Washoe County, NV Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- WCC 80.620(1)(e), (5); 80.660(1)(h)
- Max charging stay
- 4 hours while actively charging
- Fine for non-charging occupancy
- $100
- Scope
- County-owned parking lots and property only
- Effective date
- November 24, 2017 (Ord. No. 1602)
- Towing authority
- County manager, owner pays cost
Summary
On county-owned parking lots and property, Washoe County Code 80.620 reserves green-painted curb zones for electric vehicles that are actively charging, capping the stay at four hours. Section 80.660 fines a driver $100 for parking in a green EV zone without actively charging. The rule does not reach private lots or on-street parking outside county property.
1.Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful to park in any:...(e)Electric vehicle charging station zone, designated as such by a green-painted curb area that is served by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle....5.Persons may park an electric vehicle in green-painted charging zones while actively charging a vehicle equipped for such a charging station for a maximum of four hours....(h)Parking in green-painted curb area (electric vehicle charging zone) while not actively charging on electric vehicle .....$100.00
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Washoe County added the electric vehicle charging zone to its county-property parking code through Ordinance No. 1602, effective November 24, 2017. 620(1)(e) defines the zone as "a green-painted curb area that is served by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle," placing it alongside the county's other color-coded zones: red for fire lanes, white or white-striped for hotel loading, yellow for general loading, and blue for handicapped parking.
Subsection 5 allows a driver to park in a green zone "while actively charging a vehicle equipped for such a charging station for a maximum of four hours," meaning the four-hour clock runs while the vehicle is plugged in and drawing power, not as a flat time limit for occupying the space. The rule sits in the "Vehicle Parking on County Parking Lots and Property" subchapter of Chapter 80, so it binds drivers using county administrative building lots and other county-controlled property rather than private shopping-center chargers or public street parking regulated separately under Chapter 70.
660(1)(h) sets the fine for parking in a green-painted zone while not actively charging at $100, matching the fine tier for a first handicapped-zone violation and running well above the $10 fine for a yellow loading-zone violation. 650 makes the license plate on a cited or towed vehicle prima facie evidence of who was driving.
Violations & Fines
Parking in a green-painted EV charging zone while not actively charging draws a $100 fine under WCC 80.660(1)(h), payable as bail within five days of the citation; unpaid bail after ten days can trigger an arrest warrant. County officials may also have the vehicle towed and impounded at the owner's expense under WCC 80.630.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I park at a county EV charging station?
What happens if I park in a green EV zone without charging?
Does this rule cover chargers at a shopping center or apartment complex?
Can my car be towed for this violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washoe County
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