Nevada Code § 278.160

Elements of master plan. [Effective through June 30, 2026.]
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1. Except as otherwise provided in this
section and NRS 278.150 and 278.170 , the master plan, with the
accompanying charts, drawings, diagrams, schedules and reports, may include
such of the following elements or portions thereof as are appropriate to the
city, county or region, and as may be made the basis for the physical
development thereof:
(a) A conservation element, which must include:
(1) A conservation plan for the
conservation, development and utilization of natural resources, including,
without limitation, water and its hydraulic force, underground water, water
supply, solar or wind energy, forests, soils, rivers and other waters, harbors,
fisheries, wildlife, minerals and other natural resources. The conservation
plan must also cover the reclamation of land and waters, flood control,
prevention and control of the pollution of streams and other waters, regulation
of the use of land in stream channels and other areas required for the
accomplishment of the conservation plan, prevention, control and correction of
the erosion of soils through proper clearing, grading and landscaping, beaches
and shores, and protection of watersheds. The conservation plan must also
indicate the maximum tolerable level of air pollution.
(2) A solid waste disposal plan showing
general plans for the disposal of solid waste.
(b) A historic preservation element, which must
include:
(1) A historic neighborhood preservation
plan which:
(I) Must include, without
limitation, a plan to inventory historic neighborhoods and a statement of goals
and methods to encourage the preservation of historic neighborhoods.
(II) May include, without
limitation, the creation of a commission to monitor and promote the
preservation of historic neighborhoods.
(2) A historical properties preservation
plan setting forth an inventory of significant historical, archaeological,
paleontological and architectural properties as defined by a city, county or
region, and a statement of methods to encourage the preservation of those
properties.
(c) A housing element, which must include,
without limitation:
(1) An inventory of housing conditions and
needs, and plans and procedures for improving housing standards and providing
adequate housing to individuals and families in the community, regardless of
income level.
(2) An inventory of existing affordable
housing in the community, including, without limitation, housing that is
available to rent or own, housing that is subsidized either directly or
indirectly by this State, an agency or political subdivision of this State, or
the Federal Government or an agency of the Federal Government, and housing that
is accessible to persons with disabilities.
(3) An analysis of projected growth and
the demographic characteristics of the community.
(4) A determination of the present and
prospective need for affordable housing in the community.
(5) An analysis of any impediments to the
development of affordable housing and the development of policies to mitigate
those impediments.
(6) An analysis of the characteristics of
the land that is suitable for residential development. The analysis must
include, without limitation:
(I) A determination of whether the existing
infrastructure is sufficient to sustain the current needs and projected growth
of the community; and
(II) An inventory of available
parcels that are suitable for residential development and any zoning,
environmental and other land-use planning restrictions that affect such
parcels.
(7) An analysis of the needs and
appropriate methods for the construction of affordable housing or the
conversion or rehabilitation of existing housing to affordable housing.
(8) A plan for maintaining and developing
affordable housing to meet the housing needs of the community for a period of
at least 5 years.
(d) A land use element, which must include:
(1) Provisions concerning community
design, including standards and principles governing the subdivision of land
and suggestive patterns for community design and development.
(2) A land use plan, including an
inventory and classification of types of natural land and of existing land
cover and uses, and comprehensive plans for the most desirable utilization of
land. The land use plan:
(I) Must, if applicable, address
mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, master-planned communities
and gaming enterprise districts. The land use plan must also, if applicable,
address the coordination and compatibility of land uses with any military
installation in the city, county or region, taking into account the location,
purpose and stated mission of the military installation.
(II) May include a provision
concerning the acquisition and use of land that is under federal management
within the city, county or region, including, without limitation, a plan or
statement of policy prepared pursuant to NRS
321.7355 .
(3) In any county whose population is
700,000 or more, a rural neighborhoods preservation plan showing general plans
to preserve the character and density of rural neighborhoods.
(e) A public facilities and services element,
which must include:
(1) An economic plan showing recommended
schedules for the allocation and expenditure of public money to provide for the
economical and timely execution of the various components of the plan.
(2) A population plan setting forth an
estimate of the total population which the natural resources of the city,
county or region will support on a continuing basis without unreasonable
impairment.
(3) An aboveground utility plan that shows
corridors designated for the construction of aboveground utilities and complies
with the provisions of NRS 278.165 .
(4) Provisions concerning public buildings
showing the locations and arrangement of civic centers and all other public
buildings, including the architecture thereof and the landscape treatment of
the grounds thereof.
(5) Provisions concerning public services
and facilities showing general plans for sewage, drainage and utilities, and
rights-of-way, easements and facilities therefor, including, without
limitation, any utility projects required to be reported pursuant to NRS 278.145 . If a public utility which
provides electric service notifies the planning commission that a new
transmission line or substation will be required to support the master plan,
those facilities must be included in the master plan. The utility is not
required to obtain an easement for any such transmission line as a prerequisite
to the inclusion of the transmission line in the master plan.
(6) A school facilities plan showing the
general locations of current and future school facilities based upon
information furnished by the appropriate county school district.
(f) A recreation and open space element, which
must include a recreation plan showing a comprehensive system of recreation
areas, including, without limitation, natural reservations, parks, parkways,
trails, reserved riverbank strips, beaches, playgrounds and other recreation
areas, including, when practicable, the locations and proposed development
thereof.
(g) A safety element, which must include:
(1) In any county whose population is
700,000 or more, a safety plan identifying potential types of natural and
man-made hazards, including, without limitation, hazards from floods,
landslides or fires, or resulting from the manufacture, storage, transfer or
use of bulk quantities of hazardous materials. The safety plan may set forth
policies for avoiding or minimizing the risks from those hazards.
(2) A seismic safety plan consisting of an
identification and appraisal of seismic hazards such as susceptibility to
surface ruptures from faulting, to ground shaking or to ground failures.
(h) A transportation element, which must include:
(1) A streets and highways plan showing
the general locations and widths of a comprehensive system of major traffic
thoroughfares and other traffic ways and of streets and the recommended
treatment thereof, building line setbacks, and a system of naming or numbering
streets and numbering houses, with recommendations concerning proposed changes.
(2) A transit plan showing a proposed
multimodal system of transit lines, including mass transit, streetcar,
motorcoach and trolley coach lines, paths for bicycles and pedestrians,
satellite parking and related facilities.
(3) A transportation plan showing a
comprehensive transportation system, including, without limitation, locations
of rights-of-way, terminals, viaducts and grade separations. The transportation
plan may also include port, harbor, aviation and related facilities.
(i) An urban agricultural element, which must
include a plan to inventory any vacant lands or other real property owned by
the city or county and blighted land in the city or county to determine whether
such lands are suitable for urban farming and gardening. The plan to inventory any
vacant lands or other real property may include, without limitation, any other
real property in the city or county, as deemed appropriate by the commission.
2. The commission may prepare and adopt,
as part of the master plan, other and additional plans and reports dealing with
such other elements as may in its judgment relate to the physical development
of the city, county or region, and nothing contained in NRS 278.010 to 278.630 , inclusive, prohibits the
preparation and adoption of any such element as a part of the master plan.
NRS 278.160 Elements of master plan.
[Effective July 1, 2026.]
1. Except as otherwise provided in this
section and NRS 278.150 and 278.170 , the master plan, with the
accompanying charts, drawings, diagrams, schedules and reports, may include
such of the following elements or portions thereof as are appropriate to the
city, county or region, and as may be made the basis for the physical
development thereof:
(a) A conservation element, which must include:
(1) A conservation plan for the
conservation, development and utilization of natural resources, including,
without limitation, water and its hydraulic force, underground water, water
supply, solar or wind energy, forests, soils, rivers and other waters, harbors,
fisheries, wildlife, minerals and other natural resources. The conservation
plan must also cover the reclamation of land and waters, flood control,
prevention and control of the pollution of streams and other waters, regulation
of the use of land in stream channels and other areas required for the
accomplishment of the conservation plan, prevention, control and correction of
the erosion of soils through proper clearing, grading and landscaping, beaches
and shores, and protection of watersheds. The conservation plan must also
indicate the maximum tolerable level of air pollution.
(2) A heat mitigation plan, including,
without limitation, access to public cooling spaces, public drinking water,
cool building practices, shade over paved surfaces and other mitigation
measures to address heat in the community. Shade over paved surfaces may
include, without limitation, shade structures and urban tree canopies, with
preference for native tree or drought-tolerant species.
(3) A solid waste disposal plan showing
general plans for the disposal of solid waste.
(b) A historic preservation element, which must
include:
(1) A historic neighborhood preservation
plan which:
(I) Must include, without
limitation, a plan to inventory historic neighborhoods and a statement of goals
and methods to encourage the preservation of historic neighborhoods.
(II) May include, without
limitation, the creation of a commission to monitor and promote the
preservation of historic neighborhoods.
(2) A historical properties preservation
plan setting forth an inventory of significant historical, archaeological,
paleontological and architectural properties as defined by a city, county or
region, and a statement of methods to encourage the preservation of those
properties.
(c) A housing element, which must include,
without limitation:
(1) An inventory of housing conditions and
needs, and plans and procedures for improving housing standards and providing
adequate housing to individuals and families in the community, regardless of
income level.
(2) An inventory of existing attainable
housing in the community, including, without limitation, housing that is
available to rent or own, housing that is subsidized either directly or
indirectly by this State, an agency or political subdivision of this State, or
the Federal Government or an agency of the Federal Government, and housing that
is accessible to persons with disabilities.
(3) An analysis of projected growth and
the demographic characteristics of the community.
(4) A determination of the present and
prospective need for attainable housing in the community.
(5) An analysis of any impediments to the
development of attainable housing and the development of policies to mitigate
those impediments.
(6) An analysis of the characteristics of
the land that is suitable for residential development. The analysis must
include, without limitation:
(I) A determination of whether the
existing infrastructure is sufficient to sustain the current needs and
projected growth of the community; and
(II) An inventory of available
parcels that are suitable for residential development and any zoning,
environmental and other land-use planning restrictions that affect such
parcels.
(7) An analysis of the needs and
appropriate methods for the construction of attainable housing or the
conversion or rehabilitation of existing housing to attainable housing.
(8) A plan for maintaining and developing
attainable housing to meet the housing needs of the community for a period of
at least 5 years.
(d) A land use element, which must include:
(1) Provisions concerning community
design, including standards and principles governing the subdivision of land
and suggestive patterns for community design and development.
(2) A land use plan, including an
inventory and classification of types of natural land and of existing land
cover and uses, and comprehensive plans for the most desirable utilization of
land. The land use plan:
(I) Must, if applicable, address
mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, master-planned communities
and gaming enterprise districts. The land use plan must also, if applicable,
address the coordination and compatibility of land uses with any military
installation in the city, county or region, taking into account the location,
purpose and stated mission of the military installation.
(II) May include a provision
concerning the acquisition and use of land that is under federal management
within the city, county or region, including, without limitation, a plan or
statement of policy prepared pursuant to NRS
321.7355 .
(3) In any county whose population is
700,000 or more, a rural neighborhoods preservation plan showing general plans
to preserve the character and density of rural neighborhoods.
(e) A public facilities and services element,
which must include:
(1) An economic plan showing recommended
schedules for the allocation and expenditure of public money to provide for the
economical and timely execution of the various components of the plan.
(2) A population plan setting forth an
estimate of the total population which the natural resources of the city,
county or region will support on a continuing basis without unreasonable
impairment.
(3) An aboveground utility plan that shows
corridors designated for the construction of aboveground utilities and complies
with the provisions of NRS 278.165 .
(4) Provisions concerning public buildings
showing the locations and arrangement of civic centers and all other public
buildings, including the architecture thereof and the landscape treatment of
the grounds thereof.
(5) Provisions concerning public services
and facilities showing general plans for sewage, drainage and utilities, and
rights-of-way, easements and facilities therefor, including, without
limitation, any utility projects required to be reported pursuant to NRS 278.145 . If a public utility which
provides electric service notifies the planning commission that a new
transmission line or substation will be required to support the master plan,
those facilities must be included in the master plan. The utility is not
required to obtain an easement for any such transmission line as a prerequisite
to the inclusion of the transmission line in the master plan.
(6) A school facilities plan showing the
general locations of current and future school facilities based upon
information furnished by the appropriate county school district.
(f) A recreation and open space element, which
must include a recreation plan showing a comprehensive system of recreation
areas, including, without limitation, natural reservations, parks, parkways,
trails, reserved riverbank strips, beaches, playgrounds and other recreation
areas, including, when practicable, the locations and proposed development
thereof.
(g) A safety element, which must include:
(1) In any county whose population is
700,000 or more, a safety plan identifying potential types of natural and
man-made hazards, including, without limitation, hazards from floods,
landslides or fires, or resulting from the manufacture, storage, transfer or
use of bulk quantities of hazardous materials. The safety plan may set forth
policies for avoiding or minimizing the risks from those hazards.
(2) A seismic safety plan consisting of an
identification and appraisal of seismic hazards such as susceptibility to
surface ruptures from faulting, to ground shaking or to ground failures.
(h) A transportation element, which must include:
(1) A streets and highways plan showing
the general locations and widths of a comprehensive system of major traffic
thoroughfares and other traffic ways and of streets and the recommended
treatment thereof, building line setbacks, and a system of naming or numbering
streets and numbering houses, with recommendations concerning proposed changes.
(2) A transit plan showing a proposed
multimodal system of transit lines, including mass transit, streetcar,
motorcoach and trolley coach lines, paths for bicycles and pedestrians,
satellite parking and related facilities.
(3) A transportation plan showing a
comprehensive transportation system, including, without limitation, locations
of rights-of-way, terminals, viaducts and grade separations. The transportation
plan may also include port, harbor, aviation and related facilities.
(i) An urban agricultural element, which must
include a plan to inventory any vacant lands or other real property owned by
the city or county and blighted land in the city or county to determine whether
such lands are suitable for urban farming and gardening. The plan to inventory any
vacant lands or other real property may include, without limitation, any other
real property in the city or county, as deemed appropriate by the commission.
2. The commission may prepare and adopt,
as part of the master plan, other and additional plans and reports dealing with
such other elements as may in its judgment relate to the physical development
of the city, county or region, and nothing contained in NRS 278.010 to 278.630 , inclusive, prohibits the
preparation and adoption of any such element as a part of the master plan.

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