Reno, NV Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Turf cap
- 50% max in MF/Urban/Employment districts
- Non-turf standard
- must emphasize low water-use plants
- Trees
- drought-tolerant trees required in plans
- Exempt
- single-family and duplex need no plan
Summary
New development landscape plans in Reno must cap turf at 50 percent of the required landscape area in multi-family, Urban and Employment districts, and every non-turf area must emphasize low water-use plants.
In multi-family, Urban Districts, or Employment Districts, or model homes, lawn or turf areas shall not exceed 50 percent of the required landscape area.(d)An efficient water-conserving irrigation system including drip, low-arching and/or low-flow heads shall be used.(e)Soil in landscape area shall be improved by incorporating a minimum of two inches of organic soil amendment into the top six inches of soil, unless recommended otherwise by the soil report for the property.(f)Soil in landscape areas shall be tilled to a minimum depth of six inches for lawn areas, and to the depth of the root ball for shrubs and trees within the planting area to allow for sufficient aeration.(g)Non-turf areas shall emphasize low water consumptive plants.(h)All debris shall be removed from a planting site prior to soil preparation or planting. Debris includes cement, asphalt, wire, steel, scrap lumber, or other foreign matter.(i)Turf and spray irrigation shall be prohibited within 18 inches of all public right-of-way. (Ord. No. 6692, § 1(Exh. A), 1-8-25)
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 § 18.04.806, Water Conservation, governs every landscape plan the Administrator reviews under Title 18. In multi-family, Urban Districts, Employment Districts, and model homes, lawn or turf may not exceed 50 percent of the required landscape area, non-turf areas must emphasize low water-consumptive plants, and drip or low-flow irrigation is required. Section 18.04.805(c)(3) separately requires that trees used to meet landscaping requirements be drought-tolerant. Single-family and duplex dwellings are exempt from submitting a landscape plan at all under Section 18.04.803(b), so an existing single-family lot can convert to native or drought-tolerant planting without city landscape-plan review.
Violations & Fines
The Administrator withholds landscape-plan approval, and ultimately the certificate of occupancy, until a plan meets the turf cap and irrigation standards; installed landscaping that isn't maintained can trigger conditional-use-permit or business-license proceedings under § 18.04.807(b)(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace my lawn with native or drought-tolerant plants in Reno?
Does Reno limit how much lawn new developments can install?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
Compare Reno to another location·View the Nevada landscaping rules overview
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