Help & Orientation

What Is This Tool?

MKA Codes & Standards is a research database for Nevada residential subdivision construction. It compiles adopted building codes, local amendments, construction specifications, and permit requirements for every Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in Nevada relevant to subdivision work — so MKA engineers, consultants, and estimators can quickly find what applies for a given project location and topic.

How to Use This Tool

Search (fastest way to find something)

Use the search bar at the top of any page — or from the home page. Type in plain English. You don't need to know the code number.

Example searches:

  • pool barrier height Henderson — finds pool fence requirements for Henderson
  • concrete footing Clark County — finds footing design requirements
  • ADA sidewalk — finds ADA accessibility requirements for pedestrian paths
  • NEC 2023 — finds all jurisdictions using the 2023 electrical code
  • drainage certification — finds permit final requirements about drainage
  • retaining wall footing — finds structural design requirements for retaining walls

Tip: Multi-word searches work best. "Henderson retaining wall" finds entries that mention both Henderson and retaining walls. Common words like "requirements", "for", "the" are automatically filtered out.

Jurisdictions — Browse by AHJ

Click Jurisdictions in the nav to see all Nevada AHJs. Click any city name to open its full detail page, which shows:

  • Currently Adopted Codes — which edition of IBC, IRC, NEC, UPC, etc. is in effect today
  • Construction Standards & Specifications — organized by topic, with plain-English summaries and links to the source document
  • Permit Final Requirements — what must be submitted before a certificate of occupancy is issued
  • Source Documents — direct links to official PDFs and ordinances

Code Matrix — See Everything at a Glance

The Code Matrix page shows all jurisdictions in a single grid — which edition of IBC, IRC, IFC, UPC, UMC, and NEC each city currently uses. Hover over any edition badge to see the adoption date. Click any jurisdiction name to go to its full detail page.

CSI MasterFormat Browse

Every spec entry is tagged with its CSI MasterFormat division number — the industry-standard numbering system (Division 03 Concrete, Division 22 Plumbing, Division 31 Earthwork, etc.). Click CSI Browse in the nav to browse by division number instead of by jurisdiction or topic. Useful when you already know the CSI number and want to find all applicable requirements across every jurisdiction.

Historical Code Lookup — What Was in Effect on a Permit Date?

If you have a permit from a prior year and need to know which code edition was in effect at that time, use Historical Lookup. Select the jurisdiction, enter the permit date, and the tool returns the exact code editions that were in effect on that date.

Example: Henderson, permit date 3/15/2016 → returns 2012 IBC, 2012 IRC, 2011 NEC (the codes in effect in Henderson at that time).

Export to Excel

Click Export Excel in the nav (or the button on the home page or matrix page) to download the full database as an Excel workbook. The file contains five sheets: Code Matrix, Adopted Codes, Specs & Standards, Permit Requirements, and Source Documents.

Understanding the Spec Entries

Each specification entry contains:

Title

Plain-English name of the requirement or standard

Description

Summary of what the requirement actually says, written to be understood without opening the code book

Code Reference

The specific code section (e.g., IRC R401.4, IBC Appendix Q) so you can find the verbatim text

View Source ↗

Direct link to the official PDF — the actual adopted ordinance, amendment document, or standard

CSI Division Tags

CSI MasterFormat numbers assigned to the entry — click any tag to see all entries in that division

Category

MKA topic category (Building Structures, Pools & Spas, Public Works Offsite, etc.)

AHJs Covered

Southern Nevada

  • Clark County (unincorporated)
  • City of Las Vegas
  • City of Henderson
  • City of North Las Vegas
  • City of Mesquite
  • Town of Pahrump

Northern Nevada

  • Washoe County (unincorporated)
  • City of Reno
  • City of Sparks

Questions or Missing Data?

This database is actively maintained by MKA staff. If you find a missing requirement, an outdated code reference, or a jurisdiction not yet covered, contact the research team so it can be added. All data can be updated through the admin interface.

Admin access: /admin/