About Washoe County

Washoe County is dedicated to quality public service, effective communication and integrity, by enhancing the abundant quality of life in northern Nevada.

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Washoe County

Washoe County is home to over 6,600 sprawling square miles, bordering both California and Oregon with nearly half a million residents who call our region home. Washoe County’s recreation and outdoors experiences are second to none with 49 beautiful parks, 161 miles of trails, and more than 10,000 acres of open space.

Washoe County’s 24 departments are managed by the county’s top executive, the Washoe County Manager, and governed by five elected County Commissioners, who also serve as the Board of Fire Commissioners for the Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue.

An Economic Driver

In addition, Washoe County is a proud economic driver in the region with more than 2,500+ employees who serve the public on a daily basis. Amongst the many functions the county is responsible for, it administers and enforces state and local laws, county code, collects taxes, assesses property, records public documents, conducts elections, issues licenses; provides parks, libraries, emergency management, human and animal services, public assistance, public health, judicial process, and planning and development.

Washoe County is also a proud supporter of key community sponsorships that continue to bring millions of visitors to northern Nevada. Most notably, ArTown, Hot August Nights, and the Great Reno Balloon Race, the largest free hot air ballooning race in the world.

We invite you to explore this and more, at www.washoecounty.us, or following us on our Facebook, Twitter or YouTube channels.

Quick Facts:

Want to know the size of Washoe County, our population, budget or other important numbers? Then check out our Quick Facts sheet to get a quick overview of the county as a whole.

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Washoe County and its regional partners, some have similar names, but different boards:

We are often asked if there is a municipal connection between Washoe County government and the Washoe County School District. Aside from decades of successful community partnerships, there is no direct relationship between the two governing bodies and our roles and responsibilities are very different.

In Nevada, school districts operate as an independent special-purpose government unit that exist separately from local governments. Administrative and fiscal oversight for the Washoe County School District is governed by a seven-member School District Board of Trustees.

Similarly, the Washoe County Health District is governed by its own seven-member Board of appointed and elected officials. There are also several different jurisdictions at the municipal level, including the Cities of Reno and Sparks, who govern housing, transportation, sanitation, utilities, land use, and communication through their City Managers and City Councils.

The following links will connect you to our regional partners: