2022 Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 244 - Counties: Government
NRS 244.291 - Ordinance authorizing use of vacant or blighted county land or property for community gardening or urban farming; resources and incentives for development of community gardens and urban farms; water.

1. A board of county commissioners may, by ordinance, authorize the use of vacant or blighted county land or other real property owned by the county for the purpose of community gardening or urban farming under such terms and conditions established for the use of the county land or real property set forth by the ordinance.

2. The ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection 1 may, without limitation:

(a) Establish fees for the use of the county land;

(b) Provide requirements for liability insurance; and

(c) Provide requirements for a deposit to use the county land, which may be refunded.

3. The ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection 1:

(a) May provide that the board of county commissioners will prioritize the use of county land or other real property for community gardens and urban farms that:

(1) Hire at least a portion of the employees from residents of the local community;

(2) Provide training for members of the local community to participate in gardening or farming;

(3) Allow members of the local community to provide input on the foods grown in the community garden or urban farm;

(4) Collaborate with school garden programs in the surrounding community and encourage students from those school garden programs to participate in the community garden or urban farm; and

(5) Use sources of renewable energy, including, without limitation, solar energy, to operate the community garden or urban farm.

(b) Must require that any urban farm established using land made available pursuant to the ordinance adopt a policy for diversity, equity and inclusion.

4. In addition to adopting an ordinance pursuant to subsection 1, a board of county commissioners shall encourage in any other manner the development of community gardens and urban farms, including, without limitation, encouraging the use of any available existing federal, state or local resources, such as money, grants and tax incentives, for the development of community gardens and urban farms.

5. If a board of county commissioners owns a municipal water system or has an agreement with a water authority, water district or water system, the board of county commissioners may provide or the board may request that the water authority, district or system provide water at a wholesale or reduced rate to a community garden or urban farm established by ordinance pursuant to this section. Nothing in this subsection requires a municipal water system or a water authority to provide water to a community garden or urban farm at a wholesale or reduced rate.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 1357; A 2021, 1989)