MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial District Setback Standards in the City of Reno

In the City of Reno MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district, buildings are generally required to have a front setback of 18 feet along Virginia and Fourth Streets, or 12 feet along all other streets, measured from the back of the curb to accommodate required sidewalk infrastructure. Side and rear setbacks in the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district are typically 0 feet for structures 24 feet in height or less, but increase to 10 feet for any portion of a building exceeding that height. Additionally, a 20-foot setback is required for any street-facing garage, measured from the sidewalk or planned sidewalk to the face of the garage.

Setback Requirements for MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial

The City of Reno establishes the following technical standards for the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district to ensure pedestrian-oriented development and compatibility with the surrounding Midtown area.

Type of Setback	Requirement	Notes/Conditions
Front (Virginia & Fourth Streets)	18 feet	Measured from the back of the curb [Section 18.04.1003(a)(2)].
Front (All Other Streets)	12 feet	Measured from the back of the curb [Section 18.04.1003(a)(4)].
Side (Standard)	0 feet	Applies only if the building is 24 feet in height or less [Section 18.02.312].
Side (Increased Height)	10 feet	Required if the building exceeds 24 feet in height [Section 18.02.312].
Rear (Standard)	0 feet	Applies only if the building is 24 feet in height or less [Section 18.02.312].
Rear (Increased Height)	10 feet	Required if the building exceeds 24 feet in height [Section 18.02.312].
Street-Facing Garage	20 feet	Measured from the sidewalk or planned sidewalk [Section 18.02.312].

Measurement and General Standards

In the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district, front setbacks are uniquely measured from the back of the curb (or proposed curb) rather than the property line [Section 18.04.1003(a)(2)]. This measurement is intended to provide a consistent pedestrian zone, which includes a minimum six-foot obstruction-free sidewalk and additional areas for street furniture, landscaping, or passenger loading [Section 18.04.1003(a)(4)].

Alley Access Exception

In the City of Reno MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district, a 0-foot setback is permitted for any property line that abuts an alley, provided that at least 24 feet of backup space is maintained between the garage doors (or parking spaces) and the opposite side of the alley [Section 18.02.312, Table 2-25, Note 6].

Residential and Historic Adjacency

When a project in the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district is located within 150 feet of a property zoned Large-Lot (LL), Single-Family (SF), MF-14, or MD-PD, specific compatibility standards apply. For any portion of a building in the City of Reno exceeding 24 feet in height in these locations, a 1:1 building height-to-stepback ratio is required. This means for every foot of height above 24 feet, the building must be set back an additional horizontal foot from the abutting residential or historic property line [Section 18.04.903(c)(1)].

Special Height Limits

The City of Reno further restricts height based on distance from specific zones. Within 75 feet of LL, SF, or MF-14 districts, buildings in the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district may not exceed 60 feet in height. Between 75 and 150 feet of those districts, the height is limited to 100 feet [Section 18.04.903(c)(2)].

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