Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Winnemucca, Nevada

Winnemucca’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Winnemucca city

  • Adopted with local modifications and fee modifications; editions: IBC 2012, IRC 2012, NEC 2011, IECC 2009, IFC 2012

  IBC/IRC edition: 2012 (with local modifications)

  “the building and related codes adopted by the state and applicable to the city are designated and adopted and incorporated in this chapter by reference with the same effect as if set out herein verbatim and with local changes and modifications including fee modifications as set out herein.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Winnemucca city limits

  • Title 17 of the city code is the zoning ordinance, with multiple districts

  “The following property development standards shall apply to all land and structures in the R-2 district.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Single-Family Residential district inside Winnemucca city

  • Varies by zone class: R-1-6 6,000 sq ft; R-1-7.5 7,500; R-1-9 9,000; R-1-12 12,000

  R-1-6 lot area: >= 6000 sq ft · R-1-12 lot area: >= 12000 sq ft

  “except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following minimum standards apply: zone class area (sq. ft.) lot width lot depth minimum yards front side rear r-1-6 6000 60 70 20 5 5 r-1-7.5 7500 60 90 20 5 10 r-1-9 9000 70 100 20 5 10 r-1-12 12000 80 110 20 5 10”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AR Agricultural Residential district inside Winnemucca city

    “a. minimum lot area: 1.0 acre. b. average lot depth: 170 feet. c. average lot width: 160 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  AR Agricultural Residential district inside Winnemucca city

  • Front 20 ft, side 10 ft, rear 10 ft; accessory buildings 5 ft from rear and side lines

  front yard: >= 20 feet · side yard: >= 10 feet · rear yard: >= 10 feet

  “d. minimum yard requirements: 1. front yard: 20 feet. 2. side yard: 10 feet. 3. rear yard: 10 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 Single-Family Residential district inside Winnemucca city

    “r-1-6 6000 60 70 20 5 5 r-1-7.5 7500 60 90 20 5 10 r-1-9 9000 70 100 20 5 10 r-1-12 12000 80 110 20 5 10”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-2 Multiple-Family Residential district inside Winnemucca city

  • Height limits for R-1 and AR not found in provided sections

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (or three stories)

  “Height restrictions: No principal building or structure shall exceed three stories or thirty-five feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured and mobile homes inside Winnemucca city

  • State NAC 489 adopted; the state law controls unless the city rule is more stringent
  • Permanent foundation required on private lot except as the code provides; 16 inches minimum from chassis frame to top of footing
  • Floodplain: lowest floor at or above base flood level; none in a floodway except existing parks

  chassis to footing: >= 16 inches

  “a minimum of sixteen inches shall be required from the bottom of the chassis frame member to the top of the footing (runner).”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Guest houses in the AR Agricultural Residential district (and identical RE text) inside Winnemucca city

  • Guest house must be at least 20 feet from the main dwelling
  • Full ADU standards not found in provided sections

  distance main dwelling to guest house: >= 20 feet

  “b. a minimum distance of not less than twenty feet between a main dwelling and a guest house;”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Undeveloped lots inside Winnemucca city

  • Septic allowed temporarily only for lots more than 400 feet from the city sewer; connection required within five years after sewer reaches within 400 feet unless waived by council
  • A sewer service stub is required for each residence

  distance from sewer: > 400 feet

  “all undeveloped lots with the closest exterior lot line more than four hundred feet from the city sewer system may be allowed to temporarily install septic systems; provided, however, connection to the city sewer system for all parcels created by such map is required within five years from the time the city sewer system becomes available within four hundred feet of the nearest property line of any undeveloped lot, unless this requirement is waived by formal action of the city council.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Properties used for human occupancy inside Winnemucca city

  • Applies when the public sewer line is within 400 feet of the property
  • Connection within 90 days after service is available
  • Mandatory connection also applies if an existing private system becomes inoperable and sewer is within 400 feet
  • Water connection rule not found in provided sections

  distance to sewer: <= 400 feet · connection deadline: <= 90 days

  “each owner of houses, buildings or other properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, commercial, industrial or other like purposes situated within the incorporated area of the city shall connect to the city sewer within ninety days after such sewer service is available for use when the public sewer line is within four hundred feet of any property from which sewer system waste is discharged.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in special flood hazard areas inside Winnemucca city

  • Covers all structures including mobile homes, fill and other development
  • Manufactured homes not allowed in a floodway except existing parks/subdivisions

  “A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard area established in this chapter.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Manufactured home set-up permits on private lots inside Winnemucca city

  • Fees are computed from modified UBC Table 3-A
  • Plan check fee 65% of foundation permit fee; grading, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits $15 each; real-property conversion inspection $35

  foundation permit fee: per 5 USD per square foot

  “a. foundation permit fee, calculate from modified ubc table 3-a at five dollars per mobile home square foot. b. plan check fee, sixty-five percent of foundation permit fee. c. mobile home permit fee, as provided in nac 489.380, as amended. d. grading permit fee, fifteen dollars. e. plumbing permit fee, fifteen dollars. f. mechanical permit fee, fifteen dollars. g. electrical permit fee, fifteen dollars. h. inspection to verify conversion to real property - thirty-five dollars per inspection.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Winnemucca or Humboldt County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Winnemucca city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Winnemucca city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Winnemucca city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Winnemucca city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Winnemucca city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.