Retail and Commercial Shopping Center Districts in the City of Reno
In the City of Reno, retail stores and commercial shopping centers are primarily permitted in all Urban Districts, including General Commercial (GC), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), and various Mixed-Use (MU) districts. While small-scale retail is allowed in high-density residential areas like the MF-21 and MF-30 districts, large retail establishments exceeding 50,000 square feet are restricted to designated commercial centers and must adhere to strict architectural and multi-tenant adaptability standards [Section 18.03.206].
Districts Permitting Retail and Commercial Uses
The City of Reno Annexation and Land Development Code categorizes retail into size-based tiers and specialized types. Most commercial activity is concentrated in the Urban and Employment districts to promote a compact, pedestrian-oriented urban pattern [Section 18.04.1003].
Urban Districts
- General Commercial (GC): Designed for a mix of established low-intensity auto-oriented uses and higher-density retail and commercial services [Section 18.02.309].
- Neighborhood Commercial (NC): Focuses on pedestrian-oriented retail and services scaled to serve adjacent residential neighborhoods [Section 18.02.310].
- Mixed-Use Urban (MU): Located along high-frequency transit corridors, this district integrates high-density residential with commercial and retail uses [Section 18.02.307].
- Mixed-Use Suburban (MS): Facilitates the transition of suburban corridors into areas containing higher-density retail and employment uses [Section 18.02.308].
- Downtown Districts (MD-ED, MD-UD, MD-ID, MD-RD, MD-NWQ, MD-PD): These districts support the most intensive retail and entertainment development within the City of Reno downtown regional center [Section 18.02.301 through 18.02.306].
Residential and Employment Districts
- Multi-Family Residential (MF-21 and MF-30): These higher-density residential districts allow for limited neighborhood-serving retail and commercial uses [Section 18.02.209 and 18.02.210].
- Employment Districts (I, IC, ME, MA): Retail is generally permitted in these districts, often as a support service for industrial and office employment centers [Section 18.02.401 through 18.02.404].
Retail Use Permissions by District
The following table outlines the permissions for general retail stores across the primary applicable districts in the City of Reno.
| Zone District | General Retail (<10,000 sq. ft.) | General Retail (≥10,000 sq. ft.) |
|---|---|---|
| MF-21 | Permitted | Prohibited |
| MF-30 | Permitted | Permitted |
| MD- (All Downtown) | Permitted | Permitted |
| MU (Mixed-Use Urban) | Permitted | Permitted |
| MS (Mixed-Use Suburban) | Permitted | Permitted |
| GC (General Commercial) | Permitted | Permitted |
| NC (Neighborhood Commercial) | Permitted | Permitted* |
| PO (Professional Office) | Permitted | Permitted |
| I, IC, ME, MA (Employment) | Permitted | Permitted |
*In the NC District, general retail uses shall not exceed 80,000 square feet in any single building [Section 18.03.304(g)(5)a].
Standards for Large Retail Establishments
The City of Reno defines a "Large Retail Establishment" as a single-tenant building with at least 50,000 square feet of gross floor area used for retailing [Section 18.09.301]. These developments must comply with supplemental standards to ensure they integrate physically and aesthetically with the community.
- Commercial Center Requirement: All new large retail establishments must be located within a commercial center that includes more than four commercial sales and service uses [Section 18.04.1006(d)].
- Adaptability for Reuse: Buildings must be designed with "compartmentalized construction," including separate plumbing and HVAC systems, to allow for easy subdivision into smaller tenancies if the primary retailer vacates the space [Section 18.04.1006(e)].
- Facade Articulation: Any building wall greater than 100 feet in length must include variations in wall planes, textures, or colors every 30 feet to reduce visual bulk [Section 18.04.1006(f)].
- Setbacks: The minimum rear or side yard setback for a building containing a large-scale retail establishment is 35 feet from the nearest property line [Section 18.04.1006(h)(3)].
Parking Requirements for Retail Uses
Parking requirements in the City of Reno vary based on the "Parking District" level assigned to the specific project location.
| Use Type | Level 1 Parking District (Min.) | Level 2 Parking District (Min.) |
|---|---|---|
| General Retail (<10,000 sq. ft.) | None Required | 1 per 250 sq. ft. |
| General Retail (≥10,000 sq. ft.) | 1 per 400 sq. ft. | 1 per 250 sq. ft. |
| Commercial Center (Multiple Uses) | Based on specific uses | Based on specific uses |
Note: There is no minimum parking requirement for retail uses located within the Mixed-Use Downtown (MD-) districts [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)a].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.209, MF-21: Multi-Family Residential
- Section 18.02.210, MF-30: Multi-Family Residential
- Section 18.02.301, MD-ED: Downtown - Entertainment District
- 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 18.02.401, I: Industrial
- Section 18.02.404, MA: Mixed-Use Airport
- Section 18.03.206, Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.03.304(g), Retail (Use-Specific Standards)
- Section 18.04.705, Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.1003, General Standards for Urban Districts
- Section 18.04.1006, Supplemental Standards for Large Retail Establishments
- Section 18.09.301, Uses (Definitions)