Clark County permit staff outline ADU rules, fees and utility requirements at public learning lab

At a Clark County online ADU learning-lab presentation, county permit technicians Jess and Laurie explained the county's rules for accessory dwelling units and answered homeowner questions on zoning, utility connections and permitting.

The guidance matters because ADU rules differ sharply by zone and can trigger new utility work, recorded covenants and impact fees that affect costs and future property-division options. "An ADU is an accessory structure to the main residential structure," Laurie, a Clark County permit technician, said, defining the units the session covered.

County staff said urban ADUs may be detached or attached and generally may not exceed 1,000 square feet. For lots of at least 20,000 square feet, a single ADU may be up to 1,500 square feet and a property may have two ADUs so long as the combined area does not exceed 2,000 square feet. Rural ADUs must be attached to the primary residence either by a common wall or by a breezeway; the county said that attachment requirement stems from state law intended to limit unplanned density. "It is state law," April, a Clark County staff member, said when…