Shed Permit in Las Vegas, NV
Permit Summary
Do You Need a Shed Permit?
Exemptions
Under the currently effective 2019 Administrative Code §301.4.1(14), a one-story detached single-family residential accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use is exempt from the building permit when floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. The exemption does not eliminate zoning requirements. This specific exemption does not cover attached, multi-story, or otherwise nonqualifying shed configurations; regulated trade work may still require permits.
Attached Shed Rules
The §301.4.1(14) building-permit exemption is expressly limited to detached accessory buildings. An attached shed or addition is outside that exemption and follows the building-permit-with-plans path. Title 19 also regulates accessory-structure placement and attachments.
Shed Use Rules
The building-permit exemption applies to one-story detached single-family residential accessory buildings used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses. Habitable conversions or dwelling-unit uses are outside this shed exemption and follow the applicable residential permit and zoning rules.
Zoning & Placement Rules
Zoning Rules
All sheds must comply with applicable City zoning even when the building permit exemption applies. The current Unified Development Code controls standard zoning districts; parcel-specific review may involve zoning, aesthetic standards or a variance when proposed placement or design does not meet the applicable rules. Downtown Form-Based Code and special/master-planned areas can have different standards.
Setback Rules
Setbacks depend on the zoning district and any special-area standards. In the R-1 district, a detached accessory structure is generally required to be 6 feet from the main building, 3 feet from the rear lot line, 3 feet from a side lot line, and 15 feet from a corner-side lot line. LVMC 19.06.040 provides that no setback is required for a detached accessory structure from a property line that abuts an alley. Other districts and special-plan areas can differ.
Maximum Height Rules
Height is zoning-district specific. In the R-1 district, an accessory building may not exceed two stories, 35 feet in height, or the height of the principal dwelling unit, whichever is less. Other zoning districts, Form-Based Code areas and special-plan areas may use different standards.
Lot Coverage Rules
Lot coverage and accessory-structure size depend on zoning. In the R-1 district, an accessory structure may not exceed 50 percent of the principal dwelling's floor area; the aggregate ground-floor area of all accessory buildings may not cover more than 50 percent of the rear yard; and all structures, including accessory structures, must remain within the district's 50 percent maximum lot coverage. Other districts can differ.
Special Area Rules
Property-specific standards may differ from the general residential zoning tables. The City's Form-Based Code applies to mapped downtown Form-Based/Transect zones, and master-planned or developer-agreement areas such as Skye Canyon, Skye Summit, Sunstone and others have their own development standards. The parcel's applicable zoning and special-area documents should be checked before siting a shed.
Permit & Review Path
Permit / Review Path
A qualifying one-story detached single-family tool/storage shed, playhouse or similar accessory building of 200 square feet or less follows the no-building-permit pathway, but zoning still applies and regulated trade work may require permits. A non-exempt shed is not on the City's no-plan permit list, so apply electronically through the Dashboard for a building permit requiring plans. The City reviews the application and construction documents for applicable code and zoning compliance, and permitted work is subject to required inspections.
Trade Permits & Professional Design
Trade Permit Rules
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work is not covered by the shed building-permit exemption. The City's homeowner guide requires permits for regulated work such as permanent wiring, outlets or light fixtures and for listed plumbing and mechanical installations. Include trade scope in the permit documents; separate trade permits or fees may apply depending on how the work is submitted and on any specific trade exemptions.
Professional Design Rules
Administrative Code §302.2 allows the Building Official to require plans, calculations and specifications prepared by a Nevada-registered design professional and requires submitted documents to comply with Nevada sealing requirements. The City's residential submittal guidance also calls for structural engineering and calculations when an accepted City or Southern Nevada standard drawing is not used. Whether professional design is required depends on the shed's design and submittal path.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Confirm the project is within City of Las Vegas jurisdiction, determine whether the one-story detached shed exemption applies, and comply with applicable zoning even when no building permit is required. A non-exempt shed requires a building permit with plans submitted electronically through the City dashboard and must comply with the currently adopted 2024 residential/building codes and applicable Title 19 development standards. Regulated electrical, plumbing or mechanical work requires the applicable permit path.
Required Documents
For a shed that requires a building permit, submit the building permit application and electronic construction documents describing the work and site. Principal submittals include a site plan showing property lines, existing and proposed structures, setbacks and easements; construction drawings; and plans, diagrams, calculations, specifications or other data required for the project. An owner-builder affidavit is required when using the owner-builder path, and structural, truss, soils, trade or special-inspection documents may be required depending on scope and design.