Reno adopts accessory dwelling unit ordinance amid short‑term rental concerns
October 08, 2025 | Planning Commission , Reno, Washoe County, Nevada
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The Reno City Council adopted ordinance 6727 on Oct. 8, 2025, updating the land‑use code to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with new design, parking and minimum‑lot provisions.
The council vote followed months of drafting, public outreach and a planning commission review. The ordinance sets standards for ADU placement and parking and defines allowed uses; it also sparked a broader debate about short‑term rentals (STRs) and enforcement capacity that several council members said they want staff to track closely.
The ordinance (TXT24‑00002) revises Title 18 (Annexation and Land Development) and related sections to add ADU standards, minimum 5,000‑square‑foot lot thresholds in some cases, parking and design criteria, and definitions. During the meeting council members acknowledged competing priorities: expanding home options for owners and renters while preventing neighborhood impacts linked to vacation‑style rentals.
Councilmember Naomi Duerr (made comments in general discussion) and others said they supported the ordinance as a way to increase housing supply, but several council members and public commenters raised concerns about short‑term rental conversions. In public comment, multiple speakers criticized the proliferation of STRs and urged tighter regulation: Ron Bell urged stricter mitigation and suggested using application fees to fund affordable housing, saying the city “is getting bought up by investors.” Other speakers from neighborhood groups and residents in historic districts said they feared ADUs could accelerate gentrification if used as STRs.
Council members debated enforcement and concluded that the city lacks the administrative capacity to monitor every ADU for STR use immediately. Councilmember Ebert urged ongoing monitoring and additional work on STR regulation. The council voted unanimously to adopt ordinance 6727. The record shows staff and council agreed to track STR activity and return to the council if significant enforcement or neighborhood problems appear.
The code change takes effect under the ordinance schedule; staff will continue to monitor short‑term rental activity tied to ADUs and report back with enforcement options or draft STR regulations if patterns of misuse arise.
The council vote followed months of drafting, public outreach and a planning commission review. The ordinance sets standards for ADU placement and parking and defines allowed uses; it also sparked a broader debate about short‑term rentals (STRs) and enforcement capacity that several council members said they want staff to track closely.
The ordinance (TXT24‑00002) revises Title 18 (Annexation and Land Development) and related sections to add ADU standards, minimum 5,000‑square‑foot lot thresholds in some cases, parking and design criteria, and definitions. During the meeting council members acknowledged competing priorities: expanding home options for owners and renters while preventing neighborhood impacts linked to vacation‑style rentals.
Councilmember Naomi Duerr (made comments in general discussion) and others said they supported the ordinance as a way to increase housing supply, but several council members and public commenters raised concerns about short‑term rental conversions. In public comment, multiple speakers criticized the proliferation of STRs and urged tighter regulation: Ron Bell urged stricter mitigation and suggested using application fees to fund affordable housing, saying the city “is getting bought up by investors.” Other speakers from neighborhood groups and residents in historic districts said they feared ADUs could accelerate gentrification if used as STRs.
Council members debated enforcement and concluded that the city lacks the administrative capacity to monitor every ADU for STR use immediately. Councilmember Ebert urged ongoing monitoring and additional work on STR regulation. The council voted unanimously to adopt ordinance 6727. The record shows staff and council agreed to track STR activity and return to the council if significant enforcement or neighborhood problems appear.
The code change takes effect under the ordinance schedule; staff will continue to monitor short‑term rental activity tied to ADUs and report back with enforcement options or draft STR regulations if patterns of misuse arise.
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