Washoe County, NV Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

WCC 55.390 sets the county's household pet cap: within a congested area, no one may keep more than five adult dogs and/or seven adult cats, for more than 30 days in any six-month period, without a variance permit. A dog or cat is treated as an "adult" once it passes four months of age, so litters of puppies or kittens under that age do not count toward the limit while they remain with their mother.

To get a variance permit, WCC 55.400 requires an application to regional animal services stating how many animals are kept and why, scale drawings of the property and any enclosure, an emergency evacuation plan for the animals, and an application fee set by the board of county commissioners. An animal control officer must schedule a premises inspection within 30 days of the application and complete it within 45 days, checking that the containment meets WCC 55.410 (dogs) or WCC 55.415 (cats), that keeping the animals will not endanger neighbors, and that the premises can be kept sanitary. Dog enclosures must run at least 10 feet by 5 feet for one dog, growing by 50 square feet per additional dog, built of 11.5-gauge chain link or equivalent with a secure top; cat enclosures need at least 50 square feet per cat and must keep the cats from roaming free in congested areas.

Under WCC 55.420, the director of regional animal services must act on a complete application within 120 days, after notifying neighbors within 200 feet who get 15 days to object in writing. A permit holder must license and microchip every dog, keep current rabies vaccinations, and report any new animal or address change within 30 days. Denial or revocation triggers a right to appeal to the county's administrative hearing office within 30 days, and then to district court.