Shed and equipment pads are usually slabs over a compacted gravel base, while RV pads and workshops need more thickness and reinforcement. Additions and casitas need a permit, inspections and often a soils report or engineering. Nevada requires contractors to be licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board, and USA North 811 must be contacted before digging.
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Las Vegas homeowners pour slabs for storage sheds, detached workshops, RV and boat parking, casitas, pool equipment, AC condensers, generators and solar equipment. Anything that will be lived in or attached to the house, such as a room addition or casita, usually needs engineered footings, a permit and inspections.
Common slab and foundation projects
- Pads for storage sheds and prefab buildings
- RV, boat and trailer pads, often on the side of the house behind a gate
- Equipment pads for pool pumps, AC units and generators
- Slabs for detached workshops and garages
- Footings and slabs for room additions, casitas and patio rooms
Small structures and pads
A shed or equipment pad is usually a slab over a compacted gravel base, sometimes with thickened edges. Make it level for the structure but sloped at the edges to shed water, and confirm the spot meets setbacks from property lines and block walls. Cities in the valley and Clark County set size thresholds for when accessory buildings need permits, and HOAs commonly restrict height and visibility above the wall. Check both before you pour.
RV pads and heavy loads
An RV or boat pad carries much more weight than a patio and usually needs greater thickness, reinforcement and a well-compacted base. Side-yard pads often require a wider gate and sometimes a new curb cut, which brings in right-of-way permits and HOA review.
Additions and structural work
Foundations for habitable space must follow the building code adopted by your city or Clark County, which typically means plans, a permit, footing inspections before concrete is placed, and in many cases a soils report or engineered design. In Nevada, contractors must be licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board before they bid or contract for work, and each license carries a classification and a monetary limit. Concrete contracting is its own classification (C-5). Make sure everyone on the job, including any concrete subcontractor working under a general contractor, holds an active license that covers the work.
Southern Nevada site factors
- Caliche: hardpan near the surface can make footing excavation slow and may require breaking equipment.
- Collapsible, expansive and sulfate soils: some valley soils settle when wetted, some swell, and some contain sulfates, which is why sulfate-resistant Type V cement is commonly specified locally.
- Drainage: keep new slabs above surrounding grade and slope soil away; keep irrigation off foundations.
- Utilities: contact USA North 811 at least two working days before digging. Private lines such as irrigation and pool plumbing are not marked.
Questions to ask
- Does this project need a permit, and who will pull it?
- What thickness, reinforcement, base and cement type are included?
- Is a soils report or engineered design needed?
- What is your Nevada contractor license number, classification and limit?
Planning a building, casita or RV pad? Request a slab or foundation contractor and include the structure's size and use.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a concrete contractor need a license in Nevada?
Generally yes. The Nevada State Contractors Board says contractors must be licensed before bidding or negotiating a price, and concrete has its own C-5 classification. There are narrow exemptions in state law, so verify any contractor's license and limit on the Board's website.
Do I need a permit for a shed slab?
It depends on the shed's size and your jurisdiction. Las Vegas Valley cities and Clark County set size thresholds for accessory buildings, and HOAs often limit height and placement. Check before you pour.
How much notice does USA North 811 need?
USA North 811 asks for at least two working days' notice, not counting the day you submit the request. It's free, and private lines such as irrigation and pool plumbing aren't marked.
Sources and further reading
- Nevada State Contractors Board: license requirements
- Nevada State Contractors Board: Residential Recovery Fund
- Nevada Administrative Code 624.230: C-5 concrete contracting classification
- USA North 811 (Nevada and Northern California)
- Southern Nevada Water Authority: Water Smart Landscapes rebate
- Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology: Subsidence in Las Vegas Valley, 1980-91
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension (Southern Nevada soils and caliche)
- Clark County Public Works: encroachment permits
- City of Las Vegas: permits and licenses
- Boulder City: driveway aprons
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)