Purpose and findings.
Reno Administrative Code § 4.06.010
in effectSec. 4.06.010. - Purpose and findings.
(a) Unsafe housing is a community blight often associated with unlawful activity. While the cost of enforcement is significant, the result of failing to abate substandard housing has more adverse and far-reaching consequences, such as the loss of housing and displacement of individuals.
(b) The purpose of this chapter is to address the shortage of safe, sanitary and affordable rental housing options for residents in the city. Non-transient lodging rental properties that were formerly built as motels have historically provided affordable rental options of last resort for low-income persons. This chapter proactively identifies blighted and deteriorated non-transient lodging rental properties and enables them to rehabilitate units that do not meet minimum building, housing and property maintenance code standards so as to provide safe, habitable rental units for low-income persons to occupy, and further, to preserve and enhance the quality of life for residents of the city.
(c) It is important that the city not only enforce on a complaint-initiated basis, but also conduct routine annual inspections in order to better address and reduce substandard housing within structures that were formerly built as transient motels in the city. It is important to conduct routine inspections on non-transient lodging rental properties due to the inherent problems associated with properties that are essentially converted from transient to non-transient lodging.
(d) In the City of Reno it is imperative to establish enforceable minimum standards for non-transient lodging rental properties which typically consist of older motels converted from transient type occupancy to long term occupancy without the benefits of code compliant permits and process. Long term occupancy rentals are typically addressed similar to apartments or homes which have specific zoning, building and fire code requirements that are enforced upon development. These requirements typically do not apply to transient lodging rental properties. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for maintaining all converted non-transient lodging rental properties in the city and thereby safeguard life, limb, health, property, safety, and welfare of the public.
(e) The City of Reno finds as follows:
(1) There exists within the City of Reno, properties that were issued a certificate of occupancy and were approved to operate as transient lodging rental properties, which have been organically converted into non-transient lodging rental properties without review of compliance with all property related codes adopted by the City of Reno.
(2) These properties have served as affordable housing for many residents within the city, and although the properties have not received the appropriate inspections and approvals, the housing is necessary for many residents within the City of Reno.
(3) It is imperative to establish enforceable minimum standards for converted non-transient lodging rental properties and to provide a program for enforcing these standards.
(4) Residents of converted non-transient lodging rental property benefit from a property maintenance code enforcement program.
(5) It is recognized that these non-transient rental properties are necessary and serve as affordable housing and this chapter shall apply to all converted non-transient lodging rental properties, buildings, units, and premises within the city without regard to the date of construction or alteration.
(6) The implementation of an annual inspection program will ensure compliance with all laws, rules and ordinances established within the RMC to include the property maintenance, residential, building, and fire codes. This will also include any health or public safety related adopted city or county ordinances.
(Ord. No. 6482, § 1, 8-22-18)
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_TIT4BULICO_CH4.06MOINPR_ARTIGEPR_S4.06.010PUFIFetched: 11/1/2026