LOCAL Legislative Initiative
Laws and regulations significantly impact horse owners, whether a business or a hobby. Tax laws and county codes affect business pursuits, environmental regulations affect all who care for horses, and land management and water conservation are constant concerns.
The Horse Council intends to carefully choose which bills they will support each year, and look to initiate bills that will help the Nevada equine industry.
The Nevada Equine Council Legislative Committee, once formed, aims to take an active role in reviewing bills and codes and educating the equine community on legislation that affects them, Our goal is to be viewed as a neutral and credible source of information about the equine industry in Nevada.
WASHOE COUNTY EQUINE BUSINESS CODES
The Issue
Equine boarding and training facilities in Washoe County are currently held to commercial code and required to obtain a Special Use Permit in order to be issued a Washoe County business license. The commercial code requirements include things such as paved and striped parking, commercial landscape and fencing, purchasing water rights, and installing a permanent ADA compliant bathroom. In early 2024, Commissioner Clara Andriola (District 4) allocated $30,000 in special district funds to retain a consultant to research and report on equine codes in other jurisdictions, as well as to solicit community input on the topic via an online survey and a series of in-person and virtual workshops.
In addition to the opportunities provided in the research summary, Washoe County will consider input from the survey, workshops, and from other stakeholder agencies to identify possible future updates to Washoe County standards for commercial equine uses. Additional community engagement will be a critical part of this work, as well as multiple public hearings. Be sure to stay informed and express your interest in participating in this process by signing up for updates on this project. Please visit the Washoe County website by clicking the link below to sign up.
Research Equine Communities Across the U.S. and Identify Opportunities
In March 2024, the County retained a consultant to:
- Conduct an analysis of permitting requirements and development standards for equine businesses in various jurisdictions across the U.S.;
- Assess where Washoe County falls on the spectrum of regulations; and
- Identify common requirements from partner agencies (local, regional, state), and the purpose behind those requirements for equine businesses.
The results of this assessment were detailed in a report, now available online.
Gather Initial Community Input
In May 2024, the County launched an online survey and held a series of workshops to better understand public perspectives about equine uses, their potential impacts, and standards for development. There were approximately 150 attendees across the in-person and virtual workshops, and just under 1,900 responses to the online survey.
Join Us!
Take part in preserving the equine heritage of Nevada
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund our mission.