Reno, NV Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- RMC Ch. 12.16, Art. IV
- Enforcing agency
- Public Works Director
- Max civil penalty
- $1,000 per day per violation
- Applies to
- City of Reno storm sewer system
Summary
Reno bans dumping refuse, waste, or any pollutant into streets, storm sewer inlets, catch basins, or drainage structures citywide, with civil penalties up to $1,000 per day per violation.
No person shall throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep, or permit to be thrown, deposited, placed, left or maintained, any refuse, rubbish, garbage, animal waste, or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles, and accumulations, in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, storm sewer inlet, catch basin, conduit or other drainage structures, parking area, or upon any public or private plot of land so that the same might be or become a pollutant, except where such pollutant is being temporarily stored in properly contained waste receptacles or is part of a well-defined compost system.
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
Reno Municipal Code Chapter 12.16, Article IV governs storm water discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). No person may throw, deposit, or leave refuse, rubbish, garbage, or animal waste in streets, alleys, sidewalks, storm sewer inlets, catch basins, or drainage structures. Property owners must keep paved surfaces free of dirt and litter and provide proper refuse disposal so nothing washes into a storm drain. The public works director enforces the article and administers a discharge permit program under Sec. 12.16.910 and 12.16.920.
Violations & Fines
Violations are enforceable as public nuisances; courts may impose civil penalties up to $1,000 per day per violation, plus attorneys' fees and cleanup costs charged to the responsible party.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hose dirt from my sidewalk into the street in Reno?
What is the penalty for illegal storm drain discharge in Reno?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
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