🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Reno, NV
Citywide ADUs Approved in Reno, Leaving Short-Term Rental Rules Up in the Air
Reno’s ADU Ordinance Passes—But the STR Debate Isn’t Over
Reno just approved Accessory Dwelling Units citywide, but one detail in the new law is stirring plenty of talk: the missing short-term rental restriction. On October 9, the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance allowing ADUs anywhere in Reno, so long as they meet requirements like a 5,000-square-foot lot minimum, one on-site parking space, and placement behind the main structure.
ADUs must also reflect the design and setbacks of the primary home — rules aimed at maintaining a consistent look and feel within existing neighborhoods. Grace Mackedon, a senior analyst with the city, said the guidelines ensure “compatible architecture and character” that protect neighbors from disruptive or out-of-place development.
Originally, the ordinance included a 28-day minimum stay requirement to block ADUs from becoming short-term rentals. But that language was cut at the last minute. Councilmembers agreed they’d rather deal with short-term rental policies across all housing types in one go, rather than just within this ordinance. That decision means newly approved ADUs could, at least for now, be listed on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo.
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Not everyone’s happy about it. During public comment, one resident voiced frustration that the city removed the safeguard, calling it a “betrayal” of Reno’s local housing goals. He and others worry that ADUs — initially pitched as affordable homes for locals — will instead be scooped up by investors looking to profit from tourists.
The ordinance will take effect immediately after filing with the city clerk. But as Reno’s short-term rental market continues to swell past 1,000 listings, the pressure is mounting for the council to return with that long-promised, comprehensive STR overhaul. Until then, ADUs could become the latest front in Reno’s housing tug-of-war.
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