How to Apply for Washoe County Building Permits

If you have trouble applying for or obtaining a building permit in Washoe County, DoNotPay can help!

If you are planning a home renovation project in Washoe County, NV, you will most likely need a building permit before you start the work. As the owner of the property, it is your responsibility to obtain the building permit before the work can commence. There are some situations, such as sheds that are less than 200 sq ft and playhouses that will not require a permit. However, it is always better to consult the Washoe County Building Permit Information page to confirm whether you need a permit or not.

In order to apply for , you will need to complete a permit application, attach plans for the structure you are building, and pay a fee.

When Is a Building Permit Necessary in Washoe County?

In most cases, when you are renovating a building, adding on, or building a new structure on your property, a permit is required.

A is necessary for the following projects:

Residential renovations, add-ons, improvement projects
New residential buildings
Manufactured homes
Mobile homes
Commercial buildings, renovations, and new construction
Demolition
Grading
In-ground swimming pools
Re-roofing
Utilities
Storage sheds larger than 200 sq feet (non-habitable structure) with no electrical, mechanical, or heating.
Wooden fences
Retaining walls higher than 48 inches or containing materials the retaining wall is supporting
Water tanks holding more than 5,000 gallons

If you build without a permit, fines can exceed $75,000. Always consult with the county to see if a permit is needed or not.

How to Get a Building Permit in Washoe County?

To get a building permit in Washoe County, you will need to have your project fully planned and documented.

To apply for a building permit in Washoe County, you will need to submit your application electronically through the planning and permit office. They no longer accept paper plans, so you will have to submit a scanned version. Once they have reviewed your documentation and plans, you will be invoiced for the fees designated by the office. In many cases, they will request revisions to your plans and are happy to discuss these requests with you. You will not be asked to pay any fees until the plans are fully approved.

What Fees Are Associated With Getting a Building Permit in Washoe County?

Building permit fees in Washoe County are set by the size of the structure you are building. The final decision as to the size of the structure is designated by the county. The Washoe County planning and permits office will review your plans before invoicing you for fees. The fee schedule for Washoe County has many variables and can be quite confusing.

Next Steps if You Cannot Get a Building Permit on Your Own?

If you are unable to get a building permit through Washoe County, you may need help. If you are looking for an easier way to get your building permit for Washoe county, consider going to DoNotPay.

Get Your Washoe County Building Permit With DoNotPay

How to apply for a Building Permit in Washoe County without a hassle with DoNotPay:

If you want to apply for a building permit quickly and easily in Washoe County but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered. Apply for your building permit in 6 easy steps:

Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
Choose one of the following options:

Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application

Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.
Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and timeline for the project.
Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

Why Use DoNotPay for Your Washoe County Building Permit?

When you use DoNotPay for your Washoe County Building permit, you will find peace of mind. DoNotPay is:

Easy	You can start the process of getting your building permit with the help of DoNotPay with a simple click of a button.
Fast	All you have to do is answer a few questions and let DoNotPay take care of the rest. When you use DoNotPay, you will spend a fraction of the time and experience a lot less stress about getting your building permit.
Successful	With DoNotPay, your request for a building permit will be processed and approved in no time.

Building Permits are not the only thing that DoNotPay can help you with. Read on to learn what other services DoNotPay makes easier.