NC: Neighborhood Commercial District Guide for Reno
The NC: Neighborhood Commercial zoning designation in the City of Reno is designed to facilitate a pedestrian-oriented environment that blends residential housing with low-intensity retail and service options. This district limits general retail buildings to a maximum of 80,000 square feet and caps residential density at 30 dwelling units per acre to ensure compatibility with surrounding established neighborhoods.
District Purpose and Character
The NC: Neighborhood Commercial district is intended to promote a mix of pedestrian-oriented commercial, retail, services, and housing options within the City of Reno. Specific development standards are applied within this district to ensure that site design, land uses, and building scale remain consistent with adjacent residential neighborhoods [Section 18.02.310].
Dimensional and Development Standards
The City of Reno mandates specific physical constraints for the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district to maintain an urban but neighborhood-scaled environment.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Base Density (Maximum) | 30 dwelling units per acre |
| Floor Area Ratio (FAR) (Maximum) | 1.5 |
| Minimum Lot Width | 50 feet |
| Front Setback (Minimum) | 10 feet [1] |
| Side Setback (Minimum) | 0 feet [1] [2] |
| Rear Setback (Minimum) | 0 feet [1] [2] |
| Maximum Building Height | 35 feet |
| Street-Facing Garage Setback | 20 feet from sidewalk or planned sidewalk |
| Building Separation | 10 feet between principal buildings |
Table Notes:
- [1] A minimum zero-foot setback is allowed when the property line abuts an alley and at least 24 feet of backup space is provided from all garage doors and parking spaces [Section 18.04.1003, Note 1].
- [2] If the building is located immediately adjacent to a residentially zoned property, a minimum setback of 10 feet is required [Section 18.04.1003, Note 2].
Allowed Land Uses
The City of Reno categorizes uses in the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district as Permitted (P), Permitted with Minor Conditional Use Permit (M), or requiring a full Conditional Use Permit (C).
Residential Uses
NC: Neighborhood Commercial allows for various housing types, often as a secondary use to commercial development or as standalone infill.
- Permitted (P/P*): Single-family detached dwellings, manufactured homes, and multi-family dwellings. Multi-family projects require a minor conditional use permit if between 20 and 99 units are proposed, and a full conditional use permit for 100 or more units [Section 18.03.302(a)(3)]. Single-family attached dwellings require a conditional use permit if 50 or more units are proposed [Section 18.03.302(a)(4)].
- Minor Conditional Use Permit (M): Duplex, Triplex, Fourplex, and Live/Work dwellings [Table 3-1].
- Prohibited: Mobile home parks and mobile home subdivisions are not allowed in the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district [Table 3-1].
Public, Institutional, and Civic Uses
- Permitted: Adult education, childcare centers, medical facilities (day use only), libraries, art galleries, museums, minor government facilities, and religious assemblies [Table 3-1].
- Minor Conditional Use Permit (M): Public or private schools [Table 3-1].
- Prohibited: Hospitals, cemeteries, prisons, and major government facilities are excluded from the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district [Table 3-1].
Commercial, Retail, and Service Uses
- Permitted: General retail (less than 10,000 sq. ft.), general retail (10,000 sq. ft. or more up to 80,000 sq. ft.), restaurants, bars/lounges, professional offices, financial institutions, and laboratories [Table 3-1].
- Minor Conditional Use Permit (M): Restaurants with alcohol service and bed and breakfast inns [Table 3-1].
- Conditional Use Permit (C): Car washes and convenience stores [Table 3-1].
- Prohibited: Adult businesses, cannabis dispensaries (medical or adult-use), pawn shops, and hotel-casinos are prohibited within the NC: Neighborhood Commercial designation in Reno [Table 3-1].
Industrial and Other Uses
- Permitted: Custom and craft manufacturing and printing/publishing [Table 3-1].
- Prohibited: Most heavy industrial uses, including manufacturing, wholesaling, and large-scale distribution centers, are prohibited in the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district [Table 3-1].
Parking Requirements
Reno classifies the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district as a "Level 2 Parking District" for the purpose of calculating required off-street parking [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)].
| Use Category | Level 2 Parking Requirement (Minimum) |
|---|---|
| Residential (General) | 1 space per 1,250 sq. ft. (not to exceed 3 per unit) |
| General Retail (<10,000 sq. ft.) | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. |
| General Retail (10,000+ sq. ft.) | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. |
| Restaurant | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. |
| Office, General | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Bicycle Parking (Commercial) | 1 per 1,000 sf (up to 6,000 sf) plus 1 per 10,000 sf additional |
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.310 NC: Neighborhood Commercial
- Section 18.03.206 Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.03.302 Residential Uses
- Section 18.03.304 Commercial Uses
- Section 18.04.705 Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.1003 General Standards for Urban Districts
- Section 18.09.207 Height