MD-NWQ District Setback and Building Standards in Reno
In the City of Reno's MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District, front setbacks are 18 feet on Fourth Street and 12 feet on other streets, both measured from the back of the curb. Side and rear setbacks are typically 0 feet, though this increases to 5 feet if the property is immediately adjacent to a residential zone. Street-facing garages are subject to a specific 20-foot setback measured from the sidewalk to the face of the garage.
Setback Requirements Table
The following standards apply to all development within the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District in the City of Reno [Section 18.02.303].
| Standard Category | Requirement | Supplemental Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Front Setback (Fourth Street) | 18 feet | Measured from back of curb or proposed curb [Section 18.04.1003] |
| Front Setback (All other streets) | 12 feet | Measured from back of curb or proposed curb [Section 18.04.1003] |
| Side Setback | 0 feet | Increases to 5 feet if immediately adjacent to residential property |
| Rear Setback | 0 feet | Increases to 5 feet if immediately adjacent to residential property |
| Street-Facing Garage | 20 feet | Measured from sidewalk (or planned sidewalk) to garage face |
Measurement and Location Standards
Measurement from Curb
Unlike many other districts in the City of Reno, front setbacks in the MD-NWQ are measured from the back of the curb or the proposed curb rather than the property line [Section 18.04.1003]. If the Adopted Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) identifies a street-widening project for a specific area, the front setback must be measured from the future back of curb established by that expansion. If an existing building in the MD-NWQ is already located closer to the street than these minimums, the maximum possible setback must be provided without requiring the removal of the existing building [Section 18.04.1003].
Alley Access and Zero-Foot Setbacks
In the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District, a minimum zero-foot setback is permitted for front, side, or rear property lines if they abut an alley. This is contingent upon providing at least 24 feet of backup space (inclusive of the alley width) for all garage doors or parking spaces that utilize the alley for access [Section 18.02.303, Table 2-16, Note 3].
Residential Adjacency and Compatibility
Increased Setbacks and Stepbacks
When a nonresidential or mixed-use development in the MD-NWQ is located within 300 feet of a residential zoning district or a mobile home park, it must adhere to residential adjacency standards [Section 18.04.1402].
For any portion of a building in the MD-NWQ that exceeds 24 feet in height and abuts a residential district, the City of Reno requires an additional 1-foot horizontal setback (or 1:1 building height stepback) for every foot of height above that 24-foot threshold [Section 18.04.903].
Transition Limits
Any building in the MD-NWQ district built within 150 feet of a property zoned Large-Lot Residential (LL), Single-Family Residential (SF), or Multi-Family (MF-14) is subject to the following maximum height caps to ensure neighborhood compatibility:
- Within 75 feet: Maximum height of 60 feet.
- Between 75 and 150 feet: Maximum height of 100 feet [Section 18.04.903].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.303, MD-NWQ: Downtown - Northwest Quadrant
- Section 18.04.903, General Standards for Residential Districts (Compatibility)
- Section 18.04.1003, General Standards for Urban Districts
- Section 18.04.1402, Applicability (Residential Adjacency)
- Section 18.04.1405, Site and Building Orientation (Residential Adjacency)