MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District Guide
The MD-NWQ district in the City of Reno is designed to support a dense mix of residential, service-oriented, and employment uses with an emphasis on urban expansion. Development in the MD-NWQ district must meet minimum density requirements of 30 units per acre, and notably, there are no minimum off-street parking requirements for any use within this downtown designation [Section 18.02.303, Section 18.04.705].
District Purpose and Character
The Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant (MD-NWQ) district is intended to facilitate the expansion of services and housing within the downtown core of the City of Reno. While the district primarily focuses on employment and residential integration, gaming operations are permitted only in a specific sub-section: generally north of 5th Street, South of I-80, east of Keystone Avenue, and west of Vine Street [Section 18.02.303].
Lot and Building Standards
All development within the MD-NWQ district must adhere to the following quantifiable standards intended to promote a compact, urban form.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Width | 30 feet |
| Minimum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 2.0 |
| Minimum Density | 30 dwelling units per acre |
| Front Setback (Fourth Street) | 18 feet |
| Front Setback (All other streets) | 12 feet |
| Side Setback | 0 feet (5 feet if immediately adjacent to residential) |
| Rear Setback | 0 feet (5 feet if immediately adjacent to residential) |
| Street-Facing Garage Setback | 20 feet from sidewalk or planned sidewalk |
| Building Separation | 10 feet between primary buildings |
Note: Front setbacks are measured from the back of the curb or proposed curb [Section 18.02.303, Section 18.04.1003].
Allowed Residential Uses
The City of Reno allows high-density residential living in the MD-NWQ district to support its urban core.
- Permitted by Right (P): Single-family (detached and attached), duplex, triplex, fourplex, multi-family, live/work units, manufactured homes, assisted living facilities, boarding or rooming houses, group homes, private dorms, and single-room-occupancy housing [Table 3-1].
- Permitted with Standards (P*): Single-family attached dwellings must meet specific design standards [Section 18.03.302(a)(4)].
- Minor Conditional Use (M): Fraternity or sorority houses [Table 3-1].
Allowed Commercial and Mixed-Use Functions
The MD-NWQ district supports a diverse array of commercial activities.
- Permitted by Right (P): General retail (all sizes), financial institutions, general offices, laboratories, recording studios, commercial cleaners, wedding chapels, event centers, restaurants (with or without alcohol), bars, lounges, taverns, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, hotels, and hotel-condominiums [Table 3-1].
- Permitted with Standards (P*):
- Animal Clinics: Subject to specific noise and indoor operation standards [Section 18.03.304(a)(1)].
- Cannabis Dispensaries: Medical and adult-use are permitted subject to distance separations and state licensing [Section 18.03.304(g)].
- Automobile/Truck Sales or Rental: In the MD-NWQ district, these are only permitted if located within 1/4 mile of a freeway on- or off-ramp [Section 18.03.304(h)(2)].
- Minor Conditional Use (M): Outdoor amusement or recreation and urban farms [Table 3-1].
- Conditional Use Permit Required (C):
- Gaming: Nonrestricted gaming is only allowed within the specific boundaries defined in the district purpose [Section 18.02.303].
- Transportation: Bus or transportation terminals, car washes, and gas stations [Table 3-1].
- General Retail, Package Alcohol Sales: Requires a conditional use permit and must meet "Safe Scape" buffer requirements [Section 18.03.304(g)(6)].
- Auto Service and Repair: Only permitted if located within 1/4 mile of a freeway on- or off-ramp [Section 18.03.304(h)(1)].
- Public Meal or Homeless Service Providers: Subject to strict operational and location standards [Section 18.03.303(a)(3)].
Prohibited Uses
The following uses are expressly prohibited within the MD-NWQ district to maintain its intended urban and professional character:
- Cemeteries or mausoleums.
- Commercial stables.
- Motels (without nonrestricted gaming).
- Pawn shops.
- Truck stops or travel plazas.
- Indoor gun ranges.
- Escort services or outcall businesses.
- Industrial uses such as data centers, mini-warehouses, or hazardous waste facilities [Table 3-1].
Parking and Adjacency Requirements
- Parking: As a Downtown Parking District, the MD-NWQ district has a 0.0 minimum parking requirement for all land uses [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)].
- Residential Adjacency: Any new building built within 150 feet of a property zoned Large Lot (LL), Single-Family (SF), or Multi-Family (MF-14) must follow residential adjacency standards, including height step-backs. For any portion of a building above 24 feet in height, a 1:1 height-to-step-back ratio is required [Section 18.04.1003(c)].
- Ground-Level Interest: Ground floors of street-facing facades must have transparent doors or windows for at least 25% of the facade's horizontal length [Section 18.04.1003(a)(3)].
Sections Cited
- Chapter 18.02 Zoning Districts
- Section 18.02.303 MD-NWQ: Downtown - Northwest Quadrant
- Section 18.03.206 Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.03.302 Residential Uses
- Section 18.03.303 Public, Institutional, and Civic Uses
- Section 18.03.304 Commercial Uses
- Section 18.04.705 Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.1003 General Standards for Urban Districts