Northwest Reno Wildfire Development 2026: What the Moose Ridge Rezoning Near Somersett Means for Buyers, Sellers and Homeowners

Northwest Reno Wildfire Development 2026: Building in the Wildland-Urban Interface, Somersett Growth and How to Evaluate a Hillside Home

By Crystal Bauer, Certified Luxury Realtor® | eXp Realty

Northwest Reno wildfire development is one of the biggest conversations in Northern Nevada real estate this fall. After the Hawk Fire, a council vote on new homes near Somersett has residents, planners and experts asking where and how Reno should grow.

It's a debate with thoughtful people on every side.

My goal here isn't to pick a side. It's to explain what was decided, what each viewpoint says, and what it all means if you own, buy or sell a home in the hills of Reno.

What Did the Reno City Council Decide About Moose Ridge?

In September 2026, the Reno City Council adopted a rezoning for a roughly 42-acre hillside site near Somersett, just above the ends of Sandestin and Moose Ridge drives, according to This Is Reno.

The rezoning supports a proposed 46-home subdivision.

The Zoning Details

• About 22 acres would move from single-family residential at three units per acre to single-family residential at eight units per acre.
• About 20 acres would be rezoned to parks, greenways and open space.
• The council first advanced the change in August by a 4-2 vote, then adopted it on second reading in September.

The Nevada Independent reported that the project's home count was reduced from what was originally proposed.

Why the Timing Drew Attention

The first vote came the same day residents who evacuated during the Hawk Fire were returning home. The Hawk Fire burned on Peavine Mountain north of Reno and closed U.S. 395.

The Nevada Independent reported that the Moose Ridge site itself had burned weeks before the rezoning was approved.

What Are the Main Viewpoints in the Debate?

This is a contested local issue, so here are the main perspectives as reported, in their own terms.

Supporters of the Rezoning

Councilwoman Meghan Ebert, who evacuated during the Hawk Fire herself, voted yes. She described the revised plan as a real improvement over the original, while acknowledging the fire danger she had just seen firsthand.

Supporters point to fewer homes than first proposed and roughly 20 acres set aside as open space.

Those Who Voted No

Mayor Hillary Schieve and Council member Naomi Duerr voted against advancing the change in August. Council discussion focused on wildfire safety and evacuation routes.

Fire Officials and Planners

Reno Fire Marshal John Beck told The Nevada Independent that as lower-hazard land gets used up, projects are pushed toward riskier areas. He said his role is code compliance, and broader comfort-level decisions belong to planning.

A Washoe County planner said fire risk is a review factor but couldn't recall a project denied for that reason.

Economists and Wildfire Researchers

UNLV economist Nicholas Irwin said the same terrain that attracts buyers, like views and open land, is also what makes it risky. He suggested developers could carry more of the costs, while acknowledging that's politically difficult.

Patty Hernandez of Headwaters Economics said Reno has the highest wildfire risk of any U.S. city, and that building codes and fuel reduction get less funding than firefighting despite being more effective.

Is Northwest Reno Wildfire Development Part of a Bigger Pattern?

Moose Ridge isn't the only example. The Nevada Independent reported several related decisions in the region:

• In March 2026, Washoe County approved the 940-home Sierra Reflections subdivision, overturning a planning commission denial. That area was affected by the 2024 Davis Fire.
• Reno denied a 676-home project west of Somersett several times in 2021 before a judge ordered approval.
• The Nevada Division of Forestry says about half of Nevada's existing homes have significant wildfire exposure.

Growth pressure is real in Reno. So is wildfire risk. Both shape the hillside housing market.

Are New Reno Homes Built to Wildfire Standards?

This is good news for buyers of newer construction in Reno.

According to The Nevada Independent, Nevada's statewide wildland-urban interface code applies only in counties under 100,000 people and leaves out the fire-resistant materials chapter. But Reno and Washoe County adopted their own codes that do require fire-resistant construction.

That means newer homes in Reno's hillside neighborhoods are generally built with more ember-resistant materials than many older homes.

What About Insurance?

Nevada's AB 376 (2025) allows insurers to exclude wildfire coverage from standard homeowners policies. As of late September, The Nevada Independent reported no insurer had filed to use it yet.

I covered AB 376 in detail in an earlier post, linked below.

What Does This Mean for Owners, Buyers and Sellers?

For Homeowners

Your neighborhood's preparation matters as much as your own. Somersett's Community Wildfire Protection Plan helped it win a $2.5 million Community Wildfire Defense Grant, according to The Nevada Independent.

Neighborhoods can also pursue Firewise recognition through Fire Adapted Nevada. It requires the whole community to do defensible-space and home-hardening work.

For Buyers

Look up the home's wildfire hazard zone. The Nevada Independent built an address-level Washoe County hazard map you can search.

Ask about the year built, roof material, vents, and whether the HOA has a wildfire plan or Firewise status. And get insurance quotes early in your contingency period.

For Sellers

Buyers are asking wildfire questions more than ever. Documented defensible-space work, ember-resistant upgrades and an active HOA wildfire program can help your home stand out.

A clean, well-maintained 5-foot zone around the home is one of the easiest pre-listing improvements you can make.

Your Northwest Reno Wildfire Readiness Checklist

These steps come from the University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Living With Fire Defensible Space Guide, which notes that 60% to 90% of homes ignite from embers.

1. Zone 0 (0–5 feet): Remove wood mulch, dead leaves, pine needles, woodpiles and junipers. Use gravel, pavers or other noncombustible materials, including under attached decks.
2. Zone 1 (5–30 feet): Keep plants sparse and in separated islands, trim branches within 10 feet of the house and roof, and keep wood mulch to 1 inch deep.
3. Firewood: Store it at least 30 feet from the home.
4. Cheatgrass: In sagebrush areas, clear it within 30 feet.
5. Zone 2 (30–100+ feet): Remove dead vegetation and ladder fuels, and space shrubs at twice their height. Steeper slopes need more distance.
6. Junipers: Remove ornamental junipers within 30 feet of the home.
7. Vents and windows: Keep woody plants away from foundation vents, soffit vents and first-story windows.
8. Know your zone: Search your address on a wildfire hazard map.
9. Get involved: Ask your HOA about a wildfire protection plan or Firewise recognition.
10. Review your insurance every year at renewal.

The Bottom Line on Northwest Reno Wildfire Development

Reno is growing, and its hillsides are some of the most beautiful places to live in Northern Nevada. How that growth happens near wildfire country is a fair and important conversation.

Whatever you think about Moose Ridge, being informed and prepared is the best way to protect your home and your investment.

If you're considering a home in Somersett, Caughlin Ranch, ArrowCreek or anywhere in Reno, or around Lake Tahoe and Truckee, I'd love to help you ask the right questions and find the right fit. Reach out anytime!

Explore More Reno Real Estate Insights

Does Your Reno Home Policy Still Cover Wildfire? What AB 376 Means After the Hawk Fire

Living in Caughlin Ranch, Reno NV: Home Prices, Lifestyle & Real Estate Market Trends for 2026

About Crystal Bauer

I'm Crystal Bauer, Certified Luxury Realtor® with eXp Realty, specializing in luxury residential real estate in Reno and Northern Nevada, including Somersett, Caughlin Ranch, ArrowCreek and Montreux, as well as every Lake Tahoe community in California and Nevada and Truckee. I help buyers and sellers navigate everything from wildfire questions to finding the perfect view home. Learn more at www.crystalspropertyconnection.com.

Crystal Bauer, REALTOR® | eXp Luxury
eXp Realty of California | CA DRE #02099002 | NV S.0196277
120 Country Club Dr #63, Incline Village, NV 89451
CA (530) 788-8251 | NV (775) 530-4747

Research Sources & Further Reading

This Is Reno — Reno council adopts Moose Ridge rezoning on second reading with conflicting council concerns
https://thisisreno.com/2026/09/reno-rezoned-moose-ridge-site/

This Is Reno — Hawk Fire evacuation concerns spark debate over new homes in northwest Reno
https://thisisreno.com/2026/08/reno-council-approves-moose-ridge/

This Is Reno — Reno City Council to consider Moose Ridge rezoning, RPD 90-day update
https://thisisreno.com/2026/09/police-chief-update-city-clerk/

The Nevada Independent — Wildfires keep hitting Northern Nevada. Why do developers keep building into harm's way?
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/wildfires-keep-hitting-northern-nevada-why-do-developers-keep-building-into-harms-way

The Nevada Independent — Here's how to see if your Washoe County home has elevated wildfire risk
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/heres-how-to-see-if-your-washoe-county-home-has-elevated-wildfire-risk/

University of Nevada, Reno Extension — Living With Fire Defensible Space Guide
https://naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2023-5522.pdf

This article reflects information available October 20, 2026. It is for general information only and is not insurance, legal or financial advice; consult a licensed insurance agent or other qualified professional about your specific property.

Photo: Manny Becerra on Unsplash