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Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit in Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada

Required for interior alterations, remodels, and tenant improvements to existing commercial buildings in unincorporated Washoe County. Governed by the 2024 IBC. Separate trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are required for associated trade work.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Commercial interior alterations, change of occupancy, or improvements to commercial tenant spaces
  • Submit construction drawings to Washoe County Building Program via ONe NV portal
  • Plans must comply with 2024 IBC and applicable fire, accessibility (ADA), and energy codes
  • Contact Planning Division (775-328-6100) to confirm zoning and occupancy compatibility

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — valuation-based per Table 1WCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Table 1 and Building Valuation Data. Commercial occupancy costs per sf (Business group B, Type VB: ~$109.35/sf) are used for valuation.
Varies — valuation-based (same tiered table as residential)
Plan Review Fee — CommercialWCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Table 9 — 'Grading and all other Permits: 65% of Building Fee'
65% of building permit fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Washoe County building department
~10–60 business days

How long did your Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Washoe County?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Framing / Structural

    After framing and before wall cover

  2. 2

    MEP Rough-In

    Mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-ins before walls closed

  3. 3

    Insulation / Energy

    Energy code compliance before drywall (if applicable)

  4. 4

    Final

    All work complete, fire sprinkler certification, ADA compliance verified, Certificate of Occupancy issued

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

Tips

  • Commercial projects may require special inspections and a Special Inspection and Testing Agreement (2025 form) for structural elements.
  • A Structural Observation Agreement (2025 form) is required for projects with designated structural observation requirements.
  • Business license inspection is a separate $50 fee (Table 2, item 9) — contact (775) 328-2020.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Washoe County requires a commercial tenant improvement permit for: Commercial interior alterations, change of occupancy, or improvements to commercial tenant spaces; Submit construction drawings to Washoe County Building Program via ONe NV portal; Plans must comply with 2024 IBC and applicable fire, accessibility (ADA), and energy codes; Contact Planning Division (775-328-6100) to confirm zoning and occupancy compatibility. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Washoe County Building Program at (775) 328-2020 before starting work.

In Unincorporated Washoe County, the published Building Permit — valuation-based per Table 1 is: Varies — valuation-based (same tiered table as residential). Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — Commercial — 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 commercial tenant improvement permit in Unincorporated Washoe County typically runs 10–60 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: Commercial Permit Application; Construction Drawings. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Washoe County requires 4 inspection(s) for a commercial tenant improvement permit, in order: Framing / Structural, MEP Rough-In, Insulation / Energy, 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.

A commercial building permit is required for the main scope of work, along with separate trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical changes. Plan review is 65% of the building permit fee. Submit via the ONe NV portal at www.onenv.us.

Sources & verification

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

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.

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Other permits in Unincorporated Washoe County

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Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit in other cities

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