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Off-Road Vehicle Ordinance

Main Phone: (775) 328-3350

Lt. John Spencer

See Also, Washoe Country Sheriff's Office Brochure (PDF 65k)
Off-Road Vehicles and Firearms, What You Need to Know
About Their Recreational Use On Public Land in Washoe County

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Bill No. 1367

Ordinance No. 1188

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WASHOE COUNTY CODE BY AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE RIDING OF MOTORCYCLES ON MOTORCYCLE COURSES AND BY ADDING PROVISIONS PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES WITHIN 500 FEET OF RESIDENCES OR IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DISTURB THE PEACE.

THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF WASHOE DO ORDAIN:

SECTION 1. Chapter 50 of the Washoe County Code is hereby amended by adding a new section 50.219 to read as follows:

50.219 "Off road vehicle" defined. "Off-road vehicle" means any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain, except that such terms exclude:

(a) Any military, fire, emergency, or law enforcement vehicle when used for official business; and
(b) Any vehicle whose use is otherwise expressly authorized by law.

SECTION 2. Section 50.216 of the Washoe County Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

50.216 Definitions. As used in sections 50.216 to 50.226, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in sections 50.218, 50.219, and 50.220 have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

SECTION 3. Section 50.220 of the Washoe County Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

50.220 "Off-road vehicle course" defined.

1. "Off-road vehicle course" means any real property in the unincorporated area of the county, other than a dedicated street, private street, or road authorized by a public agency for recreational vehicle use, where riders of motorcycles or off-road vehicles drive their vehicles for recreational purposes.

SECTION 4. Section 50.222 of the Washoe County Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

50.222 Finding. The Board of County Commissioners finds that the riding of motorcycles or off-road vehicles on private property outside of industrial regulatory zones interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property of the other citizens of the county so as to interfere with the peace and safety of the citizens of the county.

SECTION 5. Section 50.224 of the Washoe County Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

50.224 Unlawful acts.
1. It is unlawful for any person to drive a motorcycle or an off-road vehicle on an off-road vehicle course in any zone other than an industrial regulatory zone as defined in chapter 110 of this code:

(a) Within 500 feet of any residence owned or occupied by another, except for purposes of ingress onto or egress from the person's property, or
(b) At a distance of more than 500 feet from any residence, if the operation disturbs the peace and quiet of any other person.

2. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to permit any motorcycle or off-road vehicle to be driven so as to disturb the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.

[Business Impact Note: The Board of County Commissioners hereby finds that this ordinance does not impose a direct and significant economic burden upon a business, nor does it directly restrict the formation, operation, or expansion of a business.]

Proposed on the 14th day of January, 2003.
Proposed by Commissioner Galloway.
Passed on the 28th day of January, 2003.

Vote:

Ayes: Humke, Shaw, Galloway, Sferazza, Weber
Nays: None
Absent: None

Signed by: David E. Humke
Chairman
Washoe County Commission

ATTEST:

Amy Harvey
County Clerk
This ordinance shall be in force and effect from and after the 7th day of February, 2003.