What it looks like
- The contractor said a permit was not needed, and it was
- Work was covered up before a required inspection
- The city or county issued a correction notice or failed an inspection
- You were asked to pull the permit yourself as an owner-builder
- A later inspector found work that does not meet code
What Nevada law says
NRS 624.3011 allows discipline for willful or deliberate disregard of the building laws of the state or of any city or county. Under that section, performing work without a required building permit creates a rebuttable presumption that the violation was willful. Workmanship that does not meet local building codes is a separate ground for discipline under NRS 624.3017.
For residential improvement contracts, the contractor is responsible for obtaining the required permits (NRS 624.970). Be cautious if a contractor asks you to pull the permit as an owner-builder. Among other consequences, an owner who obtained the building permit is not eligible for the Residential Recovery Fund (NRS 624.510).
The facts that matter
These are the questions that decide whether there is a practical path to recovery.
- Whether a permit was required for the work, and whether one was issued
- Who pulled the permit
- The result of each inspection
- The specific code sections involved
- What it will cost to permit, open up, correct, and re-inspect the work
Proof to gather
- Permit and inspection records from the building department
- Correction notices or failed inspection reports
- An independent inspection report citing code sections
- The contract language about permits
- Photographs of the work before it was covered
See our guide to documenting a contractor dispute.
Options that usually fit
Contractors Board complaint
For clear licensing violations: abandonment, code problems, departures from plans, substandard work.
Case review and demand letter
A fixed-fee review of your file and a formal demand, when the breach and the amount are clear.
Construction defect claims (Chapter 40)
The required process for defects in a new home, addition, or alteration.
Bond and Recovery Fund claims
Two sources of recovery that do not depend on the contractor's ability to pay.
Common questions
How do I find out whether a permit was pulled?
Most Nevada building departments, including Clark County, Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, and Washoe County, have online permit searches by address. You can also call the building department.
Am I responsible for unpermitted work on my own property?
The building department can require the owner to obtain permits and correct the work, even if the contractor caused the problem. Those costs are part of what you can seek to recover from the contractor.
This page is general information about Nevada law, not legal advice. Every dispute turns on its own facts and documents.