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Unincorporated Clark County: plumbing permits
Source: Las Vegas Plumbing Help (lasvegasplumbinghelp.com), part of the Local Help Stations network (localhelpstations.com). Last updated November 2, 2026.
Plumbing permits
Clark County requires a permit before anyone constructs, alters, repairs or replaces a building, or installs, alters, repairs or replaces any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by code. Exemptions are in Clark County Building Administrative Code 22.02.190. (source: Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention)
Clark County Simple Online Permits need no plan review and are issued through the Citizen Access Portal, which requires an account. They are limited to these items: (source: Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention)
- Electrical: test and tag, and same size panel replacement only.
- Residential mechanical: A/C furnace replacement under 5 tons, condenser pump combo replacement, and furnace replacement (one appliance per permit).
- Plumbing: gas re-tag, water heater, reverse osmosis, water softener, and residential re-pipe (one item per permit).
- Simple online permits are not renewable. Items in a manufactured home are permitted by the Nevada Manufactured Housing Division.
(source: Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention)
- Clark County requires a permit to replace a water heater, from the building department in your jurisdiction. Water heater permits are available online.
- A homeowner may replace the water heater at their primary residence. A rental property needs a licensed contractor because the county treats rental property as commercial.
- A homeowner may pull the permit and hire a licensed contractor to work under it, but the permit holder becomes the responsible party for the installation and inspections.
- In a garage, the water heater must sit on a stand at least 18 inches from the floor to the burner or element.
- Where a leak could damage other parts of the building (for example second floor patio closets, furred areas and under counter installs), a pan is required with a separate drain line of at least 3/4 inch to the outside.
(source: Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention)
Clark County requires a permit for a water conditioning system. A homeowner may install it with a permit and inspection, or hire a water conditioning or plumbing company, which must also get a permit. These permits are available online. (source: Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention)
Nevada rules that apply here
Plumbers are licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board in classification C-1. Subclassification C-1d Plumbing covers water supply, sanitary waste and vent systems, roof drainage, hydronic heating up to 200,000 BTU, landscape irrigation, water heating (including solar), permanent gas supply, and medical gas, compressed air and vacuum piping. A C-1d licensee may also pipe water and gas from the edge of the building to the utility meter (NAC 624.190). (source: Nevada Legislature)
The under $1,000 repair exemption never covers work of a type done by a plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, heating or air-conditioning contractor (NRS 624.031). (source: Nevada Legislature)
See the permit comparison, water heater rules and checking a license.
Other cities: Unincorporated Clark County · City of Las Vegas · City of Henderson
On this site: What license does a Las Vegas plumber need? · Do I need a plumbing permit in Las Vegas? · Replacing a water heater in Las Vegas · What to do if you smell gas in Las Vegas · Plumbing work that needs no permit in Las Vegas · Water softener and reverse osmosis permits in Las Vegas · Leak repair and repiping permits in Las Vegas · Plumbing inspections in Las Vegas · Finding a licensed plumber in Las Vegas · Plumbing problems in a Las Vegas rental · How to check a Las Vegas plumber's Nevada license · Can a handyman do plumbing work in Nevada? · What happens if an unlicensed plumber works in Nevada? · What must a Nevada plumbing contract include? · How much deposit can a Nevada plumber ask for? · The Nevada Residential Recovery Fund · How to file a complaint about a Las Vegas plumber · Cancelling a plumbing deal signed at your door in Nevada · Doing your own plumbing work in Las Vegas · Cities · FAQ · Sources
Sources
- Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention: Do I Need a Permit? (checked November 2, 2026)
- Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention: Building: Simple Online Permits (checked November 2, 2026)
- Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention: Inspection FAQ (checked November 2, 2026)
- Nevada Legislature (Legislative Counsel Bureau): NAC 624.190 (C-1 plumbing and heating) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Nevada Legislature (Legislative Counsel Bureau): NRS 624.031 (exemptions, including the under $1,000 repair exemption and owner-builders) (checked November 2, 2026)
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