Property Tax Abatement for Green Buildings

July 13, 2020

Summary

Nevada provides a property tax abatement for new non-residential and multifamily residential green buildings, and existing buildings or structures which are renovated for use by a manufacturer to meet certain green building standards.

Property tax abatement for new non-residential and multifamily residential green buildings

Non-residential buildings and multifamily residential buildings that earn certification under the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program may be eligible for a partial abatement of property taxes. As directed by the statutes, the Director of the Office of Energy, through Adopted Regulation R116-07, selected the LEED rating system, but with specific requirements for energy conservation. To qualify for the tax abatement, new buildings must earn a minimum number of points for energy conservation through the LEED rating system. Buildings certified to the Silver Level must have at least 5 points for energy conservation; those at the Gold Level must have 7 points; and those at the Platinum Level must have 11 points. The duration of the abatement is based on the number of LEED points the building receives, up to a maximum of 10 years. 

Once a project has its letter of verification from the Director of the Office of Energy, indicating that the building has earned a Silver or higher certificate, the Department of Taxation, the County Assessor, the County Treasurer, and the Commission on Economic Development will be notified. As provided for in AB 239 of 2013, the Director of the Office of Energy can charge an application fee not to exceed the actual cost of evaluating the project and processing the application. The Office of Energy has set the application fee at $1,750. The property tax abatement cannot be applied to any taxes imposed for public education, or any buildings that receive funding from any governmental entity in Nevada for the acquisition, design or construction of the building.

Property tax abatement for existing buildings or structures which are renovated for use by a manufacturer

Assembly Bill 202 of 2011 created a partial abatement for existing buildings or structures which are renovated for use by a manufacturer to meet the requirements of a green building program to be determined by the Office of Energy. The Office of Energy approved regulations which established LEED for existing buildings (LEED-EB) as the appropriate standard to use. In addition to meeting other requirements specified in the regulations, the new manufacturing business must employ at least 25 full-time employees during the entire period for which the applicant will receive the abatement. The employees, other than management and administrative employees, must earn an hourly wage that is at least equal to the lesser of 100% of the average statewide hourly wage, or 100% of the average hourly countywide hourly wage. 

Building renovations must earn at least the silver level of LEED-EB to qualify for an abatement. All abatements will last for a period of no more than five years, and cannot be applied to any taxes imposed for public education. The abatement amounts depend on the level of LEED-EB earned by the renovated building:

  • LEED-EB Silver: 25% abatement
  • LEED-EB Gold: 30% abatement
  • LEED-EB Platinum: 35% abatement

 

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: State
Category: Financial Incentive
State: Nevada
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Web Site: http://energy.nv.gov/Programs/Green_Building_Tax_Abatements/#:~:text=Nevada%20provides%20a%20partial%20property,meet%20certain%20green%20building%20standards.
Administrator: Nevada State Office of Energy
Start Date: 12/4/2007
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Solar - Passive
  • Solar Water Heat
  • Geothermal Electric
  • Solar Photovoltaics
  • Wind (All)
  • Biomass
  • Landfill Gas
  • Daylighting
  • Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
  • Wind (Small)
  • Hydroelectric (Small)
  • Anaerobic Digestion
Incentive Amount: New Buildings
LEED Silver: 25% reduction of the property tax payable each year
LEED Gold: 30% reduction of the property tax payable each year
LEED Platinum: 35% reduction of the property tax payable each year
Renovations to existing buildings used by a manufacturer
LEED-EB Silver: 25% reduction of the property tax payable each year
LEED-EB Gold: 30% reduction of the property tax payable each year
LEED-EB Platinum: 35% reduction of the property tax payable each year
Maximum Incentive: New Buildings: Duration of abatement no longer than 10 years
Existing Buildings: $100,000 per year
Duration of abatement no longer than 5 years
Equipment Requirements: New buildings must earn either Silver, Gold or Platinum certification under the LEED Green Building
LEED Silver: at least 5 points for energy conservation
LEED Gold: at least 7 points for energy conservation
LEED Platinum: at least 11 points for energy conservation
Existing buildings must earn Silver certification or higher under LEED-EB

Incentives

This program has 1 incentives
Technologies: Solar - Passive, Solar Water Heat, Geothermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (Small)
Sectors: Commercial, Industrial
Parameters: The incentive has a maximum of 25.00 %, The incentive has a maximum of 35.00 %, The incentive has a minimum of 10.00 Years, The incentive has a minimum of $100000.00

Authorities

Name: NRS § 701A.100, et seq.
Date Enacted: 6/17/2005, subsequently amended
Name: NAC § 701A.010, et seq.
Date Enacted: 12/4/2007
Effective Date: 12/4/2007

Contact

Name: Public Information
Organization: Nevada Department of Taxation
Address: 1550 College Parkway Suite 115
Carson City NV 89706
Phone: (775) 684-2100

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.