Reno, NV Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- 5 to 12 children in-home
- Outdoor play hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Fence required
- 6-foot fence on shared lines
- Residency rule
- Provider must live on-site
- Citation
- RMC § 18.03.405(c)
Summary
Reno allows in-home childcare for 5 to 12 kids as an accessory home business, but requires the provider to live on-site, caps outdoor play hours, and mandates a 6-foot fence along residential property lines.
(c) Childcare, In-Home (5-12 Children) ... (2) Outdoor play shall be limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (3) Outdoor lighting shall be designed to not shine directly onto any abutting residential uses. (4) The residence or dwelling unit in which the in-home childcare use is operated shall be the permanent residence of the provider of the in-home childcare service. (5) A six-foot high fence shall be installed along all common property lines with abutting residential uses.
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 § 18.03.405(c) sets accessory-use standards for in-home childcare serving 5 to 12 children. The provider must make the home their permanent residence: the use cannot be run by a non-resident operator. Outdoor play is limited to 7 a.m.-7 p.m., outdoor lighting cannot shine onto neighboring residential yards, and a 6-foot fence is required along every property line shared with abutting residential uses. Drop-off and pick-up traffic must be designed so it doesn't block adjacent roadways, with the city's Administrator approving the driveway and parking layout before a building permit or business license issues. Any deviation from these standards requires a minor conditional use permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating in-home childcare for 5-12 children without meeting these site standards, or without the required business license and layout approval, is a zoning violation the Administrator can enforce through code enforcement or permit denial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a daycare from my Reno home?
Do I need a permit for a small home daycare?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
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