Accessory Structures in Washoe County, NV (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Washoe County, Nevada.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
In unincorporated Washoe County, one ADU is allowed per parcel. Attached ADUs need a 5,000 sq ft lot; detached need 12,000 sq ft. Detached units are capped at 1,500 sq ft (800 in Medium Density Suburban).
Washoe County ADU (Accessory Dwelling) Rules
Some RestrictionsWCC 110.306.25(d)
The detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed fifteen hundred (1,500) square feet, or fifty (50) percent of the total square footage of the main dwelling unit, whichever is smaller. In the Medium Density Suburban (MDS) Regulatory Zone, the detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed eight hundred (800) square feet.
Shed & Carport Rules
Detached sheds and accessory structures 12 feet or less in height may sit within required rear and side setbacks if kept at least 5 feet from those property lines. They are never allowed in the front yard setback.
Sheds and Detached Accessory Structures in Washoe County
Some RestrictionsWCC 110.306.10(b)(1)
Accessory structures 12 feet in height or less may be located within the required rear and side yard setbacks provided they are five feet or more from the rear and side property line. Accessory structures are prohibited within the required front yard setback.
Garage Conversions
Converting a garage or accessory structure into livable space turns it into a dwelling unit subject to the county's ADU rules. Installing both a kitchen and a toilet automatically makes it a dwelling unit.
Garage Conversions to Living Space in Washoe County
Some RestrictionsWCC 110.306.10(h)
Installation of both a kitchen (as defined in Article 902) and a toilet in a detached accessory structure shall render the structure as a dwelling unit subject to the provisions of this article.
Tiny Homes
A manufactured or modular home built within 6 years of placement may serve as a detached ADU if permanently affixed and converted to real property. A shed or accessory structure cannot be a mobile/manufactured home.
Tiny Homes and Manufactured Accessory Dwellings in Washoe County
Some RestrictionsWCC 110.306.25(e)
A manufactured or modular home constructed within six (6) years of the date of its placement is permitted as a detached accessory dwelling unit, subject to the size and regulatory zone requirements in (d) above and the provisions of Article 312, Fabricated Housing, provided that the unit is permanently affixed to the property.
Accessory Structures by City in Washoe County
1 cities in Washoe County have their own accessory structures rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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