Land Use Regulations for the ME: Mixed Employment District in Reno
The ME: Mixed Employment district in the City of Reno is designed for employment-focused developments, primarily accommodating light manufacturing, processing, wholesaling, flex space, research and development, and professional offices [Section 18.02.403]. While most residential uses are prohibited, the City of Reno allows limited multi-family housing in a specific sub-area near Sutro Street, provided projects meet stringent residential adjacency and compatibility standards [Section 18.03.302]. High-impact uses such as convention centers, large-scale utilities, and specific industrial activities are permitted only with a Conditional Use Permit to ensure compatibility with the surrounding urban environment [Table 3-1].
Purpose of the ME: Mixed Employment District
The City of Reno established the ME: Mixed Employment district to provide for a diverse range of employment opportunities. The district typically features smaller building footprints than the heavy Industrial (I) district and may include campus-like environments for education and employment [Section 18.02.403(a)]. The City of Reno also permits secondary supportive services within this district, such as small-scale retail and restaurants, to serve the workforce and residents of the area [Section 18.02.403(a)].
Allowed Land Uses in the ME District
Land uses in the ME: Mixed Employment district are categorized as Permitted (P), Minor Conditional Use (M), or Conditional Use (C). Uses not listed or left blank in the City of Reno land use table are generally prohibited.
Residential Uses (Highly Restricted)
Most residential housing is prohibited in the ME: Mixed Employment district. However, the City of Reno allows specific exceptions for multi-family and attached single-family dwellings only within a specific geographic boundary [Section 18.03.302(c)].
| Use Type | Permission Level | Specific Standards/Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-family Dwelling | P* | Only permitted in the area bounded by Sutro St, Valley Rd, Timber Way, and Paintbrush Dr [Section 18.03.302(c)]. |
| Single-family Attached | P* | Only permitted in the specific sub-area bounded by Sutro St, Valley Rd, Timber Way, and Paintbrush Dr [Section 18.03.302(d)]. |
| Caretaker Quarters | A | Allowed as an accessory use [Table 3-1]. |
Public, Institutional, and Civic Uses
The City of Reno allows various civic and institutional uses to support the employment character of the ME: Mixed Employment district.
| Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Minor Government Facility | P |
| Public Park or Recreation Area | P |
| Religious Assembly | C |
| Adult Education | P |
| Childcare Center | P |
| School, Vocational or Trade | P |
| Medical Facility, Day Use | P |
| Utilities, Minor | P |
| Utilities, Major | C |
Commercial and Employment Uses
The core of the ME: Mixed Employment district consists of office, retail, and service-oriented businesses.
| Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Office, General | P |
| Financial Institution | P |
| Laboratory | P |
| Call Center | P |
| Recording Studio | P |
| Restaurant (with or without Alcohol) | P |
| Bar, Lounge, or Tavern | P |
| Hotel or Hotel-Condominium | P |
| General Retail (All sizes) | P |
| Building, Lumber, and Landscape Materials | P |
| Auto Service and Repair | M |
| Gas Station | P |
| Convention Center | C |
Industrial and Production Uses
The City of Reno permits light industrial and production activities that do not generate significant off-site impacts.
| Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Custom and Craft Manufacturing | P |
| Indoor Manufacturing or Processing | P |
| Maintenance, Repair, or Renovation | P |
| Printing and Publishing | P |
| Food Processing or Wholesale Bakery | P |
| Warehouse or Distribution Center | P |
| Wholesale | P |
| Mini-warehouse | P |
| Cannabis Cultivation (Adult or Medical) | P* |
| Data Center | C |
| Outdoor Storage | C |
| Tow Yard | C* |
Prohibited Uses in the ME: Mixed Employment District
The City of Reno prohibits uses that are incompatible with the "flex-space" or office-industrial nature of the ME: Mixed Employment district. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to:
- Heavy Residential: Single-family detached homes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and mobile home parks [Table 3-1].
- Heavy Industrial: Animal byproduct processing, chemical manufacturing, mining operations, and hazardous waste facilities (unless specifically approved) [Table 3-1].
- Specific Civic Uses: Cemeteries, mausoleums, funeral parlors, and prisons [Table 3-1].
- Resource Extraction: Asphalt or concrete batch plants and mining [Table 3-1].
- Waste Services: Septic tank services, transfer stations, and wrecking or junk yards [Table 3-1].
Technical Development Standards
Development within the ME: Mixed Employment district must adhere to specific dimensional and parking requirements established by the City of Reno.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Max Building Area | 500,000 square feet (may be exceeded with Major Site Plan Review) [Section 18.02.403] |
| Min Front Setback | 10 feet [Section 18.02.403] |
| Min Side Setback | 0 feet (10 feet if adjacent to a residential property) [Section 18.02.403] |
| Min Rear Setback | 0 feet (10 feet if adjacent to a residential property) [Section 18.02.403] |
| Max Height | 55 feet (Requires additional 1-foot stepback for every 1-foot of height over 35 feet when adjacent to streets or residential) [Section 18.02.403] |
| Parking (Office) | 1 space per 400 square feet [Table 4-6] |
| Parking (Warehouse) | 1 space per 3,300 square feet [Table 4-6] |
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.403 ME: Mixed Employment
- Section 18.03.206 Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.03.302 Residential Uses
- Section 18.03.304 Commercial Uses
- Section 18.03.306 Industrial Uses
- Section 18.04.705 Off-Street Parking Requirements