Lombardo Streamlines Contractor Licensing to Boost Rural Housing Development

Teri Williams
Public Information Officer
Department of Business and Industry | Director's Office

Governor Joe Lombardo, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, has announced a declaration aimed at cutting bureaucratic red tape and accelerating attainable housing development across Nevada's fifteen rural counties.
This declaration enacts key provisions of Governor Lombardo's Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act (AB540) to simplify contractor licensing processes and expand reciprocity agreements to address workforce shortages in rural communities.
Information compiled by the Department of Business and Industry and Nevada's rural counties reveal a significant shortage of skilled tradespeople and licensed contractors, a challenge that has slowed the construction of much-needed attainable housing. The declaration removes unnecessary administrative barriers and introduces measures to make it easier for qualified contractors to operate in Nevada's rural regions.
Key provisions include:

• Expanded licensing reciprocity: Simplifies the process for contractors already licensed in other states to obtain Nevada credentials.
• Reduced fees: Waives licensing fees for out-of-state contractors for a three-year period.
• Workforce mobility: Encourages interstate cooperation to allow skilled workers to cross state lines more efficiently to meet rural construction demands.

"By enhancing licensing reciprocity for contractors, we can finally tackle the severe workforce shortages plaguing rural Nevada," said Governor Lombardo. "Local stakeholders have been urging us to cut through the red tape and eliminate unnecessary fees for years-this change is a long-overdue fix that will make a real difference."
The declaration represents a major step forward in implementing Governor Lombardo's statewide housing strategy, reaffirming his commitment to reducing regulatory burdens and expanding housing opportunities for all Nevadans.
To learn more about the enhanced licensing reciprocity measure under the Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act (AB540), please see the full declaration.

###