Short-Term Rental Laws in Reno, Nevada

Reno's 2024 STR ordinance restricts non-owner-occupied STRs to specific zoning districts — primarily Mixed-Use (MU), Tourist (T), and certain Commercial overlays. Most single-family residential zones (SF-3, SF-6, SF-15) prohibit non-owner-occupied STRs. Owner-occupied (host primary residence) STRs are allowed more broadly but capped at 90 days per year of non-hosted operation. The ordinance was passed after a multi-year council debate to slow STR conversion of long-term housing stock in a rising-priced market.

Reno Municipal Code Title 18 zoning + Title 4 business licensing govern. Non-owner-occupied STRs allowed in MU, T, MD (Mixed Density), and certain MF zones but NOT in standard SF residential zones. The Truckee Meadows / Washoe County unincorporated areas (Verdi, Spanish Springs, Cold Springs) operate under a separate Washoe County STR ordinance. Confirm parcel jurisdiction (City of Reno vs unincorporated Washoe vs City of Sparks) before any offer — the rule sets diverge materially.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Reno Code Enforcement actively cross-references platform listings against the STR permit registry. Operating without a permit in a zone where STR is allowed: $500-$2,000 fines per violation. Operating an STR in a zone where it's prohibited (e.g. non-owner-occupied STR in SF-3): permit denial + cease-rental order + per-day administrative fines. The Reno ordinance is among the stricter NV city frameworks.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Reno is approximately 13.500% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Nevada has no state sales tax on lodging at state level; Washoe County Transient Lodging Tax ~13.5% (combined county + city + Reno-Sparks Convention) on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.