February 3, 2026

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Twenty-five years ago, Scenic Nevada began a journey to reduce the billboard and sign clutter blighting the city of Reno and blocking scenic views. Today we are celebrating because finally, the day we fought for has come – now no one can erect a new billboard within the city limits under the current codes.

Authored by Scenic Nevada, a ballot initiative to ban billboards was approved by the voters in 2000. Despite that vote the Reno City Council allowed new billboards; when one came down, a new one could be built somewhere else – or the permit was banked for the future.

There were 278 billboards when Reno voted and that number climbed later with land annexations. The council added its approval to digital billboards in 2012, while the banked permits multiplied. Scenic Nevada had enough and challenged those laws in court.

After years of litigation and advocacy in public forums and the community the council relented and enacted the ban (including digital billboards) with the exception of the banked permits. There were 67 and all had expiration dates if not used. The last one was finally voided on December 14, 2025.

According to city records, there are 202 existing billboards left on our city streets, which have legal permits and will remain until their owners choose to remove them. But once removed, the city can no longer issue a new permit to build another somewhere else.

A change for the better: The photo at left shows the view with an obtrusive billboard dominating the scene. The photo at right shows the view at the same site, but after the billboard’s removal.

After 25 years we are still here, and we are very relieved and delighted that the final banked permit expired. But we know that our success is due to your past contributions and unwavering support of Scenic Nevada’s mission. Thanks very much.

On other fronts in 2025, we made progress with your help towards protecting our scenic views and community character from some of the thoughtless and insensitive projects that seem to arise every year in our region.

First, the win. We were able to convince the Reno City Council last year to eliminate a proposed city law that would have allowed unlimited signs for every business in the downtown core, just like the casinos. Think big, big digital signs that broadcast changing messages every few seconds day and night, all year long on any pawn shop, dining spot, liquor store or tattoo parlor that wanted one – without input from the community – no public hearings.

Scenic Nevada sounded the alarm, and you answered the call. We made appearances at public meetings, and you provided support with letters, emails and phone calls. Working together, the move to allow unlimited signage downtown was halted. Only casinos continue to have that right.

Last year we worked hard to limit digital school signs in our residential neighborhoods. While our arguments and your letters of support had an impact on the Reno Planning Commission, they were rejected by a majority of the city council. We had hoped to limit the numbers of digitals, along with the hours of operation, and constantly flipping messages.

But the city agreed with the school district to allow more liberal regulations than is allowed in the city of Sparks and unincorporated county areas. We did prevail over the brightness issue, lowering the level to about half of what most digital signs are allowed.

Our legal challenge to signs slated for west Fourth Street ended last year, when the Nevada Supreme Court reversed a district court order based on standing. The high court held that we lacked standing to object to three proposed signs that we viewed as billboards that under city code would require banked receipts. This decision paves the way for those signs to be built.

Rendering of the Jacobs Entertainment archway sign, proposed for West Fourth Street, which will block mountain views.

Disappointing as some of these outcomes are, we focus on the positive and keep moving forward. We are an all-volunteer organization and without you we couldn’t continue our work to preserve, protect and enhance the remarkable scenic beauty that surrounds us.

Please donate, consider volunteering or becoming a board member. We depend on and really appreciate your support. Thanks again.