General Commercial (GC) Front Setback Measurement Standards

In the City of Reno, front setback requirements for the General Commercial (GC) zoning district are primarily governed by the general rules of measurement for property line setbacks, with specific exceptions for garage orientations and private access easements.

Standard Measurement Point

For properties located within the General Commercial (GC) district, the minimum front setback is 10 feet [§ 18.02.309, Table 2-22].

Unless a specific exception applies, this setback is measured as the horizontal distance between the property line (parcel boundary) and the nearest portion of the building or structure [§ 18.09.205(a)(1)].

Exceptions and Special Conditions

While the standard measurement is taken from the property line, the following conditions modify how the setback is calculated or applied:

Private Roadways and Access Easements

If the parcel includes a private roadway or an access easement that serves any nonresidential development or more than four residential units, the front setback must be measured from the edge of that roadway rather than the parcel boundary [§ 18.09.205(a)(1)b].

Street-Facing Garages

Regardless of the 10-foot building setback, any street-facing garage must maintain a minimum setback of 20 feet. This specific distance is measured from the sidewalk (or planned sidewalk) to the face of the garage [§ 18.02.309, Table 2-22].

Alley Abutment

A minimum zero-foot setback is permitted if the property line abuts an alley, provided that at least 24 feet of backup space is available (including the alley width) for all garage doors or parking spaces that back onto said alley [§ 18.02.309, Note 1].

Projections into the Front Setback

Certain architectural and mobility features are permitted to intrude into the required 10-foot front setback:

• Architectural Features: Cornices, canopies, chimneys, and eaves may extend up to two feet into the setback [§ 18.09.205(e)(1)].
• Mobility Improvements: Access ramps or lift retrofits for existing buildings may extend into the setback, provided any roof structure maintains a two-foot minimum distance from the property line [§ 18.09.205(e)(3)].

Comparison with Other Urban Districts

It is important to note that while some Reno "Urban Districts" (such as MD, MU, and MU-MC) measure front setbacks from the back of the curb, the GC district is not included in that specific measurement category. Consequently, GC follows the default rule of measuring from the parcel boundary/property line [§ 18.09.205(a)(2)].