Reno Building Inspectors Lag Behind The Boom

The Reno area is experiencing the biggest surge in construction projects since the recession, and a dramatic rise in building permits applications.

The number of building permits issued in Reno has jumped more than 10 percent in each of the past two years. The projects range from building fences to downtown casino redevelopment and hundreds of houses on hundreds of acres north and west of Reno. Community Development Director Fred Turnier says the number of permit inspections each member of his staff is assigned each day is more than double the national average.

“30 inspections per day is not sustainable. And that is why we are looking to hire more staff to address that number, get that down to a manageable amount of inspections per person, per day.”

Turnier says he needs double the number of inspectors he has. He says the sewage treatment system is nearing capacity, he believes the plants will be updated before they are overloaded, but that will cost tens of millions of dollars.