Reno council sends revised ADU draft to planning commission, asks staff to draft short‑term rental policy

After several hours of public testimony and a wide-ranging council debate, the Reno City Council on April 23 directed staff to revise the city’s draft ordinance to allow accessory dwelling units and forward the revised draft to the Planning Commission for a formal recommendation.

The council’s action came after community members, neighborhood associations and business groups testified both for and against allowing ADUs across single‑family zones. Grace Mackinnon, senior management analyst in the city’s planning office, told the council staff’s draft aimed to allow ADUs “where single‑family homes are allowed,” establish one ADU per lot and include a minimum off‑street parking space per ADU. Mackinnon said staff originally proposed a 9,000‑square‑foot minimum lot size but that several commissioners and public commenters urged lowering or removing that threshold.

Supporters of the draft, including representatives of the Sierra Nevada Realtors and homeowners who testified, said ADUs can expand housing supply and give property owners flexibility to house family members or provide rental income. Kaylee Brown of the Reno‑Sparks Chamber’s leadership class told the council ADUs “offer a practical, scalable solution” for housing and help aging in place.

Opponents and many nearby homeowners said they feared the…