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Block / Screen Wall / Fence Permit in Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada

Required for block walls, screen walls, and fences in unincorporated Washoe County that exceed the exempt thresholds. Fences over 6 feet high (or over 30 inches in the front yard) require a permit. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height require a permit.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Fences exceeding 6 feet in height (or 30 inches in front yard) require a permit
  • Fence replacements over 100 linear feet require a permit
  • Retaining walls exceeding 4 feet in height require a permit
  • Rock walls over 4 feet require a permit
  • Block/masonry walls require a permit regardless of height if structural
  • Submit Residential Application (2023) with site plan showing wall location, height, and setbacks
  • Review Fences and Retaining Walls Handout (2022)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — Fence (valuation-based at $8.00 per linear foot)WCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Other Residential Valuations: Fence = $8.00/lf; then Table 1 fee applies. Example: 100 lf fence = $800 valuation = $45.00 + $3.36/additional $100 = ~$55.50.
Varies — valuation-based ($8.00/lf valuation, then Table 1 tiered fee)
Building Permit — Retaining Wall (valuation at $15.00 per linear foot)WCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Other Residential Valuations: Retaining Wall = $15.00/lf
Calculated using $15.00/lf valuation, then Table 1 tiered fee
Plan Review FeeWCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Table 9
65% of building permit fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Washoe County building department
~3–15 business days

How long did your Block / Screen Wall / Fence Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Washoe County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footings (if applicable)

    For masonry or block walls — verify footing depth, rebar, and setback before concrete pour

  2. 2

    Final

    Wall or fence complete — verify height, setbacks, and construction per approved plans

See the full Unincorporated Washoe County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Exempt fences: up to 30 inches in the front yard, or up to 6 feet in side/rear yards. Replacing up to 100 linear feet of existing fence does not require a permit.
  • Retaining walls under 4 feet and rock walls under 4 feet do not require a permit.
  • Block walls (CMU) along property lines often function as both screen walls and retaining walls — confirm height and structural requirements with the Building Program before starting.

Frequently asked questions

It depends on the height and function. Retaining walls and rock walls over 4 feet require a permit. Fences over 6 feet (or 30 inches in the front yard) require a permit. Block (CMU) walls that are structural always require a permit. Review the Fences and Retaining Walls Handout (2022) or call (775) 328-2020.

In Unincorporated Washoe County, the published Building Permit — Fence (valuation-based at $8.00 per linear foot) is: Varies — valuation-based ($8.00/lf valuation, then Table 1 tiered fee). Additional published fees: Building Permit — Retaining Wall (valuation at $15.00 per linear foot) — Calculated using $15.00/lf valuation, then Table 1 tiered fee; Plan Review Fee — 65% of building permit fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a block / screen wall / fence permit in Unincorporated Washoe County typically runs 3–15 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Washoe County Building Program at (775) 328-2020.

You'll need: Residential Building Permit Application (2023). Depending on your project, Unincorporated Washoe County may also ask for: Fences and Retaining Walls Handout (2022). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Washoe County requires 2 inspection(s) for a block / screen wall / fence permit, in order: Footings (if applicable), Final. Schedule each through Washoe County Building Program ((775) 328-2020).

Apply through Washoe County Building Program at 1001 E. Ninth Street, Building A, Reno, NV 89512. Phone: (775) 328-2020, email: building@washoecounty.gov. Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Official information: https://www.washoecounty.gov/building/.

Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), Chapters 1–35 — effective July 1, 2025 (compliance mandatory January 1, 2026); adopted per Washoe County Code Chapter 100 with 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapters 1–44 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — effective July 1, 2025; Nevada statewide energy floor per NRS 701.220 (eff. 2024-08-18) also applies; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), Chapters 1–8 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), Chapters 1–15 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 NFPA 54 and NFPA 58 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments by the Northern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council (NNICC) — incorporated by reference. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Washoe County overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

Checklists & handouts

Online permit portal

Codes & ordinances

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

Property Access

Unincorporated Washoe County's permit history is searchable by address

43,664 permits in our copy of Unincorporated Washoe County'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 Unincorporated Washoe County has issued.

43,537 of these 43,664 permits — 99.7% — carry an issued date, and those run from 2016 to 2026. The remaining 127 have no date at all.

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Block / Screen Wall / Fence Permit in other cities

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

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