Clark County Offers Amnesty To Errant Homeowners

Earlier this month, the Clark County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution that would offer amnesty to homeowners who have completed construction on their homes without obtaining the necessary permits and licenses. The resolution allows County Development Services to waive penalties for homeowners who come forward now through September 1, 2009 and resolve any building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical construction or repair work done to homes without permits.

Typical projects that require permits would include garage conversions, room additions, fences, block walls, pools, spas, play houses and sheds.

Other projects that require permits are less obvious. These might include installing new water heaters or water softeners, putting in new electrical outlets and fixtures, or installation of gas lines of barbeques and other outdoor appliances.

When these types of projects are conducted without obtaining permits and inspections, violators are normally required to pay a Work Without Permit fee and an Investigation Fee, according to Clark County Building Administrative Code.

The Work Without Permit Fee must be paid in addition to the appropriate permit fee and is equal to the amount of the permit fee. In short, the violator is usually required to pay double the regular permit fee.

The Investigative Fee is assessed to pay for a special investigation into the scope of the violation. The Investigative Fee is assessed at twice the hourly rate.

Homeowners who come forward during the amnesty period will avoid many of these punitive costs, according to Development Services. “Those who take advantage of this temporary amnesty program will pay normal permit and applicable plan review fees to permit and legalize the unpermitted work, but no work without a permit or investigative fees will apply,” reads a written County statement.

For information on obtaining permits and inspections for perviously unpermitted work, Clark County homeowners may call Development Services at (702) 455-8040.