Most residential and rural regulatory zones in unincorporated Washoe County cap building height at 35 feet. Urban and commercial zones allow more (up to 70-80 feet). Accessory structures in setbacks are limited to 12 feet.
Washoe County Development Code Table 110.406.05.1 (Part One) sets maximum height by regulatory zone: 35 feet in LDR, MDR, HDR, all Suburban zones (LDS-HDS) and General Rural (GR/GRA); 40 feet in Low Density Urban (LDU); 60-70 feet in higher-density urban and Neighborhood Commercial; 80 feet in General Commercial. Structure height is determined using the currently adopted building code. Under Section 110.306.10(c), a detached accessory structure may not exceed 12 feet when erected within a required yard setback, and 35 feet when erected outside the setbacks. Retaining-wall height applicability is addressed in Development Code Interpretation 99-1.
Structures exceeding the zone height limit require a variance; unpermitted over-height construction is a Development Code violation subject to enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Washoe County, NV
Home composting is allowed in unincorporated Washoe County. There is no dedicated composting permit, but a pile that creates odor, attracts vermin, or become...
Washoe County, NV
Unincorporated Washoe County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially regulating artificial turf on residential property. It is a common water-saving choice...
Washoe County, NV
Washoe County does not require native plants, but its arid high-desert setting and TMWA's conservation program strongly encourage drought-tolerant, water-wis...
Washoe County, NV
Rainwater harvesting is legal statewide. Nevada NRS 533.027 allows de minimis collection of precipitation from the rooftop of a single-family dwelling for no...
Washoe County, NV
There is no county watering schedule. In the Truckee Meadows, Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) assigns sprinkler days by address: odd addresses water W...
Washoe County, NV
Unincorporated Washoe County has no local weed ordinance. Noxious weeds are governed statewide by NRS Chapter 555: landowners must control designated noxious...
See how Washoe County's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.