Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Wells, Nevada

Wells’s own rules

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Building codes the City of Wells Building and Safety Division applies to factory built structures inside city limits

  • The city checklist is titled for factory built structures under the Nevada Manufactured Housing Division; it does not establish adoption for all site-built construction.
  • The checklist is undated on its face (uploaded 2023/09 per URL path); editions may be superseded.
  • The Title 4 adopting ordinance was not located.

  “the following codes have been adopted: • • • 2011 national electric code 2012 international building code 2012 international residential code”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Wells city limits (Wells, Nevada), as regulated by the city's own Title 10 Zoning Regulations

  • The code is current through Ord. 242, passed 8-22-2023, per the code overview page; the code carries a disclaimer that it may not reflect the most recent legislation.
  • Zoning districts are set out in Title 10 chapter 7 (zoning districts; allowable and special uses), with R-2, R-3 and other districts.

  “title 10 zoning regulations title 11 subdivision regulations appendix nv wells overview”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Land inside Wells city limits in the R-2 residential medium and high density district (10-7-5), which permits single-family residences meeting section 10-7-19 standards and multiple dwellings; not the R-1e or R-3 districts

  • Applies to interior lots and corner lots as stated; corner lot minimum is larger.
  • R-2 permits single-family residences that meet the development standards set forth in section 10-7-19 of this chapter.

  minimum parcel size, interior lot: >= 6000 square feet · minimum parcel size, corner lot: >= 7000 square feet

  “d. requirements for structural locations, area, height and bulk: 1. minimum parcel size: a. interior lots 6,000 square feet b. corner lots 7,000 square feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Land inside Wells city limits in the R-2 residential medium and high density district (10-7-5)

  • Setbacks are the R-2 minimums; the same section 10-7-5 also sets minimum parcel size and height.

  front yard minimum: >= 20 feet · side yard minimum: >= 10 feet · rear yard minimum: >= 10 feet

  “a. front yard minimum 20 feet b. side yard minimum 10 feet c. rear yard minimum 10 feet”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Land inside Wells city limits in the R-2 residential medium and high density district (10-7-5)

  maximum building height: <= 40 feet

  “3. height limitation maximum 40 feet (ord. 138, 1-26-1988)”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Factory built and manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings on individual lots inside Wells city limits under 10-7-19 (outside the 10-7-22 overlay)

  • Home must be permanently affixed to a permanent foundation with poured masonry footings extending 24 inches below grade.
  • Home must comply with lot size, setback and other requirements of the zoning district, and provide one off-street parking space.
  • Home must have a crawl space with minimum measurements, and right-of-way improvements per city policy.

  footing depth below grade: >= 24 inches

  “g. is permanently affixed to a permanent foundation. footings shall be of poured masonry extending twenty four inches (24") below grade.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Factory built and manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings inside the special area overlay district under 10-7-22 (R-1e and R-3 north of the Southern Pacific tracks, and AG abutting north side of Metropolis Road), per the overlay's area description

    “to provide the opportunity to use certain factory built and manufactured homes as single-family dwellings on nonpermanent foundations.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings for human occupancy inside the incorporated area of Wells city, where the public sewer system is available

  • Connection is required within 90 days after the sewer is available for use, wherever the public sewer system is available within 400 feet of the nearest property line.
  • Connections are the sole responsibility of the property owner.
  • Source is the sewer chapter; the code is current through Ord. 242 (8-22-2023) per the overview page.

  distance to public sewer triggering connection: <= 400 feet · connection deadline after availability: <= 90 days

  “each owner of houses, buildings or other properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, commercial, industrial or other like purposes situated within the incorporated areas of the city shall connect to such sewer within ninety (90) days after such sewer is available for use wherever the public sewer system is available within four hundred feet (400') of the nearest property line.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Wells or Elko County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Wells city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Wells city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Wells city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Site-built and factory built dwellings inside Wells city limits
• Lot coverage — Land inside Wells city limits, all districts

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Wells means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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