Building permits, zoning and land rules in Ely, Nevada

At a glance

Building permits

City application process; confirm the requirements for your project with the Building Official²¹

Zoning

City districts with different lot, yard and height limits³

Tiny houses

Allowed conditionally in R-M-T tiny-house subdivisions; permanent foundation and community water and wastewater required⁴

Tiny-house size

250–900 square feet in R-M-T⁶

Septic approvals

Nevada uses local residential approval authorities; ask the city to identify the authority for an Ely parcel⁵⁷

Private wells

State domestic-well exceptions have conditions, including a waiver where public water service is available⁸

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Ely, NV?

Ely has adopted the 2018 International Building Code, including all appendices, for property, buildings and structures inside city limits.¹ The City of Ely publishes a building-permit package requiring an application, site plan, building plans and proof of ownership or owner authorization.² Nevada requires a building permit for covered construction, alterations and changes of use after a building official is appointed in territory covered by building codes or zoning regulations.⁹ Ask the City Building Official which building permit and inspections apply to your house, addition or accessory structure; we could not confirm Ely's activity-specific exemptions.²

Who handles building permits and planning questions in Ely?

Start a city building-permit application with the City of Ely Building Official, whose published package gives the department's contact and submission requirements.² The city also lists a Building Department Manager as a separate contact.¹⁰ Ask that office to identify your parcel's zoning district and route any proposed use or variance for review.¹⁰ Ely's building-permit package calls for copies of approved zone changes, variances and special or conditional use approvals from the White Pine Regional Planning Commission.² The same package requires plans to be submitted and approved before a building permit is issued.²

Does Ely have zoning, and what lot sizes and setbacks apply?

Ely has city zoning districts, and dimensional requirements depend on the district.³ In Ely's R-M-T district, lot area ranges from 2,000 to 4,999 square feet.¹¹ R-M-75 lots require at least 7,500 square feet, while R-M-50 lots require at least 5,000 square feet, with additional area required for units beyond 4.¹¹ Ely's R-M-75, R-M-50 and R-M-T districts require a 20-foot front yard and a 25-foot rear yard.¹² Side-yard and corner-lot provisions also apply; ask the city to confirm the full building envelope before choosing a house plan.¹²

How do septic approvals and private wells work inside Ely?

Nevada residential septic approvals come from local health authorities or county building departments, while NDEP's Bureau of Water Pollution Control permits commercial onsite wastewater systems.⁵ We could not confirm the residential septic approval authority inside Ely; ask the City Water and Sewer Department about sewer availability and a referral before assuming private septic is an option.⁷ Ely's building-permit package requires utility letters of intent to serve and clearance letters, including from City Water / Sewer.² Nevada's domestic-well exception requires a waiver before drilling or specified work where municipal or other public water service is available, and a permit is required when the dwelling is furnished water by an authorized provider.⁸

Can you live in an RV or tiny house on land in Ely?

Ely allows tiny houses in tiny-house subdivisions within the R-M-T zoning district, subject to conditions.⁴ An Ely R-M-T tiny house must have a permanent foundation, community water and wastewater, adequate parking and 250–900 square feet of living area.⁴ Ely's R-M-T tiny-house rule also requires compliance with the current International Residential Code adopted by the city.⁶ The R-M-T provision establishes a specific location and construction path, rather than permission for a tiny house on every Ely parcel.⁴ We could not confirm general RV occupancy or temporary camping rules inside Ely; ask the city building department about your proposed stay before buying an RV for the site.¹⁰

What are the steps to building a home in Ely?

1. Ask the city building department to confirm the Ely parcel's district and proposed use; dimensional rules vary by district.³¹⁰
2. Resolve water and wastewater service, then obtain the utility intent-to-serve and clearance letters listed in Ely's application package.²
3. Assemble the building-permit application, site plan, building plans, ownership documentation and any approved zoning changes or variances.²
4. Ask whether the Owner Builder Affidavit of Exemption applies; Ely's package lists that form when applicable.²
5. Obtain plan approval and the building permit before starting work; the city package warns of double permit fees for work begun before issuance.²
6. Arrange inspections with the city; Ely's package requires scheduling 24 hours ahead, excluding weekends and holidays.²

What should you check before buying land in Ely?

Ely requires a floodplain development permit before construction or other development in a mapped area of special flood hazard; applications go through the local floodplain administrator.¹³ Ask the City Building Official to identify that administrator and determine whether the parcel needs floodplain review before finalizing a design.²¹³ For land outside Ely city limits, use the White Pine County guide: the county's building-permit requirements cover unincorporated land.¹⁴ White Pine County's residential septic construction and repair guidance also concerns unincorporated land and does not confirm the authority inside Ely.¹⁵ Confirm the address's jurisdiction and wastewater route before treating a rural listing as a city building site.¹⁴¹⁵

Watch-outs

• Ely’s R-M-T tiny-house approval requires community water and wastewater and a permanent foundation; the provision does not establish an off-grid sanitation option.⁴
• We could not confirm residential septic permitting inside Ely; ask the City Water and Sewer Department to identify the approval authority for the address.⁷
• Ely’s corner-lot setback provisions need parcel-specific review before placing a home near a side boundary.¹²

Sources

1. 9-1-1: Building Code Adopted (Ely), quoted and re-checked
2. City of Ely Building Official (cityofelynv.gov)
3. Title 12 Zoning Regulations (Ely), quoted and re-checked
4. 12-4D-5: Tiny Homes (Ely), quoted and re-checked
5. Onsite Sewage Disposal System Program (Nevada statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
6. 12-4D-5: Tiny Homes (Ely), quoted and re-checked
7. City of Ely Water and Sewer Department (cityofelynv.gov)
8. NAC Chapter 534 — Underground Water and Wells (Nevada statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
9. NRS Chapter 278 — Planning and Zoning (Nevada statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
10. City of Ely Building Department Manager (cityofelynv.gov)
11. 12-4D-3: Minimum Lot Area, Width, Yard And Maximum Height Regulations (Ely), quoted and re-checked
12. 12-4D-3: Minimum Lot Area, Width, Yard And Maximum Height Regulations (Ely), quoted and re-checked
13. 13-1-4-2: Establishment Of Development Permit (Ely), quoted and re-checked
14. Building (2026 county census)
15. Building | White Pine County, NV (2026 county census)

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.