Requirements for the G: Gaming Overlay District in the City of Reno
The Gaming (G) Overlay District in the City of Reno establishes specialized regulations for nonrestricted gaming developments to encourage high-quality destination resorts while mitigating impacts on the community. Primary requirements for new nonrestricted gaming include a minimum of 301 hotel rooms and strict 1:1 ratios between public space and gaming area. Furthermore, the City of Reno Land Development Code divides the overlay into five distinct sub-districts, each with unique height, spacing, and amenity standards [Section 18.02.602(c)].
Sub-District Specific Standards
The City of Reno Land Development Code designates five specific gaming overlay districts, each addressing a different geographic context or development goal.
Gaming Overlay 1: Convention Center
This overlay requires a minimum of 20,000 square feet of convention space and 35,000 square feet of gaming area (including both slot machines and live games). The developer must provide at least three restaurants, one of which must operate 24 hours a day and seat at least 60 patrons. All improvements must be completed before a certificate of occupancy is issued [Section 18.02.602(c)(2)a].
Maximum Building Height for Hotels with Nonrestricted Gaming
| Number of Hotel Rooms | Maximum Height |
|---|---|
| 201–399 Rooms | 300 feet |
| 400–599 Rooms | 400 feet |
| 600 or more Rooms | 500 feet |
Gaming Overlay 2: Redfield
In the Redfield sub-district, the City of Reno allows only one Hotel with Nonrestricted Gaming. A new application cannot be approved unless an existing conditional use permit for a similar facility is simultaneously revoked [Section 18.02.602(c)(2)b].
Gaming Overlay 3: Reno-Tahoe International Airport
Gaming facilities in this sub-district must be located within 1/2 mile of the airport terminal. However, the City of Reno prohibits these facilities within any designated Airport Critical Area [Section 18.02.602(c)(2)c].
Gaming Overlay 4: Corridor Gaming
Nonrestricted gaming in the Corridor Gaming sub-district is strictly limited to operations that were already existing, operating, or entitled at the time the current City of Reno Land Development Code was adopted [Section 18.02.602(c)(2)d].
Gaming Overlay 5: Western Gateway
This sub-district requires the site to have direct access from a collector street or higher. The City of Reno mandates a 500-foot separation between the casino floor footprint and any existing school, church, hospital, or residentially zoned property [Section 18.02.602(c)(2)e].
Western Gateway Development Standards
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Site Area | 3 acres (net land area) |
| Maximum Gaming Space | 10% of net land area |
| Convention Space Ratio | 50 square feet per hotel room |
| Minimum Landscape/Recreation Area | 30% of net land area |
| Specific Landscape Buffer | 15% of net land area (to soften appearance/buffer neighbors) |
| Specific Recreation Area | 7.5% of net land area (e.g., pools, courts, or putting greens) |
Principal Use Requirements for Hotels with Nonrestricted Gaming
Outside of the specific sub-district rules, any Hotel with Nonrestricted Gaming in Urban Districts must meet core intensity and size standards [Section 18.03.304(c)(4)].
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Size | 1 acre |
| Minimum Hotel Rooms | 301 rooms |
| Public Space to Gaming Ratio | 1:1 ratio (minimum) |
| Maximum Gaming Area (Base) | 37,500 square feet (without increasing room count) |
| Expansion Requirement | 125 sq. ft. of gaming area per additional room (up to 500 rooms) |
Restricted Gaming Requirements
Restricted gaming (defined as operations with 15 or fewer slot machines and no other gaming devices) must be incidental to a primary use such as a bar, restaurant, or hotel. The City of Reno requires that these operations be physically separated by a solid wall, maintain separate entrances and addresses, and share no common facilities like kitchens or bathrooms with the primary use [Section 18.03.405(h)].
Administration and Procedures
All new gaming operations, or structural additions to existing ones, require a conditional use permit if they are located within 500 feet of a Large Lot Residential (LLR) or Single-Family Residential (SF) zoned property, or if the facility exceeds 80,000 square feet. An exception to this conditional use permit requirement exists for the conversion of existing buildings to gaming operations within the Mixed-Use Downtown (MD-) districts [Section 18.08.605(b)(4)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.602, General Overlay Districts
- Section 18.03.304, Commercial Uses (Hotel, with Nonrestricted Gaming)
- Section 18.03.405, Standards for Specific Accessory Uses (Restricted Gaming)
- Section 18.08.605, Conditional Use Permit (Gaming)
- Section 18.09.302, Accessory Uses (Restricted and Nonrestricted Gaming)