This title is known as and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of Storey County, Nevada."

(Ord. No. 12-244, § I, 12-4-2012)

This land use zoning title for the county of Storey is adopted and established to serve the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare; to provide the economic and social advantages resulting from an orderly planned use of economic, natural and community resources; to encourage, guide and provide for the future growth and development of the county; and to implement the goals, objectives, policies, and proposals of the master plan by:

A.

Giving effect to the policies and objectives of the master plan.

B.

Dividing the county into regulatory zones that are in accordance with the master plan and serve to regulate the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, tourism, residences, natural and cultural resources, and other uses.

C.

Providing for the protection and enhancement of property rights, property values, quality of life, historic and cultural resources, and natural resources.

D.

Providing for a vibrant, stable, and diversified economy in the county.

E.

Protecting the tax base by providing for cost-effective development within the county.

F.

Concentrating residential development to areas where adequate water, sewerage facilities, schools, roads, and other public services can be provided, and limiting residential development in areas where these resources and facilities are not and should not be provided.

G.

Lessening the danger and congestion of traffic on the roads and highways, limiting excessive number of intersections, driveways, and other friction points, minimizing other hazards, and insuring the continued usefulness of all elements of the existing highway system for their planned function.

H.

Protecting land owners from adverse impacts of adjoining developments.

(Ord. No. 12-244, § I, 12-4-2012)

Storey County's governing body, the board of county commissioners (board), is authorized by NRS 278.250 to divide the county into zoning districts to carry out the purposes of NRS 278.010—278.630, and may regulate and restrict the erection, construction, alteration, repair or use of buildings, structures or land within its jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 12-244, § I, 12-4-2012)

In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this ordinance are held to be minimum requirements. Wherever the requirements of this title are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted rules, regulations, restrictions or ordinances, the most restrictive or that imposing the higher standards will govern. This title must be interpreted, whenever the board is called upon to do so, in conformance with the purposes intended by the board to be served by its enactment. The intent of the standards and supporting definitions of this title is to protect both individual property owners and the general public from substantial adverse impacts that may otherwise be the result of a proposed use. To this end, those called upon to interpret this title shall proceed as follows:

A.

Determine the public purposes of the standards with respect to which an interpretation is required;

B.

Determine the actual impact of the proposed interpretation; and

C.

Determine that the proposed interpretation will insure a just balance between the right of the landowner and all others who will be affected by that person's land use proposal.

(Ord. No. 12-244, § I, 12-4-2012)

The board declares and makes the specific finding that this title and the official zoning maps conform to the master plan.