Apply for a Building Permit

All Building Permit Applications are to be submitted electronically through our online permitting portal at www.onenv.us.

Once a Reno building permit application is accepted, check the application status online, pay fees online, and more on the ONE Regional Licensing and Permitting portal.

For questions regarding building permits, please contact the Development Services Department.

Building Permit Types

  • EZ Permits - Permits which do not require building plans or discretionary review.
  • Flat Rate Permits - A flat rate has been established to cover both the Building Plan Review fees and Building Inspection fees for Flat Rate permits. Permits are subject to an application fee, permit issuance fee and plan review/inspection fees from other departments. 
  • Sign Permits - A flat rate has been established to cover both the Building Plan Review fees and Building Inspection fees. Permits are subject to an application fee and a permit issuance fee
  • Valuation Based Permits - Permits which require discretionary review by one or more departments. Project valuation is used to determine Building Plan Review Fees and Building Permit Fees (Inspection Fees).  Permits are subject to an application fee, permit issuance fee and plan review/inspection fees from other departments. 

Valuation Based Permit Fee Estimator

The Building Permit Fees Estimator is designed to help estimate the cost of Building Permit Fee and Building Plan Review fees that are assessed on valuation-based building permits.

To get started, simply enter the estimated valuation of your project and click on Calculate Fees.

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  • New Construction and Additions will use the Building Valuation Table to determine the overall project valuation. All others – Fees are based on the overall construction cost of the project.

Disclaimer

This estimate reflects only the base building permit fee and plan review fee. Additional fees may include but are not limited to: Permit Application, Permit Issuance, Engineering, Planning plan review and inspection fees, health, fire, sewer, and impact fees.  All applicable fees will be assessed during the formal application process. For a complete list of fees, please refer to the City of Reno Valuation Based Permit Type Fee Schedule.

For assistance, please contact Permit Services at permits@reno.gov.

Building Fee Schedules

Building Codes and Amendments

The building codes and standards listed below are currently in effect for the City of Reno.

The 2024 Building Codes along with the 2023 NEC were adopted by the City of Reno on July 1, 2025.  Applications submitted and accepted prior to January 1, 2026, will be able to use either the 2018 or 2024 code editions provided the same edition for all codes is followed.

Effective January 1, 2026, plans will only be accepted under the 2024 edition of the building codes. 

The following codes can be viewed online or purchased through the International Code Council website.

The following is a reference guide for the Nevada design and construction industry. Items have been taken from the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), Nevada Administrative Code (NAC), building codes, city and county ordinances, board policies, and recommended minimum practices and standards. The manual is intended to assist in understanding the laws governing building design and construction in the state of Nevada:

Projects Exempt from Building Permits

Most construction and building projects require a building permit. Please see Section 105.2 - Work Exempt from Permit in the International Building Code for a list of items that would not require a permit.  For projects that are exempt from permits for one- and two-family dwellings, please see Section R105.2 - Work Exempt from Permit in the International Residential Code. 

If a building permit or building permit application reaches 180 days of inactivity, it will be expired (see below for expiration rules).  Once expired, in order to permit or complete the project, a new application submittal would be required. 

Application Expiration

Once an application has been received/processed, it must be pursued in good faith in accordance with the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Building Code (IBC).  If no activity is recorded for a period of more than 180 days, the application will be expired.

Permit Expiration

Once a permit has been issued, in order to maintain its validity, a Pass or Partial inspection status must be completed within the first 180 days and every subsequent 180 day period in accordance with the IRC and IBC.  If no Pass or Partial inspection status has been recorded on the permit, the permit will be expired.  

Extension Requests

As a one-time courtesy, for permits and applications in good standing, 30 days prior to the application/permit expiration date, the associated contacts of a record will be able to request a one-time extension through the online portal (www.onenv.us).

Extensions will only be granted on active permits/applications, and must be submitted prior to expiration.

*Extension Requests are not available for EZ permits.

Fees:

  • Application Extension Fee - $131.25
  • Permit Extension Fee - $131.25

Please review the Building Permit Extension Request Process and Procedures for a step-by-step submittal process.  For any questions, please contact the Development Services Department at  (775) 334-2063 or email permits@reno.gov.

Damage Assessments can be requested any time there is an event which causes damage to a structure i.e. Fire, Flood, Wind Damage, etc.

How to request a Damage Assessment

Requests for a Damage Assessment can be submitted online through the online permitting portal at www.onenv.us.

Please refer to the complete Damage Assessment Step-by-Step guide for submittal assistance.

Fee

The fee for a Damage Assessment is $79.50 and must be paid prior to an inspection being completed.

Inspection

Inspection will automatically be scheduled for the next business day. On the day of your inspection, a text message will be sent out between 7:00 – 7:30 am with a window of time for your inspection.

Final Report

Upon completion of required inspection, a Structure Damage Report will be generated which will detail the permit requirements.

Structure Damage Demo or Structure Damage Repair Permits

Damage Assessment Report will be required to be submitted as part of the permit submittal.

  • Download the Reno Building Inspections app to your smartphone to schedule a building inspection
  • Schedule online via the ONE Regional Licensing and Permitting portal OneNV.us by creating and logging into your account

On the day of the scheduled inspection, the inspector should send a text message to the cell number provided when the inspection was scheduled. The text message should provide an approximate time when the inspector will be on site. If a text message is not received, please contact the Building and Safety Division.

Get Details on Electrician and Plumber Journeyman Requirement

Each individual working in electrical or plumbing trades within the City of Reno will be required to possess the appropriate pre-apprentice, apprentice, or journeyman certificates. Get more information.