Off-Street Parking Requirements for the NC: Neighborhood Commercial District in Reno
In the City of Reno, projects within the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district are governed by Level 2 Parking District standards, which set minimum requirements based on unit square footage for residential uses and gross floor area for commercial uses. Residential projects typically require one parking space per 1,250 square feet of unit area, while most commercial developments, such as retail and restaurants, require one space per 200 to 250 square feet. Additionally, the City of Reno mandates that a minimum of 30 percent of the primary street frontage in the NC district consist of building walls or pedestrian amenities, effectively limiting the placement of surface parking lots along major street fronts. [Section 18.04.705, Section 18.04.1003]
Parking District Classification for NC
The City of Reno categorizes the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district under the Level 2 Parking District. Level 2 standards apply to all zoning districts that are not specifically designated as "Downtown" (Mixed-Use Downtown districts) or "Level 1" (Mixed-Use Urban and Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial). [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)]
There is a specific "Proximity Rule" for Level 2 districts: if an NC: Neighborhood Commercial property is located within 600 feet of a Downtown or Level 1 parking district, the City of Reno allows the developer to provide parking at an average of the Level 2 minimum and the adjacent district's minimum. [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)c.2]
Residential Off-Street Parking Standards
Residential developments in the City of Reno’s NC: Neighborhood Commercial district must provide a minimum number of off-street spaces based on the size and type of the dwelling.
Minimum Residential Parking (Level 2)
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Requirement (Level 2 District) |
|---|---|
| Dwelling, Duplex / Triplex / Fourplex | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 2 per unit) |
| Dwelling, Multi-family | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 2 per unit) |
| Dwelling, Single-Family (Attached or Detached) | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 3 per unit) |
| Dwelling, Live/Work | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 3 per unit) |
| Manufactured Home | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 3 per unit) |
| Group Home | 1 per 2 resident beds |
| Assisted Living Facility | 1 per 1.5 resident beds |
| Boarding or Rooming House | 1 per 2.5 resident beds |
[Table 4-6]
Commercial and Public Use Parking Standards
Commercial projects within the City of Reno’s NC: Neighborhood Commercial district must calculate parking based on the gross floor area (GFA) of the building.
Minimum Commercial Parking (Level 2)
| Commercial Use Type | Minimum Requirement (Level 2 District) |
|---|---|
| General Retail (all sizes) | 1 per 250 sq. ft. |
| Restaurant / Bakery (Retail) | 1 per 200 sq. ft. |
| Bar, Lounge, or Tavern | 1 per 200 sq. ft. |
| Convenience Store | 1 per 220 sq. ft. |
| Financial Institution / Bank | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Office, General / Professional | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Medical Facility, Day Use | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Personal Service, General (e.g., Salon) | 1 per 300 sq. ft. |
| Childcare Center | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Animal Clinic / Hospital | 1 per 330 sq. ft. |
[Table 4-6]
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Reno requires bicycle parking for all new developments in the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district to encourage alternative transportation modes.
Bicycle Parking (Level 2)
| Use Category | Requirement (Level 2 District) |
|---|---|
| Residential (Household Living) | 1 per unit |
| Retail / Commercial | 1 per 1,000 sf (up to 6,000 sf), plus 1 per 10,000 sf of additional area |
| Office / Healthcare / Education | 1 per 1,000 sf |
| Lodging (Hotels/Motels) | 1 per 8 guest rooms |
| Public and Quasi-Public | Minimum of 10 spaces |
[Table 4-8]
Accessible Parking and Loading
Developments in the NC: Neighborhood Commercial district must provide van-accessible and standard accessible spaces based on the total number of parking slots provided.
Required Accessible Spaces
| Total Parking Provided | Minimum Accessible Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 75 | 3 |
| 76 to 100 | 4 |
| 101 to 150 | 5 |
| 151 to 200 | 6 |
| 201 to 300 | 7 |
| 501 to 1,000 | 2% of total |
[Table 4-7]
Off-Street Loading
Nonresidential developments in the City of Reno exceeding 30,000 square feet must provide dedicated loading areas. For buildings over 30,000 square feet, one loading area is required, plus one additional area for every 30,000 square feet thereafter. Each loading area must be at least 10 feet wide, 45 feet long, and 14 feet high. [Section 18.04.708]
Location and Design Standards for NC
Specific layout regulations apply to the City of Reno’s NC: Neighborhood Commercial district to maintain an urban and pedestrian-friendly character:
- Street Frontage: A minimum of 30 percent of the primary street frontage must be occupied by building walls or pedestrian amenities. This standard limits the amount of the lot width that can be used for open parking lots or driveways. [Section 18.04.1003(a)(7)]
- Loading Areas: Trash and loading areas must be centralized and screened from view. [Section 18.04.1003(a)(8)]
- Residential Adjacency: If an NC: Neighborhood Commercial parking lot is located within 30 feet of a residential district, a screening wall and a 10-foot wide landscape buffer are required. [Section 18.04.1409(b)]
- Setbacks: The NC district requires a 10-foot setback from the property line. Within this area, a minimum 5-foot sidewalk and a 5-foot landscaped parkway with street trees must be provided. [Section 18.04.1003(a)(4)]
Sections Cited
- Chapter 18.04 Development Standards
- Section 18.04.705 Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.708 Off-Street Loading and Stacking
- Section 18.04.1003 General Standards for Urban Districts
- Section 18.04.1409 Off-Street Parking (Residential Adjacency)
- Table 4-6 Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Table 4-7 Required Accessible Parking
- Table 4-8 Bicycle Parking Requirements