Reno, NV Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- SF-3 principal building max
- 35 feet
- SF-3 accessory structures
- 29/16/12 ft by type
- Large-lot districts allow
- up to 45 feet
- Height measured per
- §18.09.207 roof-midpoint method
Summary
Reno's SF-3 single-family zoning district caps principal buildings at 35 feet and limits accessory structures to 29, 16, or 12 feet depending on type, per the height table in the zoning code.
18.02.204 - SF-3: Single-Family Residential ... Table 2-7 SF-3: Lot and Building Standards ... Height, maximum Principal Building Accessory Structure Height 35 ft 29 ft/16 ft/12 ft [4] ... [4] 29 feet maximum for a single accessory building on each lot; 16 feet maximum for one-story residential garage or carport; 12 feet maximum for all other accessory structures.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Reno Municipal Code § 18.02.204 sets the SF-3 single-family district's building-height table: principal buildings max out at 35 feet, while accessory structures top out at 29 feet for a single detached building, 16 feet for a one-story garage or carport, and 12 feet for anything else. Height is measured under § 18.09.207 from the finished floor to the highest point of a flat roof's coping, the deck line of a mansard roof, or the midpoint between a pitched roof's peak and eave line. Limits climb in lower-density districts, up to 45 feet in the LLR-2.5, LLR-1, and LLR-0.5 large-lot districts, and drop or rise in other districts, so the applicable cap depends on the parcel's zoning district.
Violations & Fines
Building over the district height cap without an approved variance or special-use permit is a zoning violation; the city can deny occupancy or require the structure altered to comply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the maximum house height in Reno?
How is building height measured under Reno's code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
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