Dark Skies Code Update

Washoe County is updating zoning regulations to improve requirements related to lighting and dark skies, in alignment with the Envision Washoe 2040 master plan. View this webpage for the most up-to-date information.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

Volunteer to participate in a night sky quality survey on Wednesday, August 12! Help Washoe County map the darkness of the night sky to kick off the dark skies code update. Volunteers for this citizen science project will learn how to measure the darkness of the sky and observe the night sky throughout Washoe County. Kids and families are welcome! Sign up online: [sign-up form].

Project Overview

Dark skies are a prominent topic in Envision Washoe 2040, the Washoe County master plan adopted in 2023. Maintaining dark night skies is a priority policy in 9 of the 12 planning areas in the Truckee Meadows, including the Cold Springs, Forest, High Desert, North Valleys, Southeast Truckee Meadows, Spanish Springs, Sun Valley, Verdi, and Warm Springs planning areas. Rural Washoe County has some of the darkest skies in the world, including Massacre Rim, a dark sky sanctuary since 2019. This project will focus on updating the Washoe County Development Code to protect the darkness of the night sky and to manage light pollution. The Development Code only applies to the unincorporated parts of Washoe County (excluding Reno, Sparks, and tribal land).

The dark skies project is expected to take place through the end of 2026 with the following timeline:

August 2026: Citizen Science Mapping Project. County staff and citizen volunteers will conduct a night sky survey on Wednesday, August 12 to map the darkness of the night sky throughout the County. This survey will help develop a "baseline" for the darkness of Washoe County skies and inform future conversations about code amendment options. Volunteers for this citizen science project will learn how to measure the darkness of the sky and observe the night sky throughout Washoe County. Kids and families are welcome! Sign up online: [sign-up form].
August-September 2026: Area Workshops. County staff will host workshops for areas throughout the County to share the night sky map and discuss potential dark sky regulations. These discussions will inform the subsequent draft of amendments.
September-October 2026: Drafting. County staff will draft development code amendments to address dark skies.
October 2026: Neighborhood Meeting. County staff will host neighborhood meeting(s) to present and request public feedback on the draft amendments.
November 2026: Public Hearing Process. The public hearing process is anticipated to begin in November 2026 with the Planning Commission. Hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners are required prior to adoption.

Staying Involved

Questions or comments? Email planning@washoecounty.gov or call (775) 328-6100. You can also sign up for project updates below.