Las Vegas permitting starts with confirming that the property is actually inside the City of Las Vegas. A large part of the Las Vegas Valley—including the entire Las Vegas Strip—is in unincorporated Clark County, where county agencies rather than the city handle building and development approvals. For properties within city limits, Building & Safety administers building permits, plan review, inspections, and related construction-code requirements.
The city separates simpler permits from projects that require plan review. Certain qualifying repairs and trade permits can be issued online without plans, while other residential, commercial, and civil projects require electronic plan submission and review. Planning applications—including rezoning, variances, special-use permits, subdivision maps, and other land-use requests—are handled separately through the city’s CLV EPLAN system.
Zoning review can be important before construction plans are finalized. Las Vegas uses a unified development code covering zoning, subdivision regulations, urban design, signage, landscaping, and architectural standards. Downtown properties may also fall within form-based zoning districts, where development standards differ from conventional zoning rules.
Historic properties can add another approval step. Projects affecting properties listed on the Las Vegas Historic Property Register or located within locally designated historic districts may require Historic Preservation Commission review and a Certificate of Appropriateness. Applicants should begin with the City’s Building & Offsite Permits resources and verify jurisdiction before preparing an application.