Elko County, NV Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Elko County Code § 5-4-7(C), titled Drainage, is the stormwater design rule for developments reviewed under the subdivision regulations. The developer must design the development so it is protected from inundation, flood hazard, sheet overflow, and ponding of local storm water, springs and other surface waters. Improvements must carry water occurring within the development off without injury to any improvements, building sites or residences on lots in the development or in adjoining areas. That water must be carried to a storm drainage facility or to a natural watercourse by whatever improvements are required.

Two downstream tests sit in the same paragraph. Any off-tract outlet drainage facility required to carry storm water from the proposed development to a defined channel or conduit must be made adequate for the ultimate state of improvement in the drainage area, and drainage design inside the development must accommodate reasonable anticipated future improvement within the drainage area. All water must be discharged into a controlled outlet stabilized storm channel for erosion control, and all such off-site drainage water must be materially free of silt or other polluting features.

Easement rules support the design. Under § 5-4-5(A), the developer grants easements not less than a total of ten feet in width for public utility, sanitary sewer and drainage, and other public purposes on yard or open areas wherever necessary, and the County can allow lesser widths and prescribes the width in that case. Under § 5-4-5(B), all natural drainage ways are preserved with appropriate easements and pedestrian walkways where necessary.

The code also draws a line between storm and sanitary sewers in the sewer chapter that names the unincorporated Town of Jackpot. Section 9-2-2(B) excludes all other matter of any nature from the parts of the sewer system the Director designates as storm sewers, and drainage water is directed into a storm sewer only under the authorization and direction of the Director. Section 9-2-2(C) excludes discharge of any stormwater, surface water, groundwater or roof runoff from all parts of the sewer system designated as the sanitary sewer system.