Clark County Building Department, Simplified.

Several jurisdictions have laws and policies that govern real estate construction for both minor and major renovation and new build projects. These regulations are in place to scrutinize the quality and safety of the work to ensure compliance with local guidelines, structural recommendations, and industry best practices. There needs to be a safety standard, and these laws and policies make sure we can literally “keep a roof over our head.”

In many cases, construction or architectural design permits from your local building authority are not necessary. However, new building projects such as major structural improvements work require a building permit before beginning the project. So to sum it up, homeowners (or their contractors) are expected to seek and secure a permit. Unfortunately, it is common practice among homeowners and contractors to begin the renovation or additional construction projects on their homes without applying for a permit, paying the application fee, or even having the work inspected and approved by the local inspection office.

Several reasons account for why people bypass statutory building regulations, including mandatory inspections. Tax and the permit acquisition process or many other reasons. Projects completed without a permit may turn out great with good quality and may never cause problems. However, the homeowner may be exposed to some risks, such as forfeiting the property's damage policy, should any harm or damage arise from the construction later. So, professionals in this space advise at least inquiring about a permit for every construction-related project, period. You do this, if you’re a Clark County resident, at the Clark County Building Department. Better safe than sorry both legally and for the structural integrity of your home.

At the Clark County Building Department, homeowners and contractors looking to obtain permits for residential, commercial, and civil building projects can get the needed assistance and support on their construction projects. The Department really does a great job at providing efficient permit management, plan review, and inspection services to all construction and development clients in Clark County, Nevada. As much as possible, these services are provided in line with both the county's building regulations and the state of Nevada. Where applicable, the need for a permit may be waived, if deemed unnecessary. However, always ensure to check with the Department to be certain instead of making an assumption. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PERMIT PROCESS 

The Clark County Department of Building provides a trusted, independent assessment and verification of your construction plan or architectural design. For those in the know, the Clark County Department of Building is IAS accredited, which invariably indicates that the Department operates at the highest legal, ethical, and technical standards in the industry—to be expected from any permit-giving government agency!

In light of the recent disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been several changes in the permit issuing process, which many may not yet be aware of. Effective January 1, 2020, all new commercial, residential, and civil building plans are required to be submitted online to the Clark County Department of Building. Previously, the Clark County Building Department processed applications for permits through physical submission of papers and all required documentation. To make the process easy and seamless for its customers, the Clark County Building Department launched an online Citizen Access Portal—a completely self-service portal designed to support and process nearly every permit or regulation-related request.

USING THE CITIZEN ACCESS PORTAL

Set up your account and get started. The Citizen Access Portal is easy to use and you can expect to get timely feedback on every request submitted inside of the county's Portal. While you can view information, check on processing status, or have limited services as an anonymous user on the portal, you will be required to register and create an account if you want to use all Building Department services. Citizens of Clark County, Nevada can use the Citizen Access Portal for any of the following services:

1. Search for a permit/application.

2. Apply for a new permit/application.

3. Request for renewals on expired building permits.

4. Submit your architectural plans for review

5. Request or schedule an inspection

6. View and track the status of your permit/application.

7. Make secure online payments.

In addition to these, users can also make adjustments to already issued permits. For Instance, one can request a change of contractor for issued building permits. It is important to note that all contractors or owners/builders must create or use their registered Clark County Citizen Access account. Again, registration can be completed by visiting the Citizen Access Portal. Use the portal's support feature or review the Create Citizen Access Account user guide if you run into any issues.

The Citizen Access Portal also gives users access to an unlimited database of advisory resources, guidelines, and updates at the Department. In a nutshell, this makes things easy because the rigors of physically going to the Building Department have been effectively taken care of. Applying for your construction permit can be done from the comfort of your living room—thanks COVID-19?

You may be curious about at what point a physical meeting with staff is possible. Citizens can use the portal to schedule an appointment, as well. Besides being able to apply and search for permits, estimate permit fees, and schedule an appointment, there is also an option to relay your feedback or get help with the process from an actual human. 

STANDARD PLAN SUBMITTAL FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMITS

The process is pretty standard as it applies to all other construction aspects in the building with regards to engineering, carpentry, fire prevention, etc. To get an approval for a single-family residence, contractors or homeowners are, in addition to the requirements explained in the previous sentence, expected to provide the following documents:

• Architectural Plans

• Electrical Plans

• Plumbing Plans

• Mechanical Plans

• Electrical Load Calculations

• Energy Calculations

These documents must be uploaded as an “Architectural Plan” type and submitted under “Standard Plan” via the portal. Other documents include: 

• Structural plans

• Structural calculations

• Landscape plans

• Utility plan

• Soils report

• Tentative map

• Truss calculations (this is not required at submittal, but will be required before final approval)

• Standard plan checklist (to be filled out as a form on the portal)

• Hourly plan review form (to be filled out as a form on the portal) 

• Blueprints

These forms can be uploaded and filed under the same name. Please note that the documents must be signed and sealed before uploading. I recommend following up for feedback on your submission after uploading your documents. Inspections are mandatory, so also plan to request and schedule a physical inspection after receiving your permit. Typically though, the Building Department staff will contact you should additional information be required to review your submission.

REQUESTING BUILDING PERMIT RENEWALS

Citizens can request a renewal on expired permits online as well. However, skip the portal for this one. To request a renewal on an expired building permit, email your completed permit application form to expiredpermits@clarkcountynv.gov. Ensure that the application form includes the work scope being done, which must read as "Renewal of Expired Permit,” and that the email’s subject line includes the expired permit number. 

In like manner, customers can request a change of contractor on an issued plan. Should a homeowner decide to switch contractors before the project is completed, they can also use the portal to request a contractor change. Getting your permit yourself is quite easy and straightforward. However, your contractor can also do this on your behalf. In the case of commercial buildings, only a licensed contractor may obtain a building permit. 

THE WRAP-UP

The Clark County Building Department has made several improvements to its permit process. It is now easier to manage your permit inquiries without having to walk into the office and try to explain your situation to a representative—thanks COVID-19? If you have any questions, please reach out to me—I am extremely well-versed in the processes and procedures.