Reno City Council
Thursday, September 19, 2019
What Happened
Reno City Council held a special meeting on September 19, 2019, to address pet store regulations and animal welfare concerns. The council approved a 30-day moratorium on puppy sales licensing and directed staff to develop a permanent ban ordinance.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — 30-day moratorium on new pet sales licenses for dogs and cats — Unanimous — Pauses new licenses while city develops permanent ban ordinance; applies only to cats and dogs.
Debated But Not Resolved
Pet store ban scope — Council wants to ban sales of dogs and cats but couldn't agree whether to include rabbits, ferrets, birds, and reptiles. Staff will return with options for expanded animal coverage.
Handling existing pet stores — Disagreement over whether ban should apply to already-operating pet stores or only new ones. One pet store currently holds an active puppy sales license; staff must provide options on whether to grandfather, amortize, or revoke existing licenses.
Constitutional concerns — Debate over legal limits on revoking existing business licenses versus prohibiting new ones. City Attorney consultation pending.
What to Watch
None exceeding $50,000.
Ban ordinance options due back soon — Staff will present multiple ordinance models from other successful jurisdictions showing how to ban retail dog and cat sales. Council must decide final scope and effective date.
Existing pet store treatment — City must decide what happens to the one currently operating puppy store. Options range from grandfathering (allowing it to continue) to forcing closure on a set timeline (amortization). This decision determines whether the ban is immediate or gradual.
Broader animal coverage — Public comments urged including rabbits, ferrets, and birds. Staff will research whether to expand initial ordinance or address other animals later.
Get Reno government news every week
Every vote. Every debate. Zero jargon.