Las Vegas, NV Site Plan: Which Permit Desk Is Yours — City or County?

# Las Vegas, NV Site Plan: Which Permit Desk Is Yours — City or County?

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Does Las Vegas Require a Site Plan?

Yes — and before you draw anything, you need to confirm which jurisdiction you're in.

The Las Vegas metro area has two separate permit jurisdictions that operate independently:

City of Las Vegas Building & Safety Department — for properties inside Las Vegas city limits

📞 (702) 229-6251

Clark County Building & Fire Prevention Department — for properties in unincorporated Clark County

📞 (702) 455-3000

Both jurisdictions require a Building Site Plan as part of the permit package. But they have separate online portals, separate review staff, separate fee schedules, and separate inspection departments. A permit from one is not interchangeable with the other.

Use the Clark County Jurisdiction Locator (maps.clarkcountynv.gov/jurisdiction) to determine which office handles your property before you prepare a single document.

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Who Runs Into This in Las Vegas

Homeowners building pools, sheds, garages, additions, or patio covers — especially those who assume "Las Vegas" means the city when their address may be in unincorporated Clark County.

Contractors working across the metro who need to confirm jurisdiction for each job site — you can have two jobs on the same street but in different jurisdictions.

Builders developing new construction lots in the metro area — jurisdiction verification is step one before any design or submission.

Commercial clients building retail, office, or industrial facilities in either jurisdiction.

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What Projects Need a Site Plan in Las Vegas

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What Both Jurisdictions Ask For on a Building Site Plan

Submission requirements:

• Three (3) sets of site plans required
• Electronic submission required as of January 1, 2020
• All documents must be signed as required — pencil or whiteout not acceptable

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The Las Vegas Rules You Need to Know

Jurisdiction First — Everything Else Second

Before anything else, use the Clark County Jurisdiction Locator to confirm whether your property is inside Las Vegas city limits or in unincorporated Clark County. This single step determines:

• Which office accepts your permit application
• Which online portal you use
• Which inspection department you schedule

Do this before you draw, measure, or prepare any documents.

Who Can Prepare Plans in Nevada

Nevada law defines who can prepare and submit plans:

• Nevada registered professional engineer, residential designer, or licensed architect
• Licensed contractor under N.R.S 624
• Owner/builders for their own private residential property under N.R.S 624.031

Owner/builders must title plans without any reference to being prepared by a party other than the property owner. If the plans look like they were prepared by a professional but the owner signed them as self-prepared, the intake office may return them.

Electronic Submissions — Required Since 2020

Effective January 1, 2020, all new commercial, residential, and civil building plans must be submitted electronically in both jurisdictions. Paper-only submissions are no longer accepted for new applications. Confirm the specific electronic submission format with your jurisdiction before uploading.

Three Review Departments

Both jurisdictions run plan review through three departments:

1. Current Planning Zoning — land use, setbacks, heights, landscaping, lot coverage
2. Public Works Development Review — right-of-way dedication, drainage, off-site improvements
3. Building Plans Examination — building codes (IRC, IBC, NEC, UPC)

Your site plan and building plans will be routed through all three. Any one department can issue comments that require revisions.

Shed and Fence Exemptions

• Sheds under 200 sq ft AND under 12 ft tall AND with no electrical or plumbing: Exempt from permits
• Fences up to 6 feet (Type A fencing, not a pool barrier): Exempt from permits
• Decks 30 inches or under above grade: May be exempt — verify with your jurisdiction

These exemptions are precise. A 201 sq ft shed or a 6.5-foot fence is no longer exempt and requires a full permit with a site plan.

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How the Site Plan Tool Handles Las Vegas Projects

Step 1 — Select your parcel: Enter your Las Vegas or Clark County address. The tool loads Clark County parcel data and maps your property boundaries automatically.

Step 2 — Draw fence: If a fence permit is part of the project, mark the fence location on the site plan with height notation.

Step 3 — Place your shed: Drop the shed footprint on the lot. Note the dimensions — the 200 sq ft / 12 ft threshold determines whether a permit is required.

Step 4 — Add condensing unit location: Mark all ground-mounted HVAC condensing units on the plan — Clark County specifically requires this.

Step 5 — Generate right-of-way: Add the ROW boundary and street centerline dimensions — required for Public Works review.

Step 6 — Edit title sheet: Add the Assessor's Parcel Number (APN), property address, and scale — all required on the application.

Step 7 — Export for electronic submission: Download your PDF and submit through your jurisdiction's electronic portal.

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Where the Tool Fits — and Where It Doesn't

The tool handles:

• Auto-loading Clark County parcel data
• Generating property lines, setbacks, and building footprints
• Showing condensing unit locations, fence placement, and ROW
• Producing a title sheet with APN, address, and scale
• Exporting PDF for electronic submission

The tool does NOT replace:

• Jurisdiction verification (must be done via the Clark County Jurisdiction Locator)
• Electronic portal submission (separate for city vs. county)
• Three-department plan review coordination
• Structural engineering for permitted structures

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What This Doesn't Replace

Our site plan creator produces preliminary and permit-style site plans for residential projects. It does not produce:

• Sealed engineering plans
• Certified surveys
• Landscape architecture drawings
• ROW dedication documents

Always confirm specific requirements with the City of Las Vegas Building & Safety Department or Clark County Building & Fire Prevention Department for your specific jurisdiction before submitting.

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DIY vs. Drafter vs. SitePlans.ai

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Common Mistakes on Las Vegas Permit Applications

1. Submitting to the wrong jurisdiction — This is the single most common mistake in the Las Vegas metro. Verify with the Jurisdiction Locator before submitting.
2. Missing the condensing unit locations — Clark County specifically requires all ground-mounted condensing units to appear on the site plan. Forgetting them is a common plan review comment.
3. Paper submission — Electronic submissions are required. Paper-only packages are no longer accepted.
4. Missing the APN — The Assessor's Parcel Number must appear on all permit applications.
5. Owner/builder title issue — If the plans reference a professional preparer but are submitted as owner-prepared, they may be returned.
6. Building footprint doesn't match floor plans — The site plan footprint must match the floor plan dimensions exactly.

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Local Resources

• City of Las Vegas Building & Safety Department — permits and inspections inside city limits
• Clark County Building & Fire Prevention Department — permits for unincorporated Clark County
• Clark County Jurisdiction Locator — determine which office handles your address

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Nearby Cities

SitePlans.ai covers the full Nevada and Southwest region:

• Henderson, NV area — Clark County
• Raleigh, NC — impervious surface threshold and Lot Grading Plan
• Nashville, TN — Mortgage Loan Survey accepted as site plan
• Nevada state resources

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Pricing

Your first plan is free — no card required.

For Enterprise deals contact sales@siteplans.ai

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FAQ

1. How do I know if I'm in Las Vegas city limits or unincorporated Clark County?

Use the Clark County Jurisdiction Locator. Enter your address and it will confirm which jurisdiction handles your permits.

2. What's the difference between the two permit offices?

City of Las Vegas Building & Safety handles permits inside city limits. Clark County Building & Fire Prevention handles unincorporated areas. They have separate portals, staff, fees, and inspection schedules. Permits are not transferable between them.

3. What does the site plan need to show in Las Vegas?

All property line locations with dimensions, north directional arrow, street names and ROW width to centerline, building footprint (matching floor plans), all ground-mounted condensing unit locations, easements, and scale.

4. How many sets of plans are required?

Three (3) sets of site plans are required.

5. Are electronic submissions required?

Yes. As of January 1, 2020, all new building plans must be submitted electronically in both jurisdictions.

6. What size shed is exempt from permits?

Sheds under 200 square feet AND under 12 feet tall AND with no electrical or plumbing are exempt from permits.

7. What size fence is exempt from permits?

Fences up to 6 feet in height (Type A fencing, not serving as a pool barrier) are exempt from permits.

8. Can I prepare my own plans as a homeowner?

Yes. Owner/builders may prepare and submit plans for their own private residential property under N.R.S 624.031. Plans must be titled as owner-prepared — no reference to a professional preparer.

9. What are the setbacks in Clark County R-1 zones?

Front 20 ft, Side 5 ft, Rear 15 ft, Height max 35 ft. Always verify your specific zoning district.

10. Does the Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) need to be on the application?

Yes. The APN must appear on all permit applications.

11. Does SitePlans.ai guarantee permit approval?

No. Permit approval depends on your local building department's review, project scope, and code compliance.

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