Permitted Zoning Districts for Professional and Medical Offices in Reno
Professional offices and medical clinics are permitted across most commercial and mixed-use districts in the City of Reno, including the Professional Office (PO), General Commercial (GC), and Mixed-Use (MU) districts. While general professional offices are allowed in the Industrial (I) district, medical offices are specifically prohibited within that zone, and office uses in the Multi-Family Residential (MF-30) district are limited to the first floor only. Standalone medical facilities such as urgent care centers are permitted in all Downtown (MD), Mixed-Use, and Commercial districts, but are prohibited in Employment and Industrial zones [Section 18.03.206].
Districts Allowing Professional and Medical Offices
The City of Reno categorizes office uses into two primary types: Office, General (which includes routine medical visits for physicians, dentists, and psychiatrists) and Medical Facility, Day Use (which includes urgent care and outpatient surgery centers) [Section 18.09.301].
Primary Permitted Districts
The following districts in the City of Reno allow both General Offices (including routine medical) and Day-Use Medical Facilities by right:
- Professional Office (PO) District: Intended for office conversions and small office developments [Section 18.02.311].
- General Commercial (GC) District: Accommodates a mix of established low-intensity auto-oriented uses [Section 18.02.309].
- Neighborhood Commercial (NC) District: Promotes pedestrian-oriented services and housing options [Section 18.02.310].
- All Mixed-Use Downtown (MD) Districts: Including Entertainment (MD-ED), University (MD-UD), Innovation (MD-ID), Riverwalk (MD-RD), Northwest Quadrant (MD-NWQ), and Powning (MD-PD) [Section 18.03.206].
- Mixed-Use Urban (MU) and Suburban (MS) Districts: Promote integrated high-frequency transit corridors and service-oriented uses [Sections 18.02.307, 18.02.308].
- Public Facility (PF) District: Intended for public and quasi-public services [Section 18.02.502].
Districts with Limited Permissions
Certain districts in the City of Reno allow professional offices but restrict medical uses or placement:
- Multi-Family Residential (MF-30) District: Allows general and medical offices, but they must be located on the first floor of the building [Section 18.03.304].
- Employment Districts (IC, ME, MA): These districts allow "Office, General" (routine visits) but do not permit larger "Medical Facility, Day Use" installations [Section 18.03.206].
- Industrial (I) District: This district allows general professional offices, but medical offices of any type are strictly prohibited [Section 18.03.304].
Development and Parking Standards
The City of Reno requires specific parking ratios based on the "Parking District" level assigned to the zone. Level 1 standards generally apply to the Mixed-Use Urban (MU) and Midtown (MU-MC) districts, while Level 2 standards apply to most other districts [Section 18.04.705].
| Use Category | Level 1 Parking District (Min) | Level 2 Parking District (Min) |
|---|---|---|
| Office, General | 1 per 800 sq. ft. | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Medical Facility, Day Use | 1 per 600 sq. ft. | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Financial Institution | 1 per 800 sq. ft. | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
Medical Accessibility Requirements
In the City of Reno, facilities providing medical care must provide a higher percentage of accessible (handicapped) parking spaces than standard commercial uses:
- General Medical Offices: At least 10 percent of the total number of parking spaces must be accessible [Section 18.04.705].
- Outpatient Physical Therapy: At least 20 percent of the total number of parking spaces must be accessible [Section 18.04.705].
Specific District Regulations
Professional Office (PO) District
In the City of Reno Professional Office (PO) District, if a site is smaller than 15,000 square feet, off-street surface parking is prohibited between the front of the primary office building and the adjacent primary access street [Section 18.04.1005].
Mixed-Use Downtown Powning (MD-PD) District
This district is intended to protect the historic character of the neighborhood while allowing for the integration of professional offices and retail uses [Section 18.02.306].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.306, MD-PD: Downtown - Powning District
- Section 18.02.307, MU: Mixed-Use Urban
- Section 18.02.308, MS: Mixed-Use Suburban
- Section 18.02.309, GC: General Commercial
- Section 18.02.310, NC: Neighborhood Commercial
- Section 18.02.311, PO: Professional Office
- Section 18.02.502, PF: Public Facility
- Section 18.03.206, Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.03.304, Commercial Uses
- Section 18.04.705, Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.1005, Supplemental Standards for Other Urban Districts
- Section 18.09.301, Uses (Definitions)