Reno bans open containers of alcohol on public streets, sidewalks, and parks citywide, with limited exemptions for licensed special events, the downtown entertainment district during sanctioned festivals, and Truckee River-area private patios.
Reno Municipal Code prohibits possessing an open alcoholic beverage in public rights-of-way, parks, and parking lots open to the public. Exceptions apply to licensed outdoor cafe seating, brewpub patios, and city-sanctioned special events such as Hot August Nights, Street Vibrations, and the Reno River Festival, where defined consumption zones are posted. Open containers in motor vehicles are separately barred under Nevada NRS 484B.150. Drinking on the Truckee River pathway is prohibited absent a permitted event. Violations are misdemeanors typically resolved with a fine.
Open container violations are misdemeanors with fines around $100-$500 and possible community service for repeat offenders.
See how Reno's public alcohol use rules stack up against other locations.
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