Religious Assembly and Church Zoning in the City of Reno
In the City of Reno, places of religious assembly are permitted by right in all Urban Districts and specific Employment and Special Purpose districts. In most Residential and Unincorporated Transition districts, these uses require the approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Religious assembly is strictly prohibited in Large-Lot Residential (LLR) districts, the Industrial (I) district, and the Mixed-Use Airport (MA) district [Table 3-1].
Permissions by Zoning District
The City of Reno categorizes religious assembly under "Public, Institutional, and Civic Uses." The following table outlines the permission levels across the primary base zoning districts in the City of Reno.
Base District Permissions for Religious Assembly
| Zoning District Type | Specific District Designations | Permission Level |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (Single-Family) | SF-3, SF-5, SF-8, SF-11 | Conditional Use Permit (CUP) |
| Residential (Multi-Family) | MF-14, MF-21, MF-30 | Conditional Use Permit (CUP) |
| Residential (Large-Lot) | LLR-2.5, LLR-1, LLR-.5 | Prohibited |
| Urban (Downtown) | MD-ED, MD-UD, MD-ID, MD-RD, MD-NWQ, MD-PD | Permitted |
| Urban (Mixed-Use) | MU, MS, MU-MC, MU-RES | Permitted |
| Urban (Commercial/Office) | GC, NC, PO | Permitted |
| Employment | IC (Industrial Commercial), ME (Mixed Employment) | Permitted |
| Employment | I (Industrial), MA (Mixed-Use Airport) | Prohibited |
| Special Purpose | PF (Public Facility) | Permitted |
| Special Purpose | UT-5, UT-10, UT-40 (Unincorporated Transition) | Conditional Use Permit (CUP) |
| Special Purpose | PGOS (Parks, Greenways and Open Space) | Prohibited |
[Table 3-1]
Use-Specific Standards
The City of Reno Land Development Code mandates specific access requirements for religious assembly facilities based on their location relative to the street network.
- Primary Access: When a religious assembly facility is located adjacent to a collector or arterial street, the primary access to that facility must be provided via the collector or arterial street [Section 18.03.303(a)(5)a].
- Residential Adjacency: In the SF-3: Single-Family Residential district, if a related use such as a convent or monastery has more than five members residing permanently on-site, the project must adhere to the Residential Adjacency standards found in Article 14 [Section 18.03.302(b)(3)a].
Off-Street Parking Requirements
The City of Reno requires religious assembly uses to provide off-street parking based on the "Parking District" in which the property is located.
Parking Standards for Religious Assembly
| Parking District | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Downtown Parking District | No minimum parking required [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)a] |
| Level 1 Parking District | 1 space per 500 square feet [Table 4-6] |
| Level 2 Parking District | 1 per 300 square feet [Table 4-6] |
The Level 1 Parking District minimums apply to the Mixed-Use Urban (MU) and Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial (MU-MC) districts. The Level 2 Parking District minimums apply to all other zoning districts not included in the Downtown or Level 1 districts [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)].
Special Neighborhood Provisions
Certain neighborhood planning areas in the City of Reno have specific regulations that modify or confirm base zoning permissions:
- Greenfield Neighborhood (GF) Overlay: Within the Greenfield Single-Family (GFSF) District, "Churches/House of Worship" are permitted only with the approval of a conditional use permit [Section 18.02.603(b)(2)b.2].
- West University Neighborhood (WUNP) Overlay: In the "Traditional Neighborhood" area of the WUNP, religious assembly is permitted subject to the base zoning requirements of the City of Reno [Section 18.08.603(h)(2)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.603 Neighborhood Planning Area Overlay Districts
- Section 18.03.206 Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.03.302 Residential Uses
- Section 18.03.303 Public, Institutional, and Civic Uses
- Section 18.04.705 Off-Street Parking Requirements