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Reno, NV Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Permit trigger
Any excavation, fill, or grade change
Major review threshold
Cuts over 20 ft, fills over 10 ft
Governing section
RMC § 18.04.302
Permit procedure
Follows § 18.08.606(b) process
Administered by
Development Services / City Engineer

Summary

Reno requires a grading permit before excavating, filling, or altering land grade, per Municipal Code § 18.04.302; cuts over 20 feet or fills over 10 feet trigger major site plan review.

No person shall excavate, fill, or otherwise alter the existing grade of any property without first obtaining a grading permit according to the procedures and criteria stated in subsection 18.08.606(b).

Source: Reno Building and SafetyView official code

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

Before altering existing grade in any way, cutting, filling, or otherwise disturbing land, Reno property owners must obtain a grading permit under Reno Municipal Code § 18.04.302(c), following the procedures in § 18.08.606(b). Projects with cuts deeper than 20 feet, fills taller than 10 feet, hillside development, grading in a major drainageway, or grading within the Parks, Greenways and Open Space district trigger an additional major site plan review with findings on erosion control, visual scarring, and stormwater runoff. Development Services and the City Engineer administer the standards; slopes and fills must also meet the re-vegetation and slope-treatment requirements elsewhere in Chapter 18.04.

Violations & Fines

Grading without a permit is a code violation enforceable by Reno Development Services; the City can require excavation stopped, remediation, and compliance with erosion, drainage, and re-vegetation standards before work resumes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to grade my Reno property?
Yes. Reno Municipal Code § 18.04.302(c) requires a grading permit before you excavate, fill, or otherwise alter the existing grade of any property, following the procedures in § 18.08.606(b).
What triggers extra review beyond a basic grading permit?
Cuts deeper than 20 feet, fills taller than 10 feet, hillside development, grading in a major drainageway, or grading in the PGOS district all require a major site plan review.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Reno

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All Reno rules

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