Reno staff seek input on voluntary nonprofit registry amid zoning and safety concerns

City of Reno licensing officials held a public outreach webinar to solicit feedback on a possible nonprofit registration or registry, saying City Council requested staff examine the issue and that the goal is to gather community input before drafting any ordinance.

Lance Ferrato, director of licensing and code enforcement, opened the session by describing Council’s charge and by framing the primary concerns as planning review, zoning restrictions and public safety. "We're here today to talk about nonprofit organizations and possible registration regulation," Ferrato said, noting the city has a voluntary registration and that any future policy would be returned to council for direction.

Why it matters: Ferrato said council is chiefly concerned with how the city plans and enforces distancing or zoning requirements — for example, a past approval placed a cannabis business near a…