REGULATION OF PARKING LOTS

Reno Administrative Code tit. 6, ch. 6.09

in effect

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.010 Definitions.

Sec. 6.09.010. - Definitions. As used in this chapter: Commercial parking lot means a parking lot for which a charge is made and which is held open for use by the general public. Impound means the act of depriving the operator of a vehicle of the use of that vehicle to compel the payment of a charge due for parking or for the payment of a charge associated with the deprivation of the use of the vehicle. The term includes, without limitation, the physical removal of the vehicle from the lot or location at which the operator left it or the disablement of the vehicle to prevent its removal from the lot. Lease parking lot means a parking lot for which a charge is made pursuant to agreement with the owner on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Owner means the person owning the property or structure and specifically includes any employee, lessee or contractor engaged in the operation of the lot or in the provision of a service to the operation of the lot. Parking lot means a building, structure or space where one or more motor vehicles may be parked, stored or kept other than a space reserved by the owner thereof for his personal use. Patron parking lot means a parking lot provided exclusively for the use and convenience of a person doing business at or with a business establishment located within or immediately adjacent to the lot and for which no charge for parking is made whether or not a parking ticket must be validated. Vehicle means any device upon or by which a person or property is transported. (Ord. No. 3912, § 1, 1-9-90)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.020 Designation of space; method of parking.

Sec. 6.09.020. - Designation of space; method of parking. (a) The owner of a parking lot shall: (1) By appropriate signage or marking of the pavement designate: a. The external boundary of the parking lot if physical access is not limited to a designated entrance; b. The space in the parking lot to be used for parking including the manner of parking and the restrictions, if any, upon the type or size of vehicle permitted to use the space; c. If the parking lot is divided into different types of parking, the space reserved for each type of parking. (2) Maintain at each entrance to the parking lot, a sign approved by the zoning administrator or his designee, stating: a. The hours of operation of the parking lot; b. The fee, if any, charged for parking; c. If the parking lot or a portion of it is reserved for patron parking, the terms upon which the patron parking is permitted; d. The identity of the business or businesses for which parking is allowed, or to which parking is restricted, in the subject parking area. e. If a vehicle parked in violation of the conditions under which the parking is permitted may be impounded, the fact that impoundment may be used and the charge that will be required of the operator of the vehicle to recover the vehicle. (Ord. No. 3912, § 1, 1-9-90; Ord. No. 6097, § 1, 3-11-09)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.030 Signs; standards.

Sec. 6.09.030. - Signs; standards. (a) Each sign required or permitted to be used by a provision of this chapter must: (1) Be printed using black lettering on a white background; (2) Use uniform lettering legible to a person of normal visual acuity from at least 25 feet when mentioning the: a. Rate or rates to be charged for parking; b. Threat of impoundment for illegal parking; c. Charge made for the recovery of an impounded vehicle; and d. Prohibition of the occupied overnight parking of a recreational vehicle. (3) Be placed on the parking lot in a manner so that the center of the sign is not less than three nor more than six feet above the surface of the lot; (4) Not be placed so that it is obscured or obstructed by an intervening object and will not be obscured or obstructed by a lawfully parking vehicle; (5) If located at a designated entrance to the parking lot, be illuminated so as to be easily readable and noticeable from the center of the entrance; (6) Be approved by the zoning administrator or his designee. (Ord. No. 3912, § 1, 1-9-90; Ord. No. 4009, § 1, 9-11-90; Ord. No. 6097, § 1, 3-11-09)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.040 Commercial parking lot, impoundment of illegally parked vehicle, conditions precedent.

Sec. 6.09.040. - Commercial parking lot, impoundment of illegally parked vehicle, conditions precedent. (a) The owner of a commercial parking lot shall not impound a vehicle which he believes to be illegally parked in his parking lot unless: (1) He has physically limited access to the parking lot so that a vehicle may enter or leave the lot only by the entrances designated by him pursuant to this chapter; and (2) Either: a. At the time that a person entering the parking lot tenders payment, the owner issues a receipt therefor that meets the standards set forth in section 6.09.045; or A receipt issued pursuant to this section must consist of two duplicate reciprocal parts each bearing a common serial number and the date and time of issue. One part must bear the legend, in twenty-four-point sans-serif type, "KEEP THIS RECEIPT WITH YOU," while the other must bear the legend, in the same size and style of type, "PLACE FACE- UP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF DASHBOARD." If the receipt is issued with the parts attached together, it must be serrated or scored to facilitate separation of the parts; b. If a receipt is not customarily issued and the vehicle is impounded for the failure to pay the parking fee, the person is given the opportunity to immediately pay the parking fee due and, in addition, a charge not exceeding ten percent of the parking fee collected, or $5.00, whichever is the greater amount. The owner shall not impose any other charge or penalty as a condition of releasing the vehicle from impoundment. (3) The preceding conditions are in addition to any condition precedent imposed by state law permitting the towing of a vehicle from private property. (4) The impoundment of a vehicle from a parking lot or a parking space in violation of this section is a basis for the suspension or, in the case or repeated violations, revocation of the owner's business license. (Ord. No. 3912, § 1, 1-9-90; Ord. No. 4247, § 1, 7-14-92; Ord. No. 6097, § 1, 3-11-09)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.043 Owner may refuse service to a repeat violator.

Sec. 6.09.043. - Owner may refuse service to a repeat violator. Nothing in section 6.09.040 limits or prohibits the owner of a commercial parking lot from immediately impounding a vehicle from his parking lot, pursuant to the authority and under the conditions of state law, which has been previously parked in a commercial lot operated by him without the payment of the parking fee therefor. (Ord. No. 4247, § 2, 7-14-92)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.045 Contents of receipt required by Sec. 6.09.040: Release of impounded vehicle at no charge if receipt produced.

Sec. 6.09.045. - Contents of receipt required by Sec. 6.09.040: Release of impounded vehicle at no charge if receipt produced. (a) A receipt issued pursuant to subsection (2)a. of section 6.09.040. must consist of two duplicate reciprocal parts each bearing a common serial number and the date and time of issue. One part must bear the legend, in twenty-four-point sans-serif type, "KEEP THIS RECEIPT WITH YOU," while the other must bear the legend, in the same size and size and style of type, "PLACE FACE-UP ON LEFT SIDE OF DASHBOARD." If the receipt is issued with the parts attached together, it must be serrated or scored to facilitate separation of the parts. (b) If a dispute arises between a person who has parked in a commercial lot for which a receipt has been issued and the vehicle has been impounded because the receipt was not left in the vehicle as described in the receipt, the production by the person of the receipt is conclusive proof of payment and the owner shall immediately release the vehicle back to the person without any charge. (Ord. No. 4247, § 3, 7-14-92)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.050 Patron parking lot, enforcement during business hours, warning signs required.

Sec. 6.09.050. - Patron parking lot, enforcement during business hours, warning signs required. (a) The owner of a patron parking lot or a lot of which only a portion is reserved for patron parking may enforce the reservation of parking during the hours of operation of his business by means of impounding a vehicle if he maintains a sign to that effect at the entrance to the parking lot if it is dedicated exclusively to patron parking or, if a certain space is reserved for a patron of a business, the owner shall identify that space by a sign stating that the space is reserved for the patrons of a particular business and that a vehicle illegally parked will be impounded. (b) This section does not apply to the removal of a vehicle from private property pursuant to the authority of NRS 487.038. (c) The impoundment of a vehicle from a parking lot or a parking space in violation of this section is a basis for the suspension or, in the case of repeated violations, revocation of the owner's business license. (Ord. No. 3912, § 1, 1-9-90; Ord. No. 4247, § 4, 7-14-92)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.055 Acceptable methods of payment.

Sec. 6.09.055. - Acceptable methods of payment. (a) The owner of a parking lot shall not demand that the payment for release of a vehicle be made only in cash. (1) The parking lot owner shall allow the vehicle owner the additional ability to pay with cashier's check, money order, or major credit card in accordance with the generally accepted business practices of the community. (2) The parking lot owner may also allow other forms of lawful payment including entering into a contract with the vehicle owner to make payment arrangements at a later date without being subjected to further costs or other enforcement action, if the vehicle owner fulfills his or her obligations under the contract. (Ord. No. 6097, § 1, 3-11-09)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.060 Owner liable for cost of wrongful impound.

Sec. 6.09.060. - Owner liable for cost of wrongful impound. The owner of a parking lot not meeting the standards required by the relevant provisions of sections 6.09.020 to 6.09.050; inclusive and at which a vehicle has been impounded is liable to the operator of the vehicle for the amount paid by the operator in recovering the vehicle. (Ord. No. 3912, § 1, 1-9-90)

Reno Administrative Code § 6.09.070 Name of owner of parking lot to be furnished to police.

Sec. 6.09.070. - Name of owner of parking lot to be furnished to police. The owner of a parking lot shall furnish to the police department his name and telephone number, or that of a responsible agent or employee who is available during the hours of operation of that lot or during any other time during which the owner proposes to enforce the conditions upon parking in that lot by impoundment of a vehicle. The furnishing of a number for an answering service or to which an answering machine is merely attached does not constitute compliance with requirement of this section. (Ord. No. 3912, § 1, 1-9-90)

Source: City of Reno, Nevada, Administrative Code, City Charter and Annexation and Land Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/reno/codes/administrative_code?nodeId=PT2READCO_TIT6VETR_CH6.09REPALOFetched: 11/1/2026