MD-ID: Mixed-Use Downtown Innovation District in Reno
The MD-ID: Mixed-Use Downtown Innovation District in the City of Reno is intended to support a transition into a mixed-use and light-manufacturing environment while maintaining an eclectic urban character. There are no minimum off-street parking requirements in this district, and new developments must meet a minimum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 2.0 and a minimum residential density of 30 dwelling units per acre. This district permits a wide array of uses by-right, ranging from high-density residential and live/work units to small-scale manufacturing and processing.
Purpose of the MD-ID District
The Mixed-Use Downtown Innovation District (MD-ID) is designed to accommodate a diverse range of employment uses, including small-scale manufacturing, processing, wholesaling, office, and flex-space. This is balanced with supporting urban uses such as retail, restaurants, cultural facilities, high-density residential, and live/work environments [Section 18.02.302(a)].
Technical Development Standards
The City of Reno establishes specific lot and building standards for the MD-ID district to ensure a compact, urban form. Notably, while most districts have maximum intensity limits, the MD-ID district enforces minimum intensity requirements to support its role as a transit-supportive employment and housing hub [Section 18.04.1003(a)(3)].
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Width | 30 feet |
| Minimum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 2.0 |
| Minimum Residential Density | 30 units per acre |
| Front Setback (Fourth Street) | 18 feet (measured from back of curb) |
| Front Setback (All other streets) | 12 feet (measured from back of curb) |
| Side Setback | 0 feet (5 feet if adjacent to a residential district) |
| Rear Setback | 0 feet (5 feet if adjacent to a residential district) |
| Street-Facing Garage Setback | 20 feet (measured from sidewalk) |
| Minimum Building Separation | 10 feet |
[Source: Table 2-15 and Section 18.04.1003]
Allowed Residential Uses
The MD-ID: Mixed-Use Downtown Innovation District in Reno permits nearly all forms of household living by-right (P), emphasizing high-density housing options.
- Permitted by Right (P): Duplex, triplex, and fourplex dwellings; live/work units; multi-family dwellings; single-family attached (townhomes); single-family detached dwellings; and manufactured homes.
- Group Living: Assisted living facilities, boarding or rooming houses, convent or monasteries, group homes, private dorms, and single-room-occupancy (SRO) units are all permitted (P).
- Minor Conditional Use Permit (M): Fraternity or sorority houses.
Allowed Commercial and Public Uses
The City of Reno allows a broad spectrum of commercial activities within the MD-ID district, many of which are intended to provide services to both the downtown workforce and residents.
General Commercial and Service Uses
- Permitted by Right (P): Animal clinics (interior only), retail bakeries, bars/lounges, commercial kitchens, microbreweries/distilleries, restaurants (with or without alcohol), bed and breakfast inns, hotels, and hotel-condominiums.
- Office and Professional: Call centers, financial institutions, laboratories, general offices, and recording studios are permitted (P).
- Personal Services: Commercial cleaners, general personal services, and wedding chapels are permitted (P).
Retail and Recreation
- Retail: Cannabis dispensaries (medical and adult-use), convenience stores, and general retail of all sizes are permitted (P).
- Recreation: Inside amusement or recreation, country clubs, and event centers are permitted (P).
- Conditional Use Permit Required (C): Hotels with nonrestricted gaming, convention centers, and sports arenas/stadiums.
Allowed Industrial and Employment Uses
Reflecting its "Innovation" designation, this Reno district allows specific light-industrial uses that are compatible with an urban mixed-use environment.
- Permitted by Right (P): Custom and craft manufacturing (e.g., jewelry making, woodworking, ceramic studios); food processing or wholesale bakeries; indoor manufacturing, processing, and assembly; maintenance or renovation businesses; and printing and publishing.
- Conditional Use Permit Required (C): Mini-warehouses.
Prohibited Uses
Under the City of Reno land development code, uses not expressly listed in the Table of Allowed Uses for a specific district are generally prohibited [Section 18.03.204].
- Prohibited in MD-ID: Adult businesses (e.g., adult bookstores, interactive cabarets), heavy machinery rental/sales, outdoor storage, tow yards, truck stops, wrecking yards, animal byproduct processing, and hazardous waste facilities.
- Geographic Restrictions: Automobile, truck, or RV sales/rentals are only permitted in the MD-ID district if the parcel is located east of I-580 or within 1/4 mile of a freeway on- or off-ramp [Section 18.03.304(h)(2)b].
Parking and Signage Standards
The MD-ID district follows the City of Reno's "Downtown Parking District" standards, which prioritize pedestrian mobility over vehicle storage.
- Parking: There is no minimum off-street parking requirement for any use within the MD-ID district [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)a.2].
- Signage: Freestanding signs are limited to a maximum height of 8 feet. If the parcel is one acre or larger, the maximum height may be increased to 35 feet. Freestanding sign area is generally limited to 125 square feet unless the parcel exceeds one acre [Table 5-1].
- Ground-Level Interest: At least 40% of the horizontal length of a ground-floor facade facing Fourth Street must consist of transparent windows or doors. On all other streets, the minimum is 25% [Section 18.04.1003(a)(4)b].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.302: MD-ID: Downtown - Innovation District
- Section 18.03.204: Use for Other Purposes Prohibited
- Section 18.03.206: Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.03.304: Commercial Uses (Use-Specific Standards)
- Section 18.04.705: Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.1003: General Standards for Urban Districts
- Section 18.05.113: Permanent On-Premises Sign Regulations by Zoning District