Steps to Altering a Historic Property (PD-5274) is the City of Las Vegas Department of Planning's step-by-step guide for owners who want to alter a property on the City of Las Vegas Historic Property Register or inside a locally designated historic district. It explains that Historic Preservation Commission approval comes before a building permit, and how minor and major work are reviewed. On this page you can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it; the city publishes the original at files.lasvegasnevada.gov.
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What is PD-5274?
Steps to Altering a Historic Property (PD-5274) is a City of Las Vegas Department of Planning guide to the seven steps for getting Historic Preservation Commission approval before altering a property on the Historic Property Register or in a historic district.
The sheet is headed "How do I apply to alter my historic property." It covers properties listed on the City of Las Vegas Historic Property Register and properties inside the boundaries of a locally designated historic district. For those properties, the handout says, there are procedures that must be followed for any project that proposes to alter the property.
It walks through the sequence: commission approval is needed whenever a building permit is required; the permit is applied for online or at the Planning Department; work is sorted into "minor in nature" or "major in nature"; the application carries drawings and photographs; the commission reviews and recommends approval or denial; and a denial can be appealed to the city council. It also explains that you may be asked to submit an application for a "Certificate of Appropriateness," for which there is no additional fee.
The guide is not itself the building permit application or the Certificate of Appropriateness. It tells you what to do before and while you apply, and it names the city's Historic Preservation Officer as the contact for questions.
Who needs to file PD-5274?
Owners and applicants whose property is listed on the City of Las Vegas Historic Property Register, or is located within the boundaries of a locally designated historic district, use this guide when they plan work to alter, remodel, build or otherwise develop that property and a building permit is required.
- Owners planning minor work, such as replacing roof shingles with the same type of shingles, replacing windows or replacing air conditioning units. This work may be reviewed in-house by the Historic Preservation Officer.
- Owners planning major work, such as room additions, car port alterations or fencing that requires a permit. The commission must hear this work. The list of examples is not exhaustive.
The guide applies only where a building permit is required. It does not describe properties outside the register or a locally designated historic district. The handout highly recommends that anyone with a project contact the Historic Preservation Officer before submitting a building permit to the Department of Planning.
When to file PD-5274
Start before you apply for the building permit: whenever a building permit is required to alter, remodel, build or otherwise develop a historic property, you must first obtain the approval of the Historic Preservation Commission. The handout also says your building permit will not be approved until the commission has reviewed and approved the proposed work.
Minor work reviewed in-house by the Historic Preservation Officer may be approved the same day. Major work must be heard by the commission, and the handout says the entire process can take time depending on the scope of the work. It does not print a fixed deadline or processing time. If the commission denies the application, you have the right to appeal to the city council. The handout highly recommends contacting the Historic Preservation Officer in advance to discuss the proposed work.
Documents you need
- Drawings of the proposed work, included with the application for the building permit.
- Photographs of the existing house, included with the application.
- Manufacturer's brochures, if applicable to the proposed work, included with the application.
- An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness, only if the Planning Department asks for one depending on the nature of the work; the handout says there is no additional fee for the certificate.
How to fill out PD-5274
Confirm your property is covered
Check that your property is listed on the City of Las Vegas Historic Property Register or lies within a locally designated historic district. If it does, the procedures in the guide apply to your project.
Contact the Historic Preservation Officer
Before submitting a building permit, discuss the proposed work with Diane Siebrandt at [email protected] or 702.229.2476. The handout highly recommends doing this in advance.
Apply for your building permit
Step 2: apply online at the city's building permits page or at the Planning Department, 495 S. Main St. You may be asked for a Certificate of Appropriateness application, with no additional fee for the certificate.
Decide whether work is minor or major
Step 3: minor work, such as same-type roof shingles, window replacement or air conditioning units, may be reviewed in-house and approved the same day. Major work, such as room additions, car port alterations or permitted fencing, must be heard by the commission.
Gather drawings, photos and brochures
Step 4: include drawings of the proposed work, photographs of the existing house and any manufacturer's brochures, if applicable.
Wait for the commission's review
Steps 5 and 6: the permit is not approved until the commission reviews the work. The commission recommends approval or denial based on compatibility with the historic context of the building or district.
Appeal a denial if needed
Step 7: if the application is denied, you have the right to appeal to the city council.
Review and download the PDF
Check that you have followed each step for your type of work. Download or print the PDF from FillingPDF as a reference and apply through the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit PD-5274
The guide itself is not submitted. The building permit application it describes is filed in one of two ways:
- Online: apply for the building permit at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Business/Permits-Licenses/Building-Permits.
- In person: apply at the Planning Department, 495 S. Main St.
Depending on the nature of the work, you may be asked to submit an application for a "Certificate of Appropriateness"; the handout says there is no additional fee for the certificate. The application must include drawings of the proposed work, photographs of the existing house and any manufacturer's brochures, if applicable.
For questions before you apply, contact Diane Siebrandt, Historic Preservation Officer, at [email protected] or 702.229.2476, 495 S. Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for a building permit without first obtaining Historic Preservation Commission approval, which the handout requires whenever a permit is needed to alter a historic property.
- Expecting the building permit to be approved before the commission has reviewed and approved the proposed work.
- Submitting the application without drawings of the proposed work or photographs of the existing house.
- Treating major work, such as a room addition, car port alteration or fencing that requires a permit, as minor work that can be approved in-house the same day.
- Omitting manufacturer's brochures when they apply to the proposed work.
- Not contacting the Historic Preservation Officer before submitting the permit, which the handout highly recommends.
- Not responding to a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness application when the Planning Department asks for one.
Frequently asked questions
What is Steps to Altering a Historic Property (PD-5274)?
It is a City of Las Vegas Department of Planning guide, headed "How do I apply to alter my historic property." It lists the seven steps for getting Historic Preservation Commission approval and a building permit when altering a property on the Historic Property Register or in a local historic district.
Is this a Las Vegas property tax form?
No. The guide concerns altering historic properties and obtaining a building permit, not Las Vegas property tax. It says nothing about taxes, so use the city or county offices that handle property tax for those questions.
Do I need commission approval before getting a building permit?
Yes, when your property is on the City of Las Vegas Historic Property Register or in a locally designated historic district and a building permit is required. The applicant must first obtain Historic Preservation Commission approval, and the permit is not approved until the commission has reviewed the work.
What counts as minor versus major work?
Minor work can include replacing roof shingles with the same type, window replacement or replacing air conditioning units, and may be approved in-house, possibly the same day. Major work, such as room additions, car port alterations or fencing that requires a permit, must be heard by the commission.
Is there a fee for the Certificate of Appropriateness?
The handout says there is no additional fee for the certificate. You may be asked to submit that application, depending on the nature of the work, when you apply for the building permit. Ask the Planning Department about any permit fees.
What can I do if the commission denies my application?
If the application is denied, you have the right to appeal to the city council. The commission bases its recommendation on whether the proposed work is compatible with the historic context of the building or district.
Who do I contact with questions about altering a historic property?
Contact Diane Siebrandt, Historic Preservation Officer, at [email protected] or 702.229.2476, 495 S. Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101. The handout recommends contacting her before you submit a building permit to the Department of Planning.
Can I fill out this PDF on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not the City of Las Vegas, and it does not submit building permit applications; those go through the city's online page or the Planning Department.
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