Henderson, Nev., Mun. Code § 15.12 (2026) § 15.12.020

For the purpose of this chapter, all terms used herein are intended to have standard definitions, meanings and connotations, and are intended to be consistent with the meaning ascribed to them in other chapters of the Henderson Municipal Code and the Nevada Revised Statutes as limited in scope as specified below:
Abandoned nuisance activity , within the scope of this chapter, means: 1.
Instances of unlawful breaking and entering or occupancy by unauthorized persons;
2. The presence of graffiti, debris, litter, garbage, abandoned materials, inoperable vehicles, or junk appliances;
3. The presence of unsanitary conditions or hazardous materials;
4. The lack of adequate lighting, fencing or security;
5. Indicia of the presence or activities of gangs;
6. Environmental hazards;
7. Violations of city codes, ordinances, or other adopted policy; or
8. Any other activity, behavior, conduct, or condition defined by this Code or any other provision of the Henderson Municipal Code to constitute a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of or visitors to the city.
Abandoned vehicle. See Vehicle.
Accumulation of inoperable vehicles. See Vehicle.
Alteration means any construction or renovation to an existing structure other than repair.
Animal means an animal as defined by Title 7 of the Henderson Municipal Code.
Architectural pool or pond means a constructed or excavated exterior area designed to contain a regular supply of water other than a swimming pool or spa.
Blight or blighted means unsightly conditions, including but not limited to: the accumulation of debris; fences or walls characterized by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling, or rusting; landscaping that is dead, characterized by uncontrolled growth or lack of maintenance, or is damaged; or the exterior visible use or display of tarps, plastic sheeting, or similar materials as flexible or inflexible screening, fencing, or wall covering upon a residential lot, regardless of the condition of other properties in the neighborhood.
Building code means the most current edition of the International Building code or the International Residential Code and amendments thereto adopted by the City of Henderson and referenced in chapter 15.08 and 15.09 of the Henderson Municipal Code.
Building official means the person who oversees the Division of Building and Fire Safety at the City of Henderson, or his/her designee.
Chronic nuisance means a nuisance as defined in NRS 268.4124, including but not limited to three or more public nuisances or nuisance activities as defined in this chapter occurring within any 30-day period.
Code enforcement official ("code official") means any City of Henderson personnel authorized by the director to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Congregate residence means any building or portion thereof which contains facilities for living, sleeping, and sanitation, as required by this Code, and may or may not include facilities for eating, cooking, or for occupancy. A congregate residence may be a shelter, convent, monastery, dormitory, and fraternity or sorority house, but does not include jails, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, or lodging houses.
Dangerous structure or condition means a structure or condition as defined in NRS 268.4122, including but not limited to any building or structure determined to be dangerous by the building official pursuant to HMC 15.10 , and any condition that may cause injury to or endanger the health, life, property, or safety of the general public or the occupants, if any, of the real property on which the condition is located.
Debris means materials which may be present in accumulations including, but not limited to: deteriorated lumber; old newspapers; furniture parts; stoves; sinks; cabinets; household fixtures; refrigerators; car parts; abandoned, broken, or neglected equipment; or the scattered remains of items.
Deterioration means a lowering in quality of the condition or appearance of a building, structure or premises or parts thereof, characterized by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling, rusting, or any other evidence of physical decay, damage, neglect, or lack of maintenance.
Development Code means Title 19 of the Henderson Municipal Code.
Director means the Director of the City of Henderson Community Development and Services Department.
Dwelling or dwelling unit means a single unit providing complete and independent living facilities for one or more persons including provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.
Enforcement means City efforts to secure compliance with the provisions of this Code, including but not limited to review of plans and permit applications, response to complaints, notices of violation, orders, administrative citations, fines, fees, and other legal processes. Except as otherwise provided in this part, "enforcement" may include inspections of existing land, buildings, and structures.
Efficiency dwelling unit means a dwelling unit containing only one habitable room and meeting the requirements for an exception to the minimum floor area requirements specified in this chapter.
Excavation means a well, shaft, trench, cellar, basement, cesspool, septic tank, pit, swimming pool, fishpond, or other similar condition resulting in a hole.
Exterior opening means any open or closed window, door, or passage between interior and exterior spaces.
Extermination means the elimination of insects, rodents, or other pests by eliminating their harborage places, removing or making inaccessible materials that serve as their food or water, or other approved pest elimination methods.
Fences, screen walls and/or retaining walls means self-standing structures designed to provide semi-private security or cut/slope retention between grade separations.
Garbage means putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, storage, sale, preparation, cooking, and serving of food.
Graffiti shall have the meaning set forth in NRS 268.4075.
Habitable space means space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces, and similar areas are not considered habitable space.
Health hazard means the presence of any item(s) or condition(s) that adversely impact or jeopardize the health of an individual. Such items or conditions include, but are not limited to evidence of occupancy without adequate water and sanitation facilities, human or animal waste, medical or biological waste, syringes, gaseous or combustible materials, dangerous or corrosive chemicals or liquids, flammable or explosive materials, friable asbestos, offal, and decay matter, or any other hazard identified by the health officer as defined herein.
Health officer means the representative of the Southern Nevada Health District who is authorized to enforce health regulations in the City of Henderson.
Hot water means water supplied to a plumbing fixture at a temperature of not less than 110 degrees Fahrenheit (49° degrees Celsius).
Illegal discharge means any direct or indirect non-storm water discharge to the storm drain system that is not exempted in Henderson Municipal Code section 13.04.100 .
Imminent hazard means any condition associated with real property that presents a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe personal injury, or a substantial endangerment to health, property, or the environment may occur before such hazard can be eliminated by the standard enforcement procedures set forth in section 15.12.060.E.
Infestation means the presence of insects, rodents, reptiles, or pests in quantities large enough to be potentially harmful or threatening as determined by the health officer or a licensed extermination contractor.
Inoperable vehicle. See Vehicle .
Litter means decaying or non-decaying solid and semi-solid wastes, including but not limited to: both combustible and non-combustible wastes such as paper, trash, cardboard, water material, cans, yard clippings, wood, glass, bedding, debris, scrap paving material, discarded appliances, discarded furniture, piles of earth mixed with any of the above or any foreign objects, or any waste as determined by the health officer. Lodging house means any building or portion thereof containing not more than five guest rooms available for rent.
Mechanical code means the most current edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code and amendments thereto adopted by the City of Henderson and referenced in chapter 15.24 of the Henderson Municipal Code. The mechanical code regulates the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance, or use of heating, ventilating, cooling, refrigeration systems, incinerators, and other miscellaneous heat-producing appliances within the city.
Occupant means a person, persons, or legal entity that, through rights of ownership or tenancy, has possession or the use and enjoyment of the subject real property.
Owner means a person, persons, or legal entity listed as current titleholder to real property as recorded in the official records of the Clark County Recorder's office.
Perimeter wall means any wall composed of stone, brick, concrete, concrete blocks, masonry, iron, or similar building material, together with footings, pilasters, outriggers, grillwork, gates and other appurtenances, constructed around the perimeter of a residential subdivision or residential lot.
Person means any individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, or company.
Plumbing code means the most current edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code and amendments thereto adopted by the City of Henderson and referenced in chapter 15.20 of the Henderson Municipal Code. The plumbing code regulates the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of plumbing systems and equipment with the city.
Pond means a body of water that is less than 18 inches deep. The definition does not apply to city-approved detention basins or other like facilities.
Private property means any real property within the city that is not owned by the City of Henderson or another governmental entity.
Public area means an area that is owned and maintained by the city and/or any other governmental entity for its use or the use of its citizens.
Public nuisance or nuisance activity includes but is not limited to: 1.
The presence of debris, litter, garbage, rubble, refuse, abandoned vehicles, inoperable vehicles, discarded appliances or other waste allowed to accumulate on private property;
2. Any violation of the uniform building code, as adopted and amended by title 15 of this Code, that is declared to be a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the city;
3. Any violation of the uniform fire code, as adopted and amended by title 15 of this Code, that is declared to be a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the city;
4. Any body of water which by its nature, condition, and/or location constitutes an unhealthy, dangerous or unsafe condition;
5. Any structure or object which by its nature, location, and/or character would tend to attract and endanger the safety of any minor person;
6. Any structure declared by the building official to be dangerous pursuant to the uniform code for the abatement of dangerous buildings as adopted and amended by chapter 15.10 of this Code;
7. Any dangerous or unsafe condition as defined herein;
8. Weeds, noxious plant growth, deteriorated and/or dead or substantially dead vegetation, trees or plants;
9. Criminal activity occurring on private property and caused or committed by the owner or responsible party;
10. Excessive noise;
11. A substandard building;
12. An unsecured vacant structure and/or unlawful habitation of any portion of a vacant structure or property;
13. Any violation of the Development Code, including but not limited to the following:
a. The keeping of any animals on private property not in compliance with the provisions of HMC Title 19 and Title 7 , where applicable; and
b. The display of any signs on private or public property that are not in compliance with the provisions of HMC Title 19.
14. The use of any temporary shelter, structure, or building, or litter, debris, or other similar material as a dwelling on public or private property unless otherwise permitted or approved in writing by the city;
15. The use of recreational vehicles (RV) as living quarters on any premises other than a licensed and permitted RV park or resort. An RV shall be deemed used as living quarters if it is connected to sanitary sewer and/or municipal water sources;
16. Any illegal discharge as defined in section 15.12.020 ;
17. The presence of shopping cart(s) on residential property or any non-residential property other than the commercial property in which the shopping cart(s) were originally intended to be used;
18. Any unlawful burning on public or private property including, but not limited to:
(a) The kindling or maintaining of any indoor or outdoor fire without authorization of the fire department and/or not in conformance with HMC 8.37.060 and 8.37.070 , or
(b) The burning of solid waste, hazardous waste, and/or recyclables without a written permit from the fire department;
19. The removal and/or transportation of liquid waste from any property without written approval from the Southern Nevada Health District; and
20. Any construction or building activity between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. without approval of the building official or as further described in HMC 8.84.030.E.
Refuse means those discarded materials that have no useful physical, chemical, or biological properties after serving their original purpose and that cannot be reused or recycled for the same or other purposes.
Responsible party means an owner, owner's authorized agent, operator, occupant, lessor, lessee, manager, licensee, or other person having authority or control over a structure or parcel of land.
Rubbish means non-putrescible solid waste, consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes such as paper, plastic, cardboard, tin cans, wood, glass, bedding, crockery, and similar materials.
Rubble means broken, solid surface fragments usually resulting from the decay or deterioration of a building, miscellaneous mass of broken or apparently worthless materials.
Sound condition means any structure, building, or component that is in a condition to withstand designed or anticipated loads. This would include maintenance for weather protection, free of deterioration and damage.
Stagnant or stagnated water means water that is not flowing or moving.
Structure means that which is built or constructed.
Structure unfit for human occupancy. A structure is unfit for human occupancy whenever the code official finds the structure is unsafe, unlawful, or unsanitary because of the degree to which the structure is in disrepair or lacks maintenance, is infested, contains filth and contamination, or lacks ventilation, illumination, sanitary or heating facilities or other essential equipment required by this Code, or because the location of the structure constitutes a hazard to the occupants of the structure or to the public.
Swimming pool means a permanently installed artificial body of water in excess of 18 inches in depth that is used or intended for swimming and includes all equipment necessary for its use as well as a spa and any other water features intended and designed to be used in conjunction with the swimming pool.
Vacant structure means a structure with no occupant as defined herein. Disconnection of electrical power or water service shall constitute prima facie evidence that a structure is vacant. The date of discontinuance of electrical power and/or water service shall constitute the date at which such building became vacant.
Vegetation means plant life of any kind, whether living or dead, characterized as grass, weeds, bushes, cacti, and trees.
Vehicle means a vehicle as defined in NRS 482.135.
The following definitions also apply to the provisions of this Code regulating vehicles: 1.
Abandoned vehicle means any vehicle that is parked on private property without permission of the property owner for a continuous period of more than 72 hours, or parked on public property for a continuous period of more than 48 hours. Such a vehicle is presumed to have been abandoned or discarded by that vehicle's owner.
2. Accumulation of inoperable vehicles means two or more inoperable vehicles upon a residential lot or upon a commercial or industrial lot where the primary business does not involve the service of vehicles or the storage of inoperative vehicles.
3. Inoperable vehicle means a vehicle physically incapable of its intended operation or unable to be safely operated, or a vehicle that exhibits one or more of the following conditions: wrecked; partially or fully dismantled; stripped; substantially damaged; scrapped; having the status of a hulk or shell; discarded; unable to be safely operated; elevated on blocks or similar devices; deflated tires; or having the engine, steering wheel, headlights, taillights, wheels, or tires removed.
4. Minor vehicle repair work means minor repair work that includes, but is not limited to: maintenance items such as engine tune-ups, oil changes and transmission fluid replacements, joint lubrication, brake component replacement, tire changes, and shall not exceed 72 hours in duration. Minor repair work does not include such work as engine overhauls or replacement, transmission replacements, and bodywork including repair or replacement of damaged body parts.
5. Recreational vehicle means a vehicle as defined in NRS 482.101.
Weed means a useless and troublesome plant generally accepted as having no value and frequently of uncontrolled growth, not including native desert vegetation.