Nev. Rev. Stat. » NRS: CHAPTER 278 - PLANNING AND ZONING
Nevada Revised Statutes

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 278.020 (2026)

Regulation by governing bodies of improvement of land and location of structures for general welfare

✓ current as of July 2026
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NRS 278.020  Regulation by governing bodies of improvement of land and location of structures for general welfare.

      1.  For the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community, the governing bodies of cities and counties are authorized and empowered to regulate and restrict the improvement of land and to control the location and soundness of structures.

      2.  Any such regulation, restriction and control must take into account:

      (a) The potential impairment of natural resources and the total population which the available natural resources will support without unreasonable impairment; and

      (b) The availability of and need for attainable housing in the community, including attainable housing that is accessible to persons with disabilities.

      [2:110:1941; A 1947, 834; 1943 NCL § 5063.01]—(NRS A 1973, 1241; 1995, 2225)

     

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1968–2021 · leading case: Sustainable Growth Initiative Comm. v. Jumpers, LLC, 128 P.3d 452 (Nev. 2006).
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Sustainable Growth Initiative Comm. v. Jumpers, LLC, 128 P.3d 452 (Nev. 2006). · cites it 2× “[44] NRS 278.020(2)(a); NRS 278.250(2)(b). [45] See also NRS 278.”
Coronet Homes, Inc. v. McKenzie, 439 P.2d 219 (Nev. 1968). · cites it 6× “57 1 permissible under NRS 278.020; 2 and (2) Was the action of the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners in denying appellant’s application for the Special Use Permit arbitrary and capricious.”
S. Nevada Homebuilders Ass'n v. Clark Cnty., 117 P.3d 171 (Nev. 2005). “” 5 This grant of power is more broadly enumerated in NRS 278.020, which provides that the County Commissioners are “authorized and empowered to regulate and restrict the improvement of land and to control the location and soundness of structures” in order to promote the…”
Redrock Valley Ranch, LLC v. Washoe Cnty., 254 P.3d 641 (Nev. 2011). “” NRS 278.020(1). The State Engineer’s public interest mandate does not extend to land use concerns, such as zoning and related matters, Serpa, 111 Nev.”
Falcke v. Cnty. of Douglas, 3 P.3d 661 (Nev. 2000). “Under NRS 278.020, the legislature granted counties the authority to regulate and restrict the improvement of land for the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community.”
Flick Theater, Inc. v. City of Las Vegas, 752 P.2d 235 (Nev. 1988). · cites it 2× “General authority to regulate the location and use of buildings and structures, in order to promote the health and general welfare of the community, is granted under NRS 278.020 and NRS 278.250. 3 These state statutes do not constitute a comprehensive statutory scheme which…”
Serpa v. Cnty. of Washoe, 901 P.2d 690 (Nev. 1995). “” NRS 278.020(1). To this end, the Nevada Legislature directed any county with a population of over 25,000 people to create a planning commission that would propose and'adopt comprehensive long-term plans.”
Douglas Cnty. Contractors Ass'n v. Douglas Cnty., 929 P.2d 253 (Nev. 1996). “The district court also identified additional specific grants of police power in provisions such as NRS 278.020(1); 278.0201-0207; 278.0226; 278.”
Gibbons Vs. Carson City, 480 P.3d 838 (Nev. 2021). “Appellant next contends that a government's desire to promote aesthetics on single-family residential property is not a legitimate government interest under NRS 278.020 and therefore the code provision at issue is unconstitutional.”
Bing Constr. Co. v. Cnty. of Douglas, 810 P.2d 768 (Nev. 1991). “See NRS 278.020(1). So long as such evidence is present in the record, this court will have no reason to question actions which should remain within the discretion of individual counties.”
Kay v. Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners, 495 P.2d 628 (Nev. 1972). “The Board did not act in excess of its jurisdiction, NRS 278.020, and we, therefore, affirm the district court out-of-hand.”
— Nev. Rev. Stat. § 278.020(1) — 5 cases
Redrock Valley Ranch, LLC v. Washoe Cnty., 254 P.3d 641 (Nev. 2011). “” NRS 278.020(1). The State Engineer’s public interest mandate does not extend to land use concerns, such as zoning and related matters, Serpa, 111 Nev.”
Serpa v. Cnty. of Washoe, 901 P.2d 690 (Nev. 1995). “” NRS 278.020(1). To this end, the Nevada Legislature directed any county with a population of over 25,000 people to create a planning commission that would propose and'adopt comprehensive long-term plans.”
Flick Theater, Inc. v. City of Las Vegas, 752 P.2d 235 (Nev. 1988). “General authority to regulate the location and use of buildings and structures, in order to promote the health and general welfare of the community, is granted under NRS 278.020 and NRS 278.250. 3 These state statutes do not constitute a comprehensive statutory scheme which…”
Douglas Cnty. Contractors Ass'n v. Douglas Cnty., 929 P.2d 253 (Nev. 1996). “The district court also identified additional specific grants of police power in provisions such as NRS 278.020(1); 278.0201-0207; 278.0226; 278.”
Bing Constr. Co. v. Cnty. of Douglas, 810 P.2d 768 (Nev. 1991). “See NRS 278.020(1). So long as such evidence is present in the record, this court will have no reason to question actions which should remain within the discretion of individual counties.”
— Nev. Rev. Stat. § 278.020(2)(a) — 1 case
Sustainable Growth Initiative Comm. v. Jumpers, LLC, 128 P.3d 452 (Nev. 2006). “[44] NRS 278.020(2)(a); NRS 278.250(2)(b). [45] See also NRS 278.”
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