These rules apply to UNINCORPORATED Clark County - which includes most of the Las Vegas Valley: Enterprise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Paradise, and Whitney are all unincorporated towns, not part of the City of Las Vegas. The county calls ADUs 'Accessory Living Quarters' and allows one by right in every single-family district under Title 30. Ordinance 5349 (effective March 5, 2026, implementing Nevada's AB 396 casita law) removed the old lot-size restrictions: lots of 4,000 sq ft and up now qualify by right, and smaller lots can seek a Special Use Permit. Size is capped at 75% of the main home's floor area on lots under 10,000 sq ft, rising to 100% on larger lots.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2]
Yes — unincorporated Clark County allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to the county's size limit under Nevada state law and the County's zoning code.
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| Where ADUs Are Allowed | By-right accessory use in all single-family districts (RS80 through RS2) and several others per Title 30 Table 30.03-1; prohibited only on lots under 4,000 sq ft and in manufactured/tiny-home parks unless a Special Use Permit is granted |
| Max Size (Detached) | 75% of the primary home's habitable gross floor area on lots under 10,000 sq ft (cannot be waived); 100% of the primary home's floor area on lots of 10,000+ sq ft or in the Nonurban Area. Must match the main home's roofline, colors, and materials; an RV cannot serve as an ADU |
| Max Size (Attached) | Same 75%/100% formula - the Accessory Living Quarters definition covers both attached units (without interior access) and detached structures, and kitchens are expressly allowed |
| Max Size (JADU) | No JADU category - county code recognizes one Accessory Living Quarters per lot |
| Max Height | Detached: 14 ft in the common valley districts (RS5.2, RS3.3, RS2); 25 ft or up to the main home's height in large-lot districts (RS80-RS10). Attached: the 35 ft primary-dwelling limit |
| Max Units | One Accessory Living Quarters per lot, in conjunction with a single-family residence; it does not count as an additional dwelling unit for density purposes. |
Setback & Parking Requirements [1][2]
Unincorporated Clark County requires a rear setback of about 5 ft for a detached ADU, and one off-street parking space is required. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| Rear Setback | 5 ft (accessory-structure standard in all RS districts) |
| Side Setback | 5 ft interior; 10 ft street side; 6 ft separation from the primary dwelling |
| Front Setback | Standard front setbacks apply (20 ft in RS5.2/RS3.3/RS2; 40 ft in RS80-RS10) - casitas effectively go in side or rear yards |
| Parking Required | 1 space per ADU (Title 30 Table 30.04-2), the maximum Nevada's AB 396 lets the county require |
| Owner Occupancy | Not required - the county's Accessory Living Quarters definition expressly allows rental for occupancy by others, and AB 396 protects long-term-rental use |
| Min Lot Size | 4,000 sq ft for by-right approval (Ordinance 5349 removed the old zoning-district minimums); smaller lots and manufactured/tiny-home parks can seek a Special Use Permit with a public hearing |
Permit Process & Fees [3]
An ADU in unincorporated Clark County is approved ministerially (by-right) within a standard building plan-check cycle (no published ADU-specific timeline; Special Use Permit cases add public-hearing scheduling); permit fees are valuation-based building-permit fees with no flat rate; a Special Use Permit adds roughly $500 application + $500 mailed-notice + $300 per posted sign under the fee schedule.
| Approval Process | By right on qualifying lots (4,000+ sq ft) - building permit only, no discretionary land-use hearing. Lots under 4,000 sq ft or in manufactured/tiny-home parks need a Special Use Permit through Comprehensive Planning with a public hearing |
| Review Timeline | a standard building plan-check cycle (no published ADU-specific timeline; Special Use Permit cases add public-hearing scheduling) |
| Permit Fees | valuation-based building-permit fees with no flat rate; a Special Use Permit adds roughly $500 application + $500 mailed-notice + $300 per posted sign under the fee schedule |
| Impact Fees | No ADU-specific impact fees published - confirm current totals with Building & Fire Prevention before budgeting |
| Plan Check | Standard plan check through Clark County Building & Fire Prevention; the casita must match the primary home's roofline, colors, and building materials to pass zoning review |
| Pre-Approved Plans | No county pre-approved casita plan program as of mid-2026 |
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Construction Costs [4]
Building an ADU in unincorporated Clark County typically costs $130,000-$250,000 (Las Vegas Valley market estimate) ($140-$280 (market estimate) per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $60,000-$140,000 (market estimate).
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Construction costs in unincorporated Clark County mirror the surrounding Inland Empire market. Rural parcels can cost more due to septic, well, access, and fire-hazard (WUI) requirements, so treat these as planning ranges and get local bids.
| Average Build Cost | $130,000-$250,000 (Las Vegas Valley market estimate) |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $140-$280 (market estimate) |
| Garage Conversion | $60,000-$140,000 (market estimate) |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $110,000-$230,000 (market estimate) |
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Rental Income Potential [5][6]
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,150-$1,500/mo (Las Vegas Valley market) |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,400-$1,800/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | Not as a stand-alone STR - under county code Ch. 7.100, casitas and guest quarters count as bedrooms of the main residence (one booking per property at a time), STRs need a county license, and the license application window has been closed since August 2023 |
| Est. Annual ROI | 5-8% annual return (market estimate) |
Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- June 2025: Nevada AB 396 (the 'casita law') signed - required Clark County and large cities to authorize ADUs on single-family lots by July 1, 2026, with kitchens allowed, at most 1 required parking space, and long-term rental protected
- February 18, 2026: the county adopted Ordinance 5349 (effective March 5, 2026) - removed the zoning-district lot-size restriction on Accessory Living Quarters and made the under-4,000 sq ft prohibition waivable via Special Use Permit
- March 5, 2026: the new rules took effect - by-right casitas on lots of 4,000+ sq ft countywide, with the 75% (under 10,000 sq ft) / 100% (10,000+ sq ft) size formula
- July 1, 2026: the City of Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas adopted their own AB 396 compliance ordinances - city parcels follow city rules, not Title 30
Tips for Building an ADU in Unincorporated Clark County
- Enterprise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Paradise, and Whitney are unincorporated towns - County Title 30 applies there, not City of Las Vegas rules (the Strip itself is in unincorporated Paradise)
- Watch the 14 ft height cap in RS5.2/RS3.3/RS2 - the common valley districts - single-story designs are the practical default
- On lots under 10,000 sq ft your casita is capped at 75% of the main home's habitable area, and that cap cannot be waived or varied
- Your casita must match the primary home's roofline, colors, and materials - budget for matching finishes, and don't plan on converting an RV
- Lot under 4,000 sq ft? A Special Use Permit is now possible (post-March 2026) but adds a public hearing and roughly $1,300+ in application costs
ADU Builders in Clark County
Looking for an ADU builder in Clark County? ADU projects need a contractor experienced with local zoning, the permit process, and utility connections — not every general contractor has built one. We match Clark County homeowners with experienced local ADU contractors who provide free, no-obligation quotes. Getting at least three bids typically saves 20-40% on the same scope.
Cities Within Clark County
If your property is inside one of these incorporated cities, follow that city's ADU code — not the County rules above:
Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Clark County Title 30 Unified Development Code (ALQ definition 30.07.02, standards 30.03.03, parking Table 30.04-2) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-07-30
- Clark County Ordinance 5349 text (ORD-26-900034, amending Title 30) Government Data — Accessed 2026-07-30
- Clark County Clerk - County Code (Ord. 5349 adopted 2/18/2026, effective 3/5/2026) Government Data — Accessed 2026-07-30
- Angi - ADU Construction Cost Data Market Data — Accessed 2026-07-30
- HUD Fair Market Rents Government Data — Accessed 2026-07-30
- Clark County Business License - Short-Term Rental Units Government Data — Accessed 2026-07-30
- Fox5 Vegas - Nevada casita law adds housing options across the Las Vegas Valley (Jun 2026) News Source — Accessed 2026-07-30
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ADU rules in unincorporated Clark County?
How much does an ADU permit cost in Clark County?
Do I need owner-occupancy for an ADU in Clark County?
Is my property in unincorporated Clark County or inside a city?
How many ADUs can I build in unincorporated Clark County?
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