The Reno City Council is the seven-member elected body that sets policy for the city of Reno, Nevada. It’s made up of a Mayor elected citywide and six Council Members, one for each ward, and it operates under a council-manager system where the council decides what the city should do and an appointed City Manager handles day-to-day operations. Its authority comes from the Reno City Charter and applicable sections of the Nevada Revised Statutes.1Nevada Legislature. Reno City Charter
Who Sits on the Council
Seven people serve: the Mayor and six Council Members. Reno is divided into six wards, and each ward elects one representative who must be a registered voter living in that ward and must continue to reside there throughout the term. The Mayor represents the city at large. All seven serve four-year terms.1Nevada Legislature. Reno City Charter
The Mayor presides over meetings and votes on every item, casting the last vote on roll call. That differs from cities where the mayor only votes to break a tie; in Reno, the Mayor is a full voting member on every question.1Nevada Legislature. Reno City Charter
What the Council Does
The council passes the ordinances, resolutions, and orders that govern daily life in the city, from business licensing and zoning to noise rules and building codes.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 266 – General Law for Incorporation of Cities and Towns Powers under the charter sit on top of those Nevada gives cities generally, and state law that applies to cities also applies to Reno unless the charter conflicts with it.1Nevada Legislature. Reno City Charter
Adopting the annual city budget is one of its biggest responsibilities. The general fund pays for core services like police, fire, parks, and public works.3City of Reno. City Budget The council also appoints residents to advisory boards and commissions covering specialized subjects like historic preservation, urban forestry, and land-use planning. Those bodies review technical questions and recommend action, but the council keeps the final say on legislative matters.4City of Reno. April 22, 2026 Reno City Council Meeting Highlights
Running the departments is a separate job. The City Manager, appointed by the council, leads professional staff, prepares the budget for council review, and serves as chief administrative officer. The charter also establishes the City Attorney and Municipal Judge as separate elective offices.1Nevada Legislature. Reno City Charter If the council is unhappy with the manager’s performance, it can replace the appointee.
Meetings and Public Comment
Regular council meetings are held in the City Council Chamber at Reno City Hall, 1 East First Street, starting at 10 a.m.5City of Reno. City Council Under Nevada’s Open Meeting Law, written notice and the agenda must be posted at least three working days ahead of each meeting.6Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 241 – Meetings of State and Local Agencies Agendas and supporting materials are posted on the city’s website.
Public comment is typically limited to three minutes per speaker.7Nevada Office of the Attorney General. Open Meeting Law Complaint, OAG File No. 13897-343, Reno City Council To speak on a particular agenda item, fill out a speaker request card before that item is called. When the Mayor opens the floor, approach the podium and state your name for the record.
Can’t make it in person? The city has an online public comment form for written input on agenda items, accessible through the city council page on reno.gov.5City of Reno. City Council
Finding and Contacting Your Council Member
If you’re not sure which ward you’re in, the city publishes an interactive ward map where you can click your area and identify your representative.8City of Reno. Ward Map
For general concerns and service requests, like reporting graffiti or an abandoned vehicle, Reno Direct is the city’s non-emergency line at 775-334-4636. Written mail goes to PO Box 1900, Reno, Nevada 89505, and the city website offers email contact for the full council or an individual member.9City of Reno. Contact and Directions
As a practical matter, neighborhood-level issues like traffic, park maintenance, or code enforcement are usually best directed to your ward council member. Citywide policy questions can go to the Mayor.
Elections and Term Limits
Reno holds municipal elections on an even-year cycle. In 2026, the primary falls on Tuesday, June 9, with early voting from May 23 through June 5. The general election is Tuesday, November 3, with early voting from October 17 through October 30.10City of Reno. 2026 Election
The Nevada Constitution limits service on any local governing body to 12 years. No one may be elected to a local governing body who has already served, or will have served by the end of their current term, 12 years or more in that position.11Nevada Legislature. The Constitution of the State of Nevada The Nevada Supreme Court has read this to mean that for a city like Reno, total years on the same council count toward the cap whether someone served in a ward seat, the Mayor’s seat, or both.
How a Vacant Seat Is Filled
When a seat on the council becomes vacant, the remaining members fill it by majority vote within 30 days. The appointee must meet the same qualifications as the departing member and serves only until the next general municipal election, when voters pick someone to finish out the term.1Nevada Legislature. Reno City Charter
Alternatively, the council can pass a resolution within that same 30-day window calling a special election. For a vacant ward seat, only registered voters in that ward vote in the special election.1Nevada Legislature. Reno City Charter