancy certifying compliance with then-current Code requirements is required before any subsequent use (Section 2-1-9(A)(3))
  • The building official may temporarily suspend or permanently revoke a Certificate of Occupancy/Completion if it was issued in error, based on incorrect information, if written conditions were not completed, or if the building is found in violation of the Code (Section 2-1-9(B)(2))
  • The City will not provide water service to a building or structure that has not received a Certificate of Occupancy (Section 2-1-9(D))
  • Occupying or authorizing occupancy of a building without a required Certificate of Occupancy subjects the property owner to the Title 2 penalty provisions cross-referenced at Section 2-1-12 (Section 2-1-9(C))

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (Table 1, same schedule as other general building-permit activity)City of Elko Building Permit Fee Schedule, Table 1 (verified as the governing fee mechanism: no change-of-occupancy-specific line item exists in Table 1, Table 2 Other Inspections and Fees, Table 8/9 Grading fees, or Table 11 Miscellaneous Square Foot Construction Costs, so the general valuation-based Table 1 fee applies by default, the same pattern documented for this data set's Demolition Permit entry)
$23.50 minimum (valuation $1-$500), scaling per the Fees Valuation Table
Minimum charge per permit/application (Processing Fee $40 + minimum Permit Fee $47)City of Elko Building Permit Fee Schedule; applies as the same universal minimum charge applied to all building permits
$87.00

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy permit actually take in Elko?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final

    Building inspected for compliance with the applicable Title 2 requirements for the proposed use/occupancy before a Certificate of Occupancy (or Certificate of Completion) is issued, per Section 2-1-9(B)(1)

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

Tips

  • No dedicated change-of-occupancy/change-of-use permit application, checklist, or fee schedule exists in the Elko Municipal Code or on the City of Elko Building Department website — the same gap documented for this data set's Demolition Permit entry. Change of occupancy is handled under the universal Building Permit Application using the standard valuation-based Table 1 fee, per Municipal Code Section 2-1-4(A)(1)'s general permit requirement covering anyone who 'changes the occupancy capacity' of a building.
  • The City will not provide water service to a building that has not received a Certificate of Occupancy (Section 2-1-9(D)) — a practical enforcement mechanism distinct from any fine or penalty.
  • If a legally grandfathered use is discontinued or abandoned for 12 months or more, a brand-new Certificate of Occupancy showing compliance with then-current Code requirements is required before resuming any use, even though the original use never needed one (Section 2-1-9(A)(3)).
  • No review-timeline figure (published or coded) exists specifically for change of occupancy; the Municipal Code's only relevant timing provision is the same 10-day post-approval permit-issuance clock (Section 2-1-5(N)) applied to all building permits, not a plan-review duration. Call the Building Department at (775) 777-7220 to confirm current expected turnaround.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Elko Municipal Code Section 2-1-4(A)(1) requires a permit before 'changing the occupancy capacity' of a building or structure, submitted through the same universal Building Permit Application used for all other building-permit activity. Separately, Section 2-1-9 requires the building official to issue a Certificate of Occupancy before any change in the existing occupancy classification may be made.

In Elko, the published Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (Table 1, same schedule as other general building-permit activity) is: $23.50 minimum (valuation $1-$500), scaling per the Fees Valuation Table. Additional published fees: Minimum charge per permit/application (Processing Fee $40 + minimum Permit Fee $47) — $87.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Elko does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Elko Building Department at (775) 777-7220 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application Form; Supporting plans/documentation for the new use. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Elko requires 1 inspection(s) for a change of occupancy / certificate of occupancy permit, in order: Final. Schedule each through City of Elko Building Department ((775) 777-7220).

Apply through City of Elko Building Department at 1753 College Avenue, Elko, NV 89801. Phone: (775) 777-7220, email: Permits@elkocitynv.gov. Office hours: Elko City Hall, 1751 College Avenue, Elko, Nevada 89801; Building Department at 1753 College Avenue. The Building Department accepts electronic submittals only (E-Permits portal). Main city phone: 775-777-7100; Building Department direct: (775) 777-7220.. Official information: https://www.elkocity.com/departments/building_department/index.php.

Elko, Nevada has adopted: Nevada is a home-rule state for building codes: there is no single mandatory statewide building-code edition — each city and county adopts and amends its own code. The only genuine statewide floor is the energy code: Nevada's Energy Assurance/building energy standards reference the IECC, and NRS 701.220 directs the State to adopt and update energy efficiency standards for new construction (Nevada has moved through 2018/2021/2024 IECC cycles at the state level over time). Always confirm the specific adopted edition for the city or county in question rather than assuming a uniform statewide building code. Source: Nevada Legislature NRS Chapter 701 (State Office of Energy) and Nevada Public Utilities/Energy Office building-energy program pages.; City of Elko adopted the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), with Appendices H, J and Q and certain city modifications, effective per City Council adoption on December 9, 2025. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by the City of Elko with the exception of Chapters 11 through 43, except that Chapter 42 (Electrical) is retained. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by the City of Elko with City of Elko Building Code Amendments. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by the City of Elko. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by the City of Elko. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — Nevada jurisdictions commonly use the Uniform Mechanical Code (IAPMO) rather than the International Mechanical Code; City of Elko adopted the 2024 UMC. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — adopted by the City of Elko (Nevada jurisdictions commonly use the UPC, not the International Plumbing Code). Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), with necessary provisions, adopted by the City of Elko. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.; ICC code books (IBC, IRC, IEBC, IFC, IECC) available at www.iccsafe.org; UPC and UMC code books available at the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) website, www.iapmo.org; NEC available at the National Fire Protection Association website, www.nfpa.org. Source: City of Elko Building Codes/Design Standards page.. Local amendments apply — see the Elko overview page for the full list.

The property owner is subject to the Code-violation penalties cross-referenced at Section 2-1-12, and the City will not provide water service to the building until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. Source: Elko Municipal Code Section 2-1-9(C) and (D).

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 Elko building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy in other cities

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