The Reno City Council voted Dec. 3 to direct staff to return with an ordinance to update the city's International Property Maintenance Code to the 2024 edition and to refine downtown‑specific maintenance standards.

Lance Ferrato, Reno’s director of licensing and code enforcement, told the council the IPMC sets minimum, enforceable standards for existing structures — covering light, ventilation, sanitation, heating, fire safety, and exterior maintenance — and that Reno’s last full adoption dated to 2012. Ferrato said code enforcement handled about 3,700 cases in the last fiscal year, roughly 500 of them proactive, and recommended changes to facades, signage, boarding standards and rules for alcoves and outdoor speakers in the downtown chapter.

Council members pushed staff to strengthen enforcement tools to address repeat offenders downtown. The discussion raised options including daily administrative fines, clearer citation templates, dedicated RDA‑supported code officers for downtown, stricter hearing‑officer oversight and better coordination with building and fire inspections.

"Downtown looks the way it does because we've allowed it to," one councilmember said, urging staff to come back with options to use every legal tool available, including recurring fines and stronger follow‑up where owners do not cooperate. Ferrato said the municipal code already allows daily fines and that staff would weigh how to administer them fairly and consistently.

Council voted unanimously to request an ordinance introduction updating Reno Municipal Code Chapter 14.05 to reflect the 2024 IPMC edition and to bring forward any regional modifications for council review.

What comes next: Staff will draft the ordinance and return for introduction and subsequent readings, with details about proposed downtown standards, enforcement mechanics and any recommended changes to administrative appeal procedures.