Residential projects under the “owner-builder exemption” (see NRS 624.031) may be designed by the owner when of conventional wood-frame construction covered by the International Residential Code. Commercial projects require professional design.

Minimum setback requirements are established by County zoning codes. You are encouraged to phone or email the building department for this information. There may also be restrictions due to easements established on the property or other deed restrictions. In Mason and Smith Valleys the Walker River Irrigation District must approve the site plan for a project as part of the application process.

A listing of the adopted codes is available at Codes and Design Criteria webpage and the amendments to the published codes can be found at Building Codes as Amended. The published codes cannot be made available on the web due to copyright protections, but may be viewed at the public library or the Building Department in Yerington or Dayton.

ARC fault protection is required for all 15 and 20 amp electrical circuits supplying outlets (includes lighting outlets and smoke alarms) in all rooms for new residential construction except where GFCI protection is required in kitchen, bathroom, garages and outdoors. ARC fault circuit breakers must be the "combination" type.

New residential construction including habitable additions must comply with the prescriptive energy requirements of the 2009 IECC as amended for climate zone 5. An acceptable option is to provide calculations using the REScheck software available at www.energycodes.gov. (Commercial projects must also comply with the requirements of the 2009 International Energy Code.)