Environmental Rules in Nevada (2026)
31 rules on the books across Nevada, 7 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Stormwater Management
Requirements for managing rainwater runoff on your property, including retention basins, permeable surfaces, and drainage plans.
Nevada: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsNevada Division of Environmental Protection administers federal NPDES stormwater permits statewide under NRS 445A.300…
Read full rule →Clark County
Significant RestrictionsClark County bans dumping anything but stormwater into the storm sewer system across unincorporated areas, including…
Read full rule →Henderson
Significant RestrictionsHenderson bans discharging anything but rain into its storm drains, and requires NPDES permit coverage and BMPs for…
Read full rule →Las Vegas
Significant RestrictionsLas Vegas bans dumping anything but clean stormwater into its storm drains, with the Director of Public Works enforcing…
Read full rule →North Las Vegas
Significant RestrictionsNorth Las Vegas bans discharging anything but stormwater into the City's storm-drain system under Municipal Code §…
Read full rule →Washoe County
Significant RestrictionsWashoe County's Nuisance Code makes it a public nuisance to discharge pollutants into receiving waters or into the…
Read full rule →Reno
Some RestrictionsReno bans dumping refuse, waste, or any pollutant into streets, storm sewer inlets, catch basins, or drainage…
Read full rule →Sparks
Some RestrictionsSparks bars anyone from letting pollutants reach its storm sewer system and requires property owners and businesses to…
Read full rule →Erosion Control
Rules to prevent soil erosion during construction and landscaping, including required sediment barriers and ground cover standards.
Nevada: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsNevada bans discharging sediment-laden stormwater or any pollutant into state waters without an NDEP permit under NRS…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsConstruction sites and industrial facilities in unincorporated Clark County must submit written Best Management…
Read full rule →Henderson
Some RestrictionsHenderson requires a grading permit from Building & Fire Safety for most earthwork, with a narrow exemption for…
Read full rule →Las Vegas
Some RestrictionsThe City requires a development permit from the Director of Public Works before any grading, filling, or construction…
Read full rule →North Las Vegas
Some RestrictionsNorth Las Vegas requires a grading permit from the Department of Public Works before any land is cleared, graded, or…
Read full rule →Reno
Some RestrictionsReno requires a grading permit before excavating, filling, or altering land grade, per Municipal Code § 18.04.302; cuts…
Read full rule →Sparks
Some RestrictionsSparks requires best management practices on any construction site disturbing one acre or more, or less than an acre in…
Read full rule →Washoe County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Washoe County, altering land so it causes or contributes to erosion, subsidence, or surface water…
Read full rule →Coastal Development
Building restrictions near coastlines, including setbacks from the water, dune protection rules, and coastal commission permits.
Flood Zones
Building requirements for properties in FEMA flood zones, including elevation standards, flood insurance mandates, and construction limits.
Nevada: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsNevada participates in the National Flood Insurance Program through the Division of Water Resources under NRS Chapter…
Read full rule →Reno
Heavy RestrictionsReno has significant Truckee River flood risk with major floods in 1950, 1955, 1986, 1997, and 2017. New construction…
Read full rule →Sparks
Heavy RestrictionsSparks enforces FEMA floodplain rules under Municipal Code Chapter 15.11. Building in a special flood hazard area needs…
Read full rule →Las Vegas
Significant RestrictionsAny construction or development in a Las Vegas special flood hazard area needs a development permit from the Director…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsDevelopment within a floodplain in unincorporated Clark County must follow the Regional Flood Control District's…
Read full rule →Henderson
Some RestrictionsHenderson requires new construction and substantial improvements on flood-hazard building sites to be elevated or…
Read full rule →North Las Vegas
Some RestrictionsNorth Las Vegas zones flood-prone land into a Floodway Overlay District (F-1) and a Floodplain Overlay District (F-2)…
Read full rule →Washoe County
Some RestrictionsNew construction and additions in Washoe County's special flood hazard areas must be built to a certified elevation…
Read full rule →Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Limits on how long heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and passenger cars may idle, including bans near schools and residential areas.
Flood Elevation Requirements
FEMA NFIP minimum base flood elevation (BFE) construction standards for properties in mapped flood zones, including freeboard requirements above BFE.
Henderson
Some RestrictionsHenderson requires new construction and substantial improvements on flood-hazard sites to be anchored against flotation…
Read full rule →Las Vegas
Some RestrictionsNew and substantially improved homes in Las Vegas flood hazard areas must have the lowest floor built above base flood…
Read full rule →Reno
Some RestrictionsReno requires new construction and substantial improvements in mapped flood hazard areas to elevate the lowest floor…
Read full rule →Sparks
Some RestrictionsIn Sparks, residential lowest floors including basements must sit at least one foot above the base flood elevation in…
Read full rule →Washoe County
Some RestrictionsWashoe County requires a FEMA Elevation Certificate for construction in special flood hazard areas under Washoe County…
Read full rule →