Can You Sell a Las Vegas Home with an Unpermitted Addition? Yes, Here’s How

Adding an unpermitted addition to your Las Vegas home doesn’t automatically mean you’re stuck. While it can complicate things with traditional buyers, especially when lenders or appraisers get involved, it doesn’t make your property unsellable. Here’s a human-to-human breakdown of how to tackle this and get your listing moving.

Can You Sell a Las Vegas Home with an Unpermitted Addition? Yes—Here’s How

What Is an Unpermitted Addition?

It’s any structural change, like expanding a bedroom, converting a garage, or adding a deck, that never got approved by the city. In Las Vegas, that can raise safety concerns (think wiring, foundations, fire codes) and scare away buyers or cause refinancing problems. But it doesn’t kill the sale entirely.

Why Unpermitted Work Creates Red Flags

  • Safety & code violations. Without permits, there’s no guarantee that additions follow building rules. Buyers worry about hidden issues that could lead to costly fixes.
  • Lender and title hold-up. Most banks reject loans for homes with parts that violate city codes.
  • Resale risk. Your buyer will eventually sell, but without permits, they may also need to address the issue later.

That said, these are hurdles, not walls.

How You Can Still Make a Sale Happen

1. Be upfront

Transparency builds trust. Tell potential buyers or their agents that an addition lacks permits. This honesty lets them plan and avoid surprises later.

2. Offer solutions

You can shoulder the cost of pulling permits and retroactively getting inspections done. That reassures buyers and streamlines the loan process.

3. Price it right

If you’re not planning to fix it, your offer should reflect that. Think of it as discounting not for cosmetic flaws, but for compliance risk.

4. Use an investor or cash buyer

These buyers don’t rely on a bank appraisal or loan conditions. They can work around unpermitted additions, since they know they control the next steps. They’ll buy as-is and handle future permitting on their timeline.

Selling As-Is: Why a Cash Buyer Might Be the Best Fit

  • Buyers skilled in investment see potential. They might renovate with permits and raise the value.
  • Cash offers mean no lending delays, no appraiser raising red flags over unpermitted space.
  • Faster closing: you can walk away clean in days or weeks, instead of waiting months.

If You Choose to Permit Retroactively

  • Hire a contractor. Someone experienced with local code.
  • Submit plans to the building department. They’ll want to see structural, mechanical, and electrical specs.
  • Schedule inspections. Structural, electrical, plumbing, and fire, depending on the space.
  • Pay fees and get approval. A permit with final sign-off removes bank issues and increases sale value.

Costs vary, but many homeowners find it worth the buy-in.

How to Disclose and Protect Yourself

  • Seller disclosures are mandatory in Nevada. Note the unpermitted addition and your plan: permit, price adjust, or sell as-is.
  • Escrow holdbacks or escrow allowances give a buyer time or money to fix the issue after the sale.
  • Title endorsements can protect the buyer or lender if the permit process fails, this helps close the deal.

Pricing Strategy on an As-Is Sale

Let’s say your home would list for $400K with a legal ADU that adds $50K in value. Without permits, its fair worth might be $350K or less. This range makes sense to a cash buyer who plans to invest later.

Why You Might Choose the Permitting Route

  • More buyer options: now lenders don’t have a reason to reject.
  • Better resale headlines, “legally built bonus room” sounds stronger than “buyer beware.”
  • You take home more of the full expected value at closing.

City-Specific Tips in Las Vegas

  • Clark County lets you pull a permit after the fact if the structure meets code.
  • Expect some fines, but no legal action if you correct it.
  • Work with contractors who submit plans to the county and manage inspections end-to-end.

Funding Help If You Want to Permit First

  • Home equity lines of credit (HELOC)
  • Personal loans or renovation financing
  • Joint venture with a buyer who pays and splits upside after fix-up

That gives you options if dishing out cash upfront feels heavy.

Consider Your Goal and Timeline

  • Speed is key? Cash sale with a discount is your path.
  • Max cash is the goal? Permit it, list it, and go the full MLS route.
  • Mixed needs? Permitting part of it, plus a partial as-is sale, can balance timelines and buyer pools.

Takeaway

Unpermitted additions bring a challenge, but not a show-stopper. By being clear with buyers, properly pricing your home, and choosing the sell-for-cash route, you can wrap up the sale smoothly. You avoid lender issues, reduce delays, and walk away with less stress and more cash in hand.

Ready to move on to your next chapter in Las Vegas? Call We Buy Houses Las Vegas at 702-246-2000 today for a fair cash offer on homes with or without permits.