Childcare and Daycare Facility Permissions in the City of Reno
In the City of Reno, Childcare Centers are permitted by-right in all Urban, Employment, and High-Density Multi-Family districts, while Residential and Unincorporated Transition districts require a Minor Conditional Use Permit. Accessory in-home childcare for 5 to 12 children is allowed as an accessory use in almost all City of Reno districts, provided the residence is the provider's permanent home. Workplace-based childcare is permitted as an accessory use in every zoning district within the City of Reno.
Permitted Zoning Districts for Childcare
The City of Reno categorizes childcare under three distinct use types: Childcare Centers (primary use), Childcare, In-Home (accessory use), and Childcare, Workplace (accessory use).
Childcare Centers
A Childcare Center is defined as any place or business where children are received and cared for with or without compensation, excluding in-home accessory uses [Section 18.09.301].
| District Category | Specific City of Reno Zoning Districts | Permission Level |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (Large Lot) | LLR-2.5, LLR-1, LLR-.5 | Minor Conditional Use Permit (M) |
| Residential (Single-Family) | SF-3, SF-5, SF-8, SF-11, SF-14 | Minor Conditional Use Permit (M) |
| Residential (Multi-Family) | MF-14 | Minor Conditional Use Permit (M) |
| Residential (Multi-Family) | MF-21, MF-30 | Permitted (P) |
| Urban (Downtown) | MD-ED, MD-UD, MD-ID, MD-RD, MD-NWQ, MD-PD | Permitted (P) |
| Urban (Mixed-Use/Comm) | MU, MS, GC, NC, PO, MU-MC, MU-RES | Permitted (P) |
| Employment | I, IC, ME, MA | Permitted (P) |
| Special Purpose | PF (Public Facility) | Permitted (P) |
| Special Purpose | UT-5, UT-10, UT-40 | Minor Conditional Use Permit (M) |
Accessory Childcare Uses
- Childcare, In-Home (5-12 Children): This is allowed as an accessory use (A) in all City of Reno districts except for the Industrial (I), Industrial Commercial (IC), Mixed Employment (ME), and Mixed-Use Airport (MA) districts [Section 18.03.206].
- Childcare, Workplace: This is allowed as an accessory use (A) in all zoning districts within the City of Reno [Section 18.03.206].
Use-Specific Standards for Childcare Centers
All childcare facilities in the City of Reno must adhere to specific design and operational standards to ensure safety and neighborhood compatibility [Section 18.03.303(b)(2)]:
- Loading and Unloading: Sites must be designed so that the discharging or loading of passengers from vehicles does not impede traffic flow. Plans for driveways, circulation, and pick-up/drop-off must be approved by the Administrator before building permits are issued.
- Residential Adjacency: If a facility or its play area is adjacent to a residentially zoned property:
- A six-foot-high fence must be installed along the common property line.
- An additional buffer of plant materials must be provided along the play area.
- Building entrances and access points should be oriented away from residential uses on local streets where possible.
- Outdoor play is restricted to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Lighting: Outdoor lighting must be designed to avoid shining directly onto abutting residential uses.
Standards for In-Home and Workplace Childcare
The City of Reno imposes the following standards for accessory childcare [Section 18.03.405(d)-(e)]:
- In-Home Residency: The dwelling unit must be the permanent residence of the childcare provider.
- Workplace Accessory Status: Workplace childcare must remain accessory to the primary business and cannot substantially alter the business's primary function.
- Fencing: A six-foot fence is required along common property lines when adjacent to residential zones.
Parking Requirements
The City of Reno requires off-street parking based on the "Parking District" in which the facility is located [Section 18.04.705].
| Use Type | Level 1 Parking District (Min.) | Level 2 Parking District (Min.) |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Center | 1 per 500 sq. ft. | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Childcare, In-Home | 1 per 9 pupils | 1 per 9 pupils |
Prohibitions and Overlay District Restrictions
Specific areas within the City of Reno have additional restrictions or outright prohibitions:
- Airport Flight Path (AF) Overlay: No property within an airport flight path area may be used for childcare facilities [Section 18.02.602(a)(4)c].
- West University Neighborhood (WUNP):
- In the Traditional Neighborhood Plan District, commercial childcare facilities are prohibited in the SF-8, MF-14, MF-21, and MF-30 districts [Section 18.02.603(h)(2)a.5].
- In-home childcare (7–12 children) is prohibited on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet in the SF-8 and MF-14 districts [Section 18.02.603(h)(2)a.9].
- Greenfield Neighborhood (GF): Within the Greenfield Single-Family (GFSF) district, a Child Care Center is only allowed as an accessory use and requires a conditional use permit [Section 18.02.603(b)(2)b.2].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.602(a)
- Section 18.02.603(b)
- Section 18.02.603(h)
- Section 18.03.206
- Section 18.03.303(b)
- Section 18.03.405(d)
- Section 18.03.405(e)
- Section 18.04.705
- Section 18.09.301