Las Vegas concrete work: Hiring and Planning

Define the work and budget

Prepare a sketch and photographs before inviting bids. Mark proposed edges, doors, gates, existing paving and places where you have observed standing water. Describe the intended use: walking, outdoor furniture, passenger vehicles or RV storage. Have bidders explain how their proposed preparation and slab specifications suit that use.

For damaged concrete, have the contractor explain why they recommend repair, leveling, partial replacement or full removal. Include uneven edges and drainage concerns in that discussion. Compare the proposed remedies and their limits before choosing a surface treatment or authorizing demolition.

Obtain site-specific bids to set your budget. Separate demolition and disposal, excavation and base preparation, concrete placement, reinforcement, finish and drainage changes. Have bidders identify allowances for conditions they cannot inspect before removal, along with how they will price additional work.

Confirm approvals before demolition

The City of Las Vegas directs applicants to confirm city jurisdiction first. Its permit page offers application routes with and without plans, a fee estimator, permit-status lookup and inspection scheduling. Describe the exact project to city staff and confirm which application route and reviews apply. [1]

City staff provide permit-application assistance at 702-229-6251. Explain whether you intend to replace a slab, expand paved space or change the street connection. The city identifies planning, zoning and engineering review as possible steps before construction, so resolve the applicable reviews before committing to a pour date. [1]

Assign responsibility for applications, fees and inspection arrangements in the contract. Have the contractor identify approvals needed before demolition and inspections needed before placement. Keep the approved scope and permit records with your agreement.

Check qualifications and compare complete bids

The Nevada State Contractors Board organizes licenses by work classification. It lists A-16 for paving streets, driveways and parking lots and identifies concrete contracting within its specialty classification framework. Give the Board your project scope and confirm which classification and limitations to check rather than choosing from a company’s advertising. [3]

Collect the contractor’s license number, evidence of insurance and a written agreement naming the business responsible for the work. Discuss comparable projects and who will supervise preparation and placement. Include responsibility for damage to adjacent paving, irrigation and landscaping.

Compare dimensions, slab thickness, base preparation, reinforcement, joint layout, finish and drainage direction across bids. Use a sketch to clarify elevations and transitions. Include written change-order terms so you can review additional work and its price before authorizing it.

Plan access, weather decisions and return to use

Walk the equipment and delivery route with the contractor. Check gate clearance, vehicle relocation, access to the house and protection for nearby surfaces. Confirm whether the price includes pumping or other placement arrangements if the truck cannot reach the work area.

Agree on weather conditions that would change the placement schedule, the curing method and who maintains protection after the crew leaves. Get written instructions for walking, moving furniture and driving on the slab, with project-specific dates for each use.

The National Weather Service publishes Las Vegas precipitation normals of 0.04 inches for June and 0.32 inches for September for 1991–2020. Use these as historical context, then review the workday forecast with the contractor before confirming placement. [4]

Las Vegas precipitation normals for two scheduling reference months

Choose the next step for your project

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the site and sketch dimensions, intended use and observed drainage concerns.
2. Confirm jurisdiction and the approval process for the exact project.
3. Resolve parking footprint, RV storage and street-connection questions before finalizing the layout.
4. Confirm the appropriate license classification with the Contractors Board.
5. Compare bids with matching preparation, reinforcement, drainage, finish and access specifications.
6. Assign responsibility for fees, inspections, disposal and adjacent-property protection.
7. Agree on change-order terms and written curing and return-to-use instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check whether my concrete project needs a permit?

Confirm the property’s jurisdiction, then describe the exact work to the responsible permit office. For a property within city jurisdiction, call 702-229-6251 to confirm whether a permit, plans or other reviews apply before scheduling demolition or placement. [1]

Can I pave the front yard for more parking?

Have the city review the intended parking use before approving a layout. For single-family residential lots, the code limits front-yard vehicle parking or storage to 50 percent of that area, subject to exceptions. Approved driveways must also comply with applicable city curb-cut requirements. [2]

Which Nevada contractor license classification should I check?

Give the Contractors Board the exact scope and confirm the appropriate classification and limitations. The Board lists A-16 for paving streets, driveways and parking lots and includes concrete contracting within its specialty classification framework. [3]

How should I compare bids with different prices?

Have bidders price the same scope. Compare removal, base preparation, thickness, reinforcement, drainage, finish, access and cleanup. Resolve omissions and allowances before comparing the total price for the work you intend to authorize.