Environmental Rules 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
Stormwater Management
Washoe County's Nuisance Code makes it a public nuisance to discharge pollutants into receiving waters or into the county's stormwater management system anywhere in the unincorporated area. WCC 50.308(14) sits alongside related nuisances for erosion-causing land alteration and unauthorized grading, enforced through the county's general nuisance-code process.
Stormwater Discharge Ban in Washoe County
Significant RestrictionsWCC § 50.308(14)
14.The discharge of pollutants into receiving waters or into the county's stormwater management system.
Erosion Control
In unincorporated Washoe County, altering land so it causes or contributes to erosion, subsidence, or surface water drainage onto public or private property is a declared public nuisance under WCC 50.308(12). Code enforcement officers, the sheriff, fire chiefs, and the district health officer can cite the property owner, order remediation, and refer the matter for civil abatement or misdemeanor prosecution.
Washoe County Bans Land Alteration Causing Erosion
Some RestrictionsWCC 50.308(12)-(14)
In the unincorporated area of the county, a public nuisance is anything described in the Code as such, and is further defined as: ... 12. Land that has been altered so as to cause or contribute to erosion, subsidence, or surface water drainage impacting public or private property. 13. The grading of land in any manner except as authorized pursuant to Code chapter 110, section 438, as amended. T...
Flood Zones
New construction and additions in Washoe County's special flood hazard areas must be built to a certified elevation. WCC 100.109.3.3 requires an engineer or land surveyor to certify bottom-floor, garage, and equipment elevations on a FEMA Elevation Certification, submitted to the County Engineer for review before final inspection.
Washoe County Flood Zone Elevation Rule
Some RestrictionsWCC § 100.109.3.3
In special flood hazard areas, the elevations of the bottom floor, including crawl space and basement, the next higher floor, the attached garage floor, the lowest machinery or equipment serving the building, the lowest adjacent grade and the highest adjacent grad shall be certified by an engineer or land surveyor on a FEMA Elevation Certification. The completed certifications shall be submitte...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Washoe County requires a FEMA Elevation Certificate for construction in special flood hazard areas under Washoe County Code § 100.109.3.3. A licensed engineer or land surveyor must certify the elevations of the bottom floor, garage floor, and equipment, and the County Engineer must review and approve the certificate before the final building inspection.
Flood Elevation Certification in Washoe County
Some RestrictionsWCC § 100.109.3.3; § 100.106.2
100.106.2 - Site plan. The construction documents submitted with the application for permit shall be accompanied by a site plan showing to scale the size and location of new construction and existing structures on the site, distances from lot lines, the established street grades and the proposed finished grades and, as applicable, flood hazard areas, floodways, and design flood elevations; and ...
Environmental Rules by City in Washoe County
1 cities in Washoe County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Washoe County ordinances
See every category we cover for Washoe County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Washoe County Ordinance Hub →