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Electrical Permit in Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada

Required for electrical installations, service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, and wiring for additions or alterations in unincorporated Washoe County. Work must comply with the 2023 National Electrical Code.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Installation, change, or repair of any hard-wired electrical system
  • Panel upgrades and service entrance changes
  • New circuits or rewiring for additions, alterations, or new construction
  • EV charger (EVSE) installation
  • Solar PV electrical wiring (separate from the building/structural solar permit)
  • Submit using the ONe NV permit portal or the EZ Permit form for basic work by licensed contractors Contractor

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Permit Issuance — base feeWCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Table 8 — added to all unit fees below
$45.00
New single- or two-family residential building — electrical (per sq ft)Table 8, New Residential Buildings — single- and two-family
$0.04 per sq ft (not including garages/minor accessory buildings)
Multifamily residential — electrical (per sq ft)Table 8, New Residential Buildings — multifamily (2+ units)
$0.03 per sq ft
Alterations, additions, modifications to existing residential — electrical (per sq ft)Table 8 — garages, minor accessory buildings, and modifications
$0.03 per sq ft
Service upgrade — up to 200 ampsTable 8, Services section
$45.00 base + $18.00 (services 600V or less, ≤200 amp)
Service upgrade — over 200 amps to 1,000 ampsTable 8, Services section
$45.00 base + $36.00
Residential appliance (fixed) — water heater, dryer, dishwasher, A/C, EV outlet, etc.Table 8, Residential Appliance section
$45.00 base + $3.00 per appliance
Private residential in-ground swimming pool (complete electrical system)Table 8, Private Swimming Pools section
$45.00 base + $15.00

Review timeline

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

How long did your Electrical 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

    Rough-In

    After wiring installed, before walls closed — verify conductor sizing, box placement, and service connections

  2. 2

    Final

    All devices installed, panel labeled, GFCI/AFCI protection verified per 2023 NEC

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

Tips

  • EZ Permits are available for basic electrical work (service changes, panel upgrades) by licensed contractors — download the EZ Permit — Electrical form from the Washoe County Building Program website. Contractor
  • All electrical work must comply with the 2023 National Electrical Code, adopted effective July 1, 2025.
  • Nevada state law (NRS Chapter 624) requires a licensed electrical contractor unless the owner is performing work on their own single-family residence.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Washoe County requires an electrical permit for: Installation, change, or repair of any hard-wired electrical system; Panel upgrades and service entrance changes; New circuits or rewiring for additions, alterations, or new construction; EV charger (EVSE) installation; Solar PV electrical wiring (separate from the building/structural solar permit); Submit using the ONe NV permit portal or the EZ Permit form for basic work by licensed contractors. 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 Permit Issuance — base fee is: $45.00. Additional published fees: New single- or two-family residential building — electrical (per sq ft) — $0.04 per sq ft (not including garages/minor accessory buildings); Multifamily residential — electrical (per sq ft) — $0.03 per sq ft; Alterations, additions, modifications to existing residential — electrical (per sq ft) — $0.03 per sq ft; Service upgrade — up to 200 amps — $45.00 base + $18.00 (services 600V or less, ≤200 amp); Service upgrade — over 200 amps to 1,000 amps — $45.00 base + $36.00; Residential appliance (fixed) — water heater, dryer, dishwasher, A/C, EV outlet, etc. — $45.00 base + $3.00 per appliance; Private residential in-ground swimming pool (complete electrical system) — $45.00 base + $15.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for an electrical 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) or EZ Permit — Electrical. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Washoe County requires 2 inspection(s) for an electrical permit, in order: Rough-In, 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.

Nevada generally requires a licensed electrical contractor for electrical work; however, homeowners may perform electrical work on their own single-family residence under NRS 624. Contact the Washoe County Building Program at (775) 328-2020 to confirm current requirements before proceeding.

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.

Other permits in Unincorporated Washoe County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Remodel PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRe-Roof / Roofing PermitSolar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitDemolition PermitCommercial Tenant Improvement PermitSwimming Pool / Spa PermitBlock / Screen Wall / Fence PermitEV Charger (EVSE) PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit (TMFPD)Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use

Electrical Permit in other cities

Boulder City, NevadaCarson City, NevadaDouglas County, NevadaElko, NevadaEly, NevadaFallon, NevadaFernley, NevadaHenderson, Nevada

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