Apply for Permits
On this page: General Building Permit Information, Applications and Handouts, Animal Permits & Licenses, Home Occupation Permit, Miscellaneous Permits. All files below are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
General Building Permit Information
A representative will assist you in filling out required permit applications. Important: Only a Nevada licensed contractor may obtain a building permit for commercial construction.
A checklist of required plans and other documentation is attached to the building permit form. Generally, these items include: civil, plot, site, grading plans, landscape and building plans, including architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical drawings, and fire protection system.
The permit applications, plans, and other documentation are then reviewed for completeness by a plans technician.
If the plans are found to be complete, the applicant pays a plans check fee (65% of the estimated permit fee and a zoning check fee of 5% of the estimated permit fee) and the project is entered into the plans check process. You will be given a plans check number, which you should use in all inquires about the status of your project.
If the plans are found to be incomplete, you will be requested to provide revisions or missing information.
A one-stop cashier takes cash, checks, debit and credit cards for all transactions, and ample free parking is provided
Pre-Review AppointmentsWe offer pre-review appointments at which time we will review your plans in the design stage and point out potential problem areas. This avoids costly and time-consuming corrections and revisions during plan review. Appointments generally last about one-half hour, and can be made by calling Chris Knight, Interim Director, at (702) 229-6092.
For more information, call us at (702) 229-6916.
Additional fees of particular local interest are:
Payment of Fees:Plans check fees are payable upon submission of plans, based upon estimated valuation. Other fees are payable upon completion of plan review and issuance of permits. You will be contacted by a Permit Technician when your permits are ready and given a fee breakdown at that time. You have six months after notification that your permits are ready to pay your fees and pick up your permits.
Redevelopment Agency (Office of Business Development): Verify that all projects within the redevelopment area are consistent with the Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
Land Development (Public Works): Verify that plans comply with council imposed conditions, all applicable ordinances, and public improvement aspects of construction (right-of-way, flood control, traffic engineering, off-site improvements, etc.)
Architectural (Building and Safety): Scope of work, location, life safety, code compliance, occupancy, type of construction, square footage / allowable area site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, framing, roof, elevations, accessibility, etc.
Structural (Building and Safety): Structural integrity, type of construction, materials, strengths, overall dimensions and locations of all structural elements and openings, structural calculations, specific construction components.
Plumbing/Mechanical (Building and Safety): All plumbing and mechanical systems, equipment, and materials, Model Energy Code requirements.
Electrical (Building and Safety): All electrical fixtures, circuiting, grounding, panel schedules, diagrams, load calculations, etc.
Fire (Fire Services): Fire/life safety protection systems, fire sprinklers, alarms, hazardous materials, fire flow calculations, etc.
Each of the above agencies reviews plans in accordance with codes, ordinances, regulations and standards applicable to its specific area of responsibility.
Plan Check Timelines
How long will Plans Check take?Plan review time is dependent upon the size and complexity of the project. The department makes every effort to review plans as quickly as possible. Several options, such as Express Plans Review are available to expedite this process.
Again, much depends on the quality and completeness of the original submission and response time in correcting problems. The permit technician can give you an approximate time frame when he or she brings your plans into the system.
Projects can be fast-tracked through the plan review process in several ways including voluntary overtime pay for plans checkers, and, by special arrangement, incremental issue of permits (i.e., grading, foundation only, shell building, etc.) so that construction can commence before final plan review is completed. (A cautionary note: The applicant assumes a certain degree of risk if he chooses to follow the later alternative in that he may complete work which subsequent reviews may require to be changed.)
Plan Check ProblemsPlans examiners work on a "first in, first out" basis, by effective date of receipt of plans, with the exception that miscellaneous minor projects are reviewed first. Each functional area (electrical, architectural, etc.) gets a daily printout of plans awaiting review in the order of date received (oldest first). For a detailed list of typical plans check problems, check under related links below.
If a problem is encountered, the plans examiner will call the applicant, discuss the problem and follow up with a fax, if applicable. The speed with which the problem is resolved will determine how quickly the plans review process can proceed. If a problem cannot be resolved at the plans check level, you may wish to file an appeal.
Other AgenciesDepending upon your specific project, you may need to contact or visit other agencies outside the city of Las Vegas. These may include the
The Express Team has been extremely successful and very popular with the development community -- so popular that it has been difficult at times to obtain appointments. The keys to a successful express appointment are as follows:
Plan ahead and get started early. You must have approved civil and land use approvals (Planning Commission, City Council, etc.) before you can make an appointment.
Submit complete plans at least two weeks prior to your appointment. This allows for a pre-review to catch any obvious errors or omissions and gives you time to make corrections.
Have your complete team on hand and ready to make on-the-spot decisions, changes, etc., as required. (Remember to bring stamps, seals, etc.)
Almost everyone who has used the express system has come away satisfied, having saved time and money.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Express Plans Review is offered for small projects or plan revisions that typically require one hour for plans review. This same-day service is available for $200 per hour with a one-hour minimum. These fees are in addition to other permit or plan review fees.
Normally, appeals deal with code interpretations, or alternative materials or methods of construction. A formal appeal to the City Council may be made if the applicant disputes the ruling of the appeals board.
For a more detailed list, check out our related links to the right.
References used by the city of Las Vegas:
City of Las Vegas supplements to the:
Reasons why plans are rejected
Development Services Center
Applications and Handouts
Animal Permits & Licenses
"Cat fancier" means any person owning, keeping or possessing on his/her property, provided such person has safe, adequate cages in a completely enclosed building on the property, at one location, up to six adult cats for the purpose of showing in recognized cat shows, or for improving the variety of breed in temperament or conformation with a view to exhibiting in shows or feline events and must be entered in at least one cat show each calendar year; said cats shall be registered with at least one association recognized by the Animal Regulation Officer or, if spayed and neutered, need not be so registered or shown. (Ordinance 3618 § 17, 1991)
A cat fancier may keep and maintain on his/her property a maximum of six adult cats, provided that such person has first obtained from the Animal Regulation Officer a cat fancier’s permit for said cats and has paid the annual fee in the amount of $50.00, which cost shall include inspection. If granted, such permit shall be subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Animal Regulation Officer or the County Health Officer, to prevent the keeping of any and all such cats from becoming a nuisance. All cat fanciers meeting the provisions of this Section having a cat fancier’s permit, as described herein, need not have the property where the cats are maintained rezoned in order to be allowed to keep and maintain such cats thereon. (Ordinance 3618 § 70, 1991)
Animal Control Home Page
"Dog fancier" means any person owning, keeping, or possessing on his/her property, provided such person has safe adequate cages in a completely enclosed building on the property, at one location, up to six adult dogs for the purpose of showing in recognized dog shows, field trials or obedience trials, for working and hunting, or for improving the variety of breed in temperament or confirmation with a view in exhibition in shows or trials or for use as working dogs in hunting; said dogs shall be registered with at least one association recognized by the Animal Regulation Officer, and must be entered in at least one dog show per calendar year or, if spayed or neutered, need not be so registered or shown. (Ordinance 3618 § 26, 1991)
A dog fancier may keep and maintain on his/her property a maximum of six adult dogs, provided that such person has first obtained from the Animal Regulation Officer a dog fancier’s permit for said dogs and has paid the annual fee in the amount of $50.00, which cost shall include inspection. Any such permit, if granted, shall be subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Animal Regulation Officer or the County Health Officer, to prevent the keeping of the dogs from becoming a nuisance. Any person who meets the provisions of this Section and has in his or her possession, with respect to said dogs, a valid dog fancier’s permit, as described herein, need not have the property where the dogs are maintained rezoned in order to be allowed to keep and maintain such dogs thereon. (Ordinance 3618 § 70, 1991)
A "pet fancier" may own, keep or possess on his or her property not more than six spayed or neutered dogs over one year of age or twelve spayed or neutered cats over eight months of age, or any combination thereof if the number of dogs does not exceed six and the combined number of animals does not exceed twelve, provided that the pet fancier has obtained from the Animal Regulation Officer a pet fancier’s permit. The pet fancier shall obtain a pet fancier’s permit from the Animal Regulation Officer each and every twelve-month period. The Animal Regulation Officer shall issue the pet fancier’s permit only after inspecting the applicant’s property and determining that the dogs or cats, or both, will be safely confined in a completely enclosed building, residence or enclosed lot and do not pose a nuisance to the public. As a part of the application process, the Animal Control Officer shall notify all property owners contiguous to the applicant’s property that the applicant has applied for a pet fancier’s permit. The cost of the inspection and permit shall be $50. A pet fancier who has obtained a pet fancier’s permit need not have his or her property rezoned for the purpose of owning, keeping or possessing such pets. (Ordinance 3642 § 4, 1992)
When a professional animal handler permit is applied for, a fee of $50.00 shall be paid to the Animal Regulation Officer for an inspection of the commercial breeder’s facility, grooming parlor, grooming school, kennel, pet shop, or dog training facility. The inspection shall be conducted by an Animal Control Officer to determine compliance with this Title, and, if compliance is met, the permit shall issue. If inspection reveals that this Title or other applicable laws or regulations have not been complied with, the professional animal handler permit shall be withheld and the person so applying shall have ninety days within which to request a re-inspection without charge. The Animal Control Center itself shall be exempt from the operation of this Section. (Ordinance 3618 § 172, 1991)
Persons applying for a city of Las Vegas wild animal permit shall complete a wild animal permit application. A $25.00 fee shall be collected at the time the application is submitted. Wild animal permits can be approved or disapproved by the animal regulation officer or his designee only. An impound and boarding fee will also be collected when necessary.
Animals excluded from wild animal permits are:
Miscellaneous Permits
Film Permit Application
Public Right of Way Event Permit