Before You Build in Reno, NV: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Reno limits residential fences to 6 feet in rear and side yards and 4 feet in front yards under RMC Title 18 zoning. Corner lots have additional visibility triangle rules, and fences over 7 feet generally require a building permit.

Nevada has no statewide fence cost-sharing statute. Reno treats shared fences as civil matters between neighbors. Property line surveys are advised before construction to prevent encroachment disputes.

Pools and spas in Reno require 5-foot barriers on all sides with self-closing, self-latching gates under Nevada Administrative Code and adopted International Residential Code provisions. Drowning prevention rules are enforced at final building inspection.

Fences under 7 feet in Reno generally do not require a building permit, but must still meet zoning rules for height, location, and corner visibility. Fences over 7 feet, on retaining walls, or in floodways require permits.

Reno requires a building permit for all in-ground and above-ground pools over 24 inches deep. Permits are issued by the Reno Community Development Department and require barrier, electrical, and plumbing inspections.

Above-ground pools in Reno follow the same permit and barrier rules as in-ground pools when depth exceeds 24 inches. The pool wall can serve as barrier if 5 feet high and ladder access is secured.

Reno hot tubs and spas over 24 inches deep require permits and must meet barrier rules. A locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 can substitute for a fence on hot tubs. Electrical must be GFCI-protected and bonded.

Reno pool barriers must be at least 5 feet high with self-closing self-latching gates under IRC Appendix G. Doors from the home to the pool area need alarms or approved safety barriers.

Reno pools must comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act for anti-entrapment drain covers. Proper electrical bonding and GFCI protection are required. Diving boards require minimum depth per IRC.

Reno allows Accessory Dwelling Units on most single-family lots under RMC Title 18 after 2021 revisions. Detached ADUs up to 1200 sq ft and attached/internal ADUs up to 50 percent of the primary dwelling are permitted with building permits.

Garage conversions to habitable space are allowed in Reno with building permits under IRC provisions. Required off-street parking must be replaced on site. Conversions often register as ADUs subject to ADU rules.

Tiny homes on permanent foundations can qualify as ADUs in Reno if they meet IRC Appendix Q (minimum 70 sq ft living area, ladder/loft standards). Tiny homes on wheels (RVIA-certified) are treated as RVs and cannot be used as permanent dwellings.

Carports in Reno are permitted accessory structures on most residential lots, subject to standard setbacks and lot coverage. A building permit is required for any permanent carport; fabric canopy carports are generally treated as temporary.

Sheds 200 sq ft or smaller without electrical or plumbing are exempt from building permits in Reno per IRC R105.2. Larger or utility-connected sheds require a permit and must meet setbacks (typically 5 ft side/rear in SF zones).

Open burning of yard waste, trash, and debris is prohibited year-round in Reno city limits per Washoe County Air Quality Management Division AQMD 040.030. Agricultural and prescribed burns require a permit from Nevada Division of Forestry and TMFPD.

Reno permits gas and propane fire pits year-round under Reno Municipal Code Title 14. Wood-burning fire pits are restricted during Red Flag warnings and Stage 2+ fire restrictions issued by Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD).

Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) enforces year-round watering schedules in Reno. Assigned watering days by address, no watering between 11 AM and 7 PM May-September, and mandatory drought-stage restrictions when triggered.

Trees on private property in Reno may generally be removed without a permit, but heritage trees, public right-of-way trees, and trees within approved landscape plans for new development require Urban Forestry approval per RMC 12.16.

Reno residents may trim trees on their own property without a city permit. Trees overhanging streets or sidewalks must maintain 8 feet clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets per RMC 12.16. Utility line trimming is handled by NV Energy.