Historic Preservation

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Since 1993, the City’s historic preservation program has promoted the identification, evaluation, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and restoration of historic resources. This webpage provides information to enhance our community’s understanding and appreciation of the City’s dynamic history and to facilitate the implementation of Reno’s historic preservation ordinance (RMC 18.07).

View the Collection of Historic Preservation Projects

Click on the image below to view the latest City of Reno preservation information.

Historic Resources

Historic resources include the significant buildings, sites, structures, landscapes, and objects that have come to distinguish the character of our City. Historic resources have endured on the landscape, typically for a period greater than at least 50 years. These resources are like living objects; they evolve to adapt to our changing society and they require thoughtful care and maintenance to enjoy a long and useful life. With thoughtful preservation of these important resources, the past can be preserved as a vital and functioning part of present-day life.

Our city's historic resources– such as homes, businesses, commercial buildings, and schools– provide a direct link to our area’s history through their association with the significant people, events, and architectural movements of the past. Together, these resources contribute to the unique sense of place that is Reno. The City’s Historic Preservation program works to protect these resources as well as to inform and educate the community about the City’s unique history.

Historic resources are essential to the distinctive value and character of their surroundings and as such, they are non-renewable resources. Once a historic resource has been altered from its original state, including changes to the surrounding landscape, the historical integrity begins to diminish. To maintain the value of historic buildings and to preserve them for future generations, it is necessary to take deliberate measures to ensure their continued survival. There are several ways to recognize and protect individual historic resources, as well as whole commercial districts or neighborhoods, at either the national, state, or local level.

One way to recognize a historic resource is to nominate it to a Register of Historic Places. Resources may be listed individually or as part of a district at the local, state, or national level.

Find out more about the City of Reno Register of Historic Places
Nevada State Register of Historic Place s
National Register of Historic Places

Historical Resources Commission

Reno Municipal Code Chapter 18 establishes the purpose of the City’s Historic Preservation efforts as follows (RMC 18.07.01):

To protect the historic integrity of Reno for the citizens of the community, visitors, investors, and property owners;
To promote the economic, cultural, historical, and educational well-being of the community;
To enhance pride in the historic accomplishments within the City of Reno;
To provide mechanisms for identifying and preserving the historic and architectural resources of the City of Reno which represent elements of the City’s cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history; and
To educate the citizens of Reno to the benefits of historic preservation of structures, areas, sites, neighborhoods, and other historic resources, thereby correcting existing and preventing further urban blight.

The Historical Resources Commission, consisting of 5-7 commissioners appointed by the City Council, administers the Historic Preservation ordinance and related programs with assistance from City staff.

Contact Melissa Hafey (hafeym@reno.gov or 775-334-2253) for more information about the City of Reno Historic Preservation program or view the FAQ page.

Additional Information

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