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Residential Addition / Remodel Permit in Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada

Required for additions, structural alterations, interior remodels, decks, attached garages, carports, patio covers, and any work not on the county's exempt-work list. Work not on the exempt list requires a permit per WCC Chapter 100.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Additions that increase floor area, alter structure, or add rooms require a permit
  • Decks 200 sq ft or larger, or more than 30 inches above grade, require a permit
  • Retaining walls over 4 feet in height require a permit
  • Detached garages, sheds, and barns over 200 sq ft require a permit
  • Fences over 6 feet (or over 30 inches in the front yard) require a permit
  • Submit Residential Application (2023) with construction drawings

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit — valuation-based per WCC Chapter 100 Table 1WCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Table 1 and Other Residential Valuations table. Tiered table: $45 minimum (≤$500); up to $3,469.62 + $5.07/$1,000 ($500k–$1M). Other residential valuations: decks at $15.00/sf; fences at $8.00/lf; carports at $20.00/sf; retaining walls at $15.00/lf.
Varies — valuation-based (same tiered table as new construction, $45 min)
Plan Review Fee — Accessory Buildings / Other PermitsWCC 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
~5–30 business days

How long did your Residential Addition / Remodel 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)

    Before concrete pour for new footings — setback certification may be required

  2. 2

    Framing / Structural

    After framing is complete and before walls are covered — verify structure, connections, and blocking

  3. 3

    Final

    All work complete per approved plans

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

Tips

  • Exempt from permit: sheds/playhouses under 200 sq ft; decks under 200 sq ft and less than 30 inches above grade; fences up to 30 inches in the front yard or 6 feet in other areas; retaining walls under 4 feet; roof repairs under 100 sq ft.
  • Exempt fence replacements: under 100 linear feet replacement does not require a permit.
  • Decks and patio covers have a dedicated county handout — review it before submitting plans.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Washoe County requires a residential addition / remodel permit for: Additions that increase floor area, alter structure, or add rooms require a permit; Decks 200 sq ft or larger, or more than 30 inches above grade, require a permit; Retaining walls over 4 feet in height require a permit; Detached garages, sheds, and barns over 200 sq ft require a permit; Fences over 6 feet (or over 30 inches in the front yard) require a permit; Submit Residential Application (2023) with construction drawings. 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 WCC Chapter 100 Table 1 is: Varies — valuation-based (same tiered table as new construction, $45 min). Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — Accessory Buildings / Other Permits — 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 residential addition / remodel permit in Unincorporated Washoe County typically runs 5–30 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: Residential Addition Handout (2022); Decks and Patio Covers Handout (2022); Detached Garages, Sheds and Barns Handout (2022). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Washoe County requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential addition / remodel permit, in order: Footings (if applicable), Framing / Structural, 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.

Exempt work includes: sheds/playhouses under 200 sq ft; decks under 200 sq ft and under 30 inches high; fences up to 6 feet (or 30 inches in front yards); retaining/rock walls under 4 feet; roof repairs under 100 sq ft; patios/sidewalks/driveways at grade; pools under 24 inches deep; painting, flooring, cabinets, and countertops. The full exempt list is in WCC Chapter 100.

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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Residential Addition / Remodel Permit in other cities

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