Sign Building Permit in Fernley, Nevada

Fernley requires a sign building permit for: Dedicated Sign Building Permit Application required for permanent or temporary free-standing, wall, directional, or construction signs — not the Residential, Commercial, or EZ application; Two sets of plans required (maximum size 42 in. x 30 in., minimum 8.5 in. x 11 in.) unless plans are already on file under a City of Fernley Standard Plan No.; Plan submittal must include a Site Plan (proposed sign and project address, existing signs, property lines with dimensions, streets, easements, setbacks, north arrow, drawn to scale), a Footing Plan (footing size, location, materials, reinforcing, and all embedded anchoring such as anchor bolts, hold-downs, and post bases), and Elevations (all views with dimensions, vertical dimensions and heights, pole type/size/thickness/materials); Electrical plans required for illuminated signs: disconnect location, size and number of circuits, and lamp type (incandescent, fluorescent, or neon) specified; Application must specify sign height above grade, sign type (free-standing/wall/directional/construction/other), and whether the sign is permanent or temporary; Plans, specifications, and calculations prepared by a licensed professional must be wet-stamped, signed, and dated per NRS 625.140 and 625.565; plans must be prepared by a Nevada State licensed engineer, architect, or contractor; Contractor must hold a current Nevada Contractor's License (NRS 624) and a City of Fernley business license; separate building/general contractor and electrical contractor information required on the application if the sign is illuminated; Permit becomes invalid if work does not commence within 180 days of issuance, or is suspended/abandoned for 180 days after work commences; a minimum of one inspection approval is required as evidence work commenced; permits are not transferable — any change in occupancy, operation, tenancy, contractor of record, or ownership requires a new permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Fernley Building Division (Building & Safety Division) at (775) 784-9900 before starting work.

$75 for a permanent sign or $35 for a temporary sign, per City of Fernley Resolution 20-009, Exhibit B — in addition to the Building Division's valuation-based permit fee and 65% plan review fee under Exhibit A.

Fernley does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Fernley Building Division (Building & Safety Division) at (775) 784-9900 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Sign Building Permit Application; Recommendations/Guidelines for Sign Plan Submittal (Sign Plan Submittal Checklist). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Fernley requires 3 inspection(s) for a sign building permit, in order: Footing, Electrical Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through City of Fernley Building Division (Building & Safety Division) ((775) 784-9900).

Apply through City of Fernley Building Division (Building & Safety Division) at 595 Silver Lace Blvd, Fernley, NV 89408. Phone: (775) 784-9900, email: building@cityoffernley.org. Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; permit submittal counter closes at 4:00 p.m. daily; closed all observed holidays. Inspection requests must be received by phone (775-784-9829/775-784-9900) by 4:00 p.m. the business day before the requested inspection date.. Official information: https://www.cityoffernley.org/74/Building-Department.

Fernley, Nevada has adopted: Nevada is a home-rule state for building codes with a mandatory statewide energy floor only: NRS 701.220 requires local governments that adopt or amend a building code to include, at minimum, the energy conservation provisions of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or an equivalent code adopted by the state Director of Business and Industry. There is no single statewide building-code edition — each Nevada city/county adopts and amends its own codes. Confirm your city's edition before assuming any other Nevada jurisdiction's codes apply. Source: Nevada Revised Statutes 701.220 (Energy conservation standards).; City of Fernley is a self-administering jurisdiction: pursuant to NRS 244.105/268.012, the City of Fernley Building Division (part of Community & Economic Development) independently adopts codes and issues building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits within Fernley city limits. Fernley does NOT route building permitting to Lyon County; the City runs its own Building Division at 595 Silver Lace Blvd. Source: City of Fernley Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 2, Sec. 8.02.01; City of Fernley Building Department page, cityoffernley.org/74/Building-Department; 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by City of Fernley per Fernley Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 2, Sec. 8.02.01, effective per Ordinance adopted June 18, 2025; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01 (electrical edition is one cycle behind the other 2024 codes); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; satisfies and exceeds the NRS 701.220 statewide energy floor; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01; 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — adopted by City of Fernley, Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01 (Nevada jurisdictions in this region use the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code); 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments by the Northern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council (NNICC) — regional amendments adopted by City of Fernley alongside the 2024 codes; final document dated 2/20/2025. Source: City of Fernley Building Codes page and 2024 NNICC Code Amendments Final PDF; Transition period: as of the City's Building Codes page (current as of this review), contractors, developers, and owner-builders may submit plans under EITHER the 2018 codes or the newly adopted 2024 codes; as of January 1, 2026, all new plan submissions must comply with the 2024 codes. Source: City of Fernley Building Codes page, cityoffernley.org/76/Building-Codes; Prior codes (superseded, still valid for permits filed before the 2024-code mandatory date): 2018 IBC (with appendices C, E, H, I), 2018 IRC (with appendices A, B, C, G, H, Q), 2018 IMC, 2018 IPC, 2018 IFC (with appendices B, C, D), 2018 IPMC, 2017 NEC, 2018 IFGC, 2018 IECC, 2018 IEBC, 2018 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code, 2018 UPC, 2018 UMC, and 2018 Northern Nevada Amendments — per Fernley Municipal Code Sec. 8.02.01 and the City's 'Design Criteria 2018 Codes' handout. Local amendments apply — see the Fernley overview page for the full list.

Yes. The City of Fernley uses a dedicated Sign Building Permit Application, separate from the Residential, Commercial, and EZ Over-the-Counter applications, submitted to the Department of Building and Safety at 595 Silver Lace Blvd.