Reno should protect neighborhoods while advancing affordable housing with ADUs

The Reno City Council is in the process of implementing an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (ADU). Residents have reason to be both hopeful and cautious. The stated goal — improving housing affordability — is admirable. But unless carefully managed, this policy could do more harm than good, turning housing reform into yet another loophole that destabilizes neighborhoods, strains infrastructure and erodes affordability. Reno has an opportunity to do better and should do better, as it could affect every neighbor.

First, we must be honest about what affordable really means. Affordable housing is priced specifically for those earning less than the area median income, often with regulatory or subsidy support. Simply allowing someone to build a small unit in the backyard does not in itself cre