Are we included in a Homeowners Association
(HOA) in Warm Springs?
No, there are no traditional HOAs
here.
Are we included in a Property Owners Association
(POA) in
Warm Springs? There are some specific areas of the
valley that are included in a Property Owners Association. The Wilcox Ranch
area in the south end of the valley is one example. The POA exists for the sole
purpose of collecting annual fees for the maintenance of specific dirt roads in this area. If you live
in Pal Val, but outside the Palomino Valley General Improvement District (PVGID) area and outside a POA area, you
are on your own, as far as road maintenance is concerned
Do we have CC&Rs?
Pal
Val did have fairly strict CC&Rs at one time, but sadly, no longer. We say
"sadly" because, for one reason, it
was not permissible to have more than two
inoperable vehicles visible on the property. There are too many unsightly
junk yards now, unfortunately.
The defined area known as the Special Planning Area
(SPA), however, does have what are technically known as "development
agreements." They are routinely ignored and violated, however. To make
changes to the Development Agreements, Washoe County approval is required. This differs from
traditional CC&Rs where changes can be made by a 75% majority vote of the
property owners, with no County involvement.
Do I need a permit to build X, Y, or Z? In
this county, you will need a permit to build almost anything. They want your
money for which you will receive little in return. The Washoe County
Building Codes can be found
here.
Am I
permitted to run a business out here?
Check
here
under permissible uses
Can
I camp out on my newly acquired land?
A
weekend here and there, sure, but
making
a permanent or semi-permanent campsite with RV
trailers is not permissible and is a violation of
the
county code
You must have a building permit to live in an
RV or campsite for an extended period of time on
your property. Without this restriction,
Palomino Valley would be come a collection of
shanty towns.
Some think that people
should be free to do whatever they want on
their own property, with no restrictions whatsoever.
Civilized communities do not work that way - they
need some standards. With great freedom comes great
responsibility.
What are the codes regarding shipping (CONEX)
containers? They are allowed and do not require a
permit, but they must be painted to blend in with their surroundings. While not
strictly enforced, if a Washoe County Code Enforcement officer is called in, he
will issue a compliance notice to you. Failure to comply may result in a fine.
Please be a good neighbor and paint it. Or contact
Paul
Mazzarelli and he will paint it for
you.
How do
I locate/verify legal easements?
There are several maps that show property lines, but the
official & legal map used by surveyors is the
Land Map in the County Recorders
Office
Who enforces the building codes and other assorted
county codes? The Washoe County Code Enforcement
Department. They are complaint-driven and not pro-active. In other words, they
do not patrol the area in search of code violations. If they receive a complaint
about a code violation, however, they will investigate.
Some residents view these officials with distrust and animosity. The
truth is, and as has been stated before, we
need some standards in this community. Yes, we can engage in activities out here
that we could not otherwise do in urban and suburban areas. You still have
neighbors here, albeit a bit farther apart. Simply because you have
40+ acres of land, you are not exempt from the codes, statutes, and
standards of behavior. There are limits to everything. No one can do "whatever" he or she wants out here
with impunity.
Are there noise or nuisance ordinances out here?
Yes. These Washoe County codes address
nuisances. Good neighbors control their pets and animals.
Bad neighbors do not. Please be a good neighbor.
55.120 - Nuisance.
It is unlawful for the
owner or person having the care, custody or control of any animal to
permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or
control, any such animal to commit any nuisance, as defined herein,
upon any public property or any other property under the control of
or in possession of any other person, whether or not open to the
public.
(Ord. No. 1207, § 14;
Ord. No. 1269)
55.125 - Keeping of
noisy animals.
Except as
provided in NRS 40.140,
it is unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or own any animal
which by making loud and frequent noises causes annoyance to the
neighborhood or to any persons in the vicinity.
(Ord. No. 1207, § 15;
Ord. No. 1269)
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Emergency /
Medical Responders -
Living
in the "boonies" has its advantages , but one
downside is that there is no 24/7 emergency medical
technician (EMT) on standby in Palomino Valley. The
more difficult the access is to your house, the
longer it will take an EMT to each you from Spanish
Springs, the closest location. Heavy snow with
impassable roads (read more about
roads here) in the
winter will complicate matters significantly.
Consider buying an annual membership to
Care Flight. Best
bargain for your life - in the literal sense.
Who
owns the loose, wild horses that we see out here?
The Paiute Indian
tribe of the Pyramid Lake area.
What's
the story on the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Facility At Ironwood and
Pyramid Hwy?
Read all about
the program
here,
for starters. It is a controversial program and strong opinions
abound. Read up and judge for yourself.
Are there horse riding trails out here? Can I use the
roads? On private property, yes.
Our roads that are used primarily for vehicular traffic are not "trails."
While nothing says that you cannot ride your horse on the
roads, doing so can be risky for horse, rider, and motorists.
Spooked horses and motor vehicles can (and has been)
a deadly mix. We have heard of terrible,
deadly stories that illustrate that point.
Who
feeds and waters the wild horse out here?
They feed and water
themselves on whatever is available. The worst thing you can do (out
of misplaced compassion) is to feed them from the roadways. Doing so
will attract them, and they will gather in large number, expecting to
be fed. Many horses have died terrible deaths from collisions
with vehicles. People have died as well. Please DO NOT feed the
horses anywhere near the roads. Compassion and love for
animals is admirable - just be smart about it.
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- Land Issues: Easements, Subdividing, Parcel Sizes
-
How do I subdivide my property into
smaller parcels?
With the exception of the Special Planning Area (S.P.A.)
parcels may not be subdivided into sizes less than 40
acres. It can be done with larger parcels.
If
, for example, you had 81 acres, you could legally
subdivide it in two (2) 40.25 acre parcels. The
process has many moving parts: the land owner,
surveyor, and several departments within the Washoe
County government, for starters. AND you will
need to acquire water rights for the new parcel. No,
the water rights in the 80 acre parcel cannot be
"split" in two. It does not work that way.
All in all, it is quite an involved, expensive
process.
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- Law Enforcement -
Does the Sheriff's Office
patrol our roads out here? No,
there is no active, routine patrol. Our roads are considered to be "private roads
with public access." They will respond to calls
for criminal activity and emergencies, however.
What is the crime rate out here?
It is not zero, but it is very low. Property crime and
theft is the main concern.
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- Livestock Issues -
Is
Palomino Valley legally designated as "open range"
where anyone can let their cattle graze on others'
private lands?
Absolutely not. Permission must be granted
either verbally or in writing (or both) for one to
use another's property for any reason. This is not
a communist enclave where private property rights
have been abolished.
Unfortunately, some people continue to perpetuate
the myth that Pal Val is a private cattle company's
domain to be used as they like. Click
here to read a sample of this sort of
uninformed ignorance from a February 2022 NextDoor
participant. Names deleted.
Click
here
to see this exchange in which cowboys affirm that
their cattle sometimes stray off their BLM grazing
allotments. They are honest enough not to make the
false claim that Pal Val is theirs in which to graze
their cattle.
Can I
raise livestock on property without some sort of
permit?
Yes,
within limits, livestock being mostly defined by
NRS 569.0085 as cattle, horses, goats,
poultry, pigs, and sheep. Exotic animals are
subject to some specific limitations. Read
more
here.
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- Local Businesses Providing Goods and Services -
For
recommendations on local businesses, click
here. If you
know of honest, reliable people and /or
companies, inform us
here.
We love to support local businesses! There are
some types of businesses who are not exactly "local"
as in "close by," but that's OK - let us know
about any business in the general area (greater Reno
& Sparks) that you'd like to recommend.
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Mail Service -
Are the gang mail boxes safe to use?
We do not trust them at all, and would
never use them for
any important incoming or outgoing mail. Not only is the misplaced mail rate
high, the gang mailboxes have been subject to repeated episodes of theft and vandalism over
the years.
Example 1: A complete section of the gang mailboxes located at Ax
Handle and Bacon Rind Roads was sheared off and carted away.
Example 2: In another case, the gang mailbox at Quaking Aspen Road, was purposely
pushed over by a vehicle one year.
Example 3: most recent case of mailbox vandalism and theft -
January 2021
What sort of lunatic does such things? The
sort that we refer to in our Pet Peeves section.
Where is the nearest post office?
The Sparks Post Office at 4th Street
and Prater Way is the closest
full-service US Postal facility.
I
hear from some that the US Post Office will build a
"postal annex " here Palomino Valley. True or
not?
Not true. The USPS has no such plans.
Our resident population does not have sufficient
numbers to justify such a capital expenditure. This
rumor is simply wishful thinking by some. The
USPS does have plans, however, to build an annex in
Spanish Springs, due to the population growth in
that area. As for seeing one in Pal Val? Most likely
not in your lifetime.
Where
do I go to pick up a package if it cannot be delivered to my box
here in Pal Val?
Packages that cannot
be delivered must be picked up at the
Main Post Office on Vassar Street
in Reno.
How about one of those
private mailbox companies?
A great choice:
Pack n Post at
9732 Pyramid Highway is located in the Save Mart shopping plaza at LaPosada and
Pyramid Hwy. Worth every penny.
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Miscellaneous Topics
-
What's all this about a fuel tax rebate for rural area
residents? This is a little secret that
the tax man does not want you to know about. It is primarily set up for ranchers
or farmers who use gasoline or diesel fuel. Read more about it
here to see if you qualify.
What would improve life for
the residents? Many of us would love to see:
- A convenience store built at Whiskey Springs Road and Pyramid Highway.
Desirable merchandise might include beer, wine, soda, water, ice, pizza, ammo,
fishing gear, ATV supplies, gasoline, diesel, LP tank refills, tire air,
etcetera. Other items? Let's hear your opinions
here.
- A community building with a meeting room that could be used at any time by the
residents for any legal purpose.
Hey, how about all that money that was extracted from each one of us for a park? Why can't we use that to build a nice
community center? Sadly, poorly written legislation precludes our
park fund from being used for buildings.
We do not need a traditional cookie-cutter park (as designed by
urban planners) in PalVal with swing sets and
volleyball
courts. Since the majority of parcel sizes are 40+ acres, we, in
essence, have our own private parks.
- A
large, multi-bay car
wash capable of handling our trucks and horse trailers.
- Better cell phone reception. There are still too many areas with weak or no
service in Palomino
Valley, and we are tired of it.
- Less squalor and junkyards. More beauty, trees, and flowers,
please.
-
Pet Peeves -
Click
here
for this "special" page. Do not
proceed if you are
delicate and overly sensitive.
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Pets -
Are
there leash laws for dogs in Pal Val?
Within
the congested areas of Washoe County, your dog must
be properly contained and/or restrained at all times
for the exception of designated off-leash areas.
Aren't sure if you live in congested or un-congested
area? Click
here.
Are
there other animal limitations?
Yes,
there are quite a few limitations and restrictions
for the keeping animals in Washoe County . Please
read about them
here.
Are there dog breeders out here?
Yes. Info coming
soon in our
local businesses page
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Recreational
Opportunities and Locations -
For
off-road riding with your ATV, quad, or motorcycle,
visit the "Moon Rocks"
Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area, or enjoy your own
land. Reminder: our GID-maintained roads
are not for "recreational" use, but you are free to
drive upon them to get around the valley.
These are designated as " private roads with public
access."
For fishing
,
visit Pyramid Lake. You will need a permit for that
and any recreational purpose including
bird-watching. No joke. Visit the Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe Reservation's website
here to learn more.
For
recreational target shooting, visit the Washoe County
Regional Shooting Facility (a.k.a.
The County Range),
or you may shoot on your own property, within
limits. Click
here to read more
about the discharge of firearms in Warm Springs.
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Roads: Maintenance
and other Issues -
Who maintains the roads in Palomino Valley?
The Palomino Valley GID. See their website
here
Who maintains the roads outside of the GID-maintained areas?
Washoe County maintains Winnemucca Ranch Road.
Any other road with the designation "S.R." (State Road) preceding the highway
number, e.g. SR 445, is maintained by the Nevada Dept. of Transportation (NDOT)
Some
parts of this valley are not maintained by the GID
or a POA. If you
live in these areas, you
are on your own as far as road maintenance. Without
question, this is one of the most troublesome, challenging aspects
of living on a shared, dirt road. Be very cautious when you buy
property in these areas. Do NOT take anyone's word for it that the
roads will be maintained or surfaced in the future. Maybe they will be 50 years from
now. In your lifetime? Don't bet on it.
Opinion alert:
Developments with shared dirt roads are
destined for failure. They cannot work for long, which is why the county (since
year xxxx) prohibits any new developments with dirt roads. Do not assume that
you can simply "get together" with neighbors and fix or maintain the roads that you travel upon.
It is never that easy. Why? First, the high cost. Money for equipment, material, and
labor is a huge factor, but not the only factor.
Also,
on these large parcels it can be difficult to
make contact with neighbors who would rather not have
anyone knock on their door asking for money. They had more than enough of that
living in the city and the suburbs before moving out here. Further, there are
actually some people who prefer the roads be kept rough and rugged, as
they believe bad roads deter "bad guys" from coming out here. While there is
some
truth in that, having your vehicle repeatedly beat up by rough roads is a
high price to pay for this measure of perceived safety.
Do I need a 4x4 vehicle to live out here? It depends
upon where in this valley you live.
Bear in mind that we get two seasons out here: dust
season and mud season. If you live well off the pavement on dirt roads, you will
wish you had a 4x4 during mud season, for the roads can turn into
the consistency of chocolate pudding.
Can I use the
GID-maintained roads to get from point A to B
on my ATV or dirt bike? Yes, but please
remember that these roads are not to be used for
"recreational" purposes and joy-riding .
Can I use the
State roads (such as Pyramid Highway) to get from point A to B
on my ATV or dirt bike? Yes, the Dept. of Public
Safety (DPS) and the Nevada Highway Patrol make allowances for that, provided
you are legitimately using the highway for that specific purpose.
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Shooting Restrictions
-
Can I target shoot on my own property?
In most areas, yes.
Washoe County Code 50.092 stipulates
that in Warm Springs (with the exception of the SPA) you must be 500 feet from
another occupied dwelling. In all other areas of Washoe County that are not
designated as congested areas for the discharge of firearms, the distance is
5000 feet when shooting a rifle or handgun, and 1000 feet when shooting shotgun, or air rifle.
Note:
these rules do not prohibit or limit the discharge of a firearm for self defense.
Can I shoot coyotes or predators to protect my pets or
livestock? Coyotes, yes. Birds of prey (owls,
hawks, eagles, and other raptors), no!
Further, you will need
a hunting tag to take any game animal, whether it is
on your property or not.
What are the laws regarding guns and self-defense? The
Nevada Firearms Coalition has put together one of the best
publications we have ever seen. You can download it
here.
Another good guide can be found here:
Nevada Self Defense Laws.
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Trash & Waste Removal
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Who picks up the trash out here?
Waste Management Corp.
Is trash pickup mandatory?
How
much does this service cost? Is there a senior
discount?
How
much trash can I put out?
Do I
have to use both trash and the recycle bin?
Where
is the "dump" if I have more to discard?
What does that cost to use? How much debris can drop
off there?
Can I
rent a dumpster at my residence?
For
answers to all these questions and more, please
visit Waste Managements (WM) website
here.
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Troublesome Issues
-
Litter is terrible eyesore along Pyramid Highway. Who is
responsible for cleaning it up? The Nevada
Department of Transportation (NDOT) is
responsible for litter pickup on state-maintained highways , but due to "safety" issues (they claim) they no longer perform
roadside litter pickups. Nothing, however, prohibits private individuals from
picking up roadside litter. At this point, however, it would take a huge effort
with a great deal of manpower and time to make a dent in the sheer volume of
litter along the roadside. We are not saying that it cannot be done, only that it
will be a big challenge. Anyone care to organize a litter pickup event? NDOT will provide the plastic trash bags.
Who is responsible for picking up litter on the
roadways within Palomino Valley? We all are. We know several
people who [at least] annually perform a roadside litter
pickup in their part of the valley. We thank them! It would be too large a job,
however, for only a few volunteers to pick
up litter in the entire valley. A community team effort with an squadron of quads
could do it in one weekend.
We see abandoned vehicles dumped out here several times
per year. What can be done about it? Can the GID remove them? How
about the Sheriff?
This is a chronic problem that is both frustrating
and annoying. Almost always, the inoperable vehicle is abandoned on
private property, mere feet off of a GID-maintained road. Until the owner of
that vehicle removes it, there is very little that can be done. Grrr.
Why? Because of
laws that, intentionally or not, protect the bad guys. While it is
unlawful to abandon a vehicle on private
property without the consent of the property owner, enforcing that statute and
getting the abandoned vehicle removed is another issue and the source
of considerable frustration among residents who are victimized
by such detestable acts. Here's
why:
First, the GID's authority extends only to the
maintenance of roads. Unless the abandoned vehicle is blocking the roadway or
causing a significant safety hazard, they will not remove it.
As for the Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO),
unless it a matter of reckless driving, a public safety offense, or some other
criminal offense, they will not respond to complaints about problems on private
roads. Our roadways out here are officially designated and considered to be "private
roads with public access" by the WCSO.
As for the owner of the property on which a vehicle has
been abandoned, he or she would have to pay to have it removed, but ONLY if they
have the title to it. That is the towing company's policy, and not written in
law. Apparently, towing companies have been "burned" in the
past due to complications arising from titles,
liens, and unpaid storage fees involving vehicles that
have been towed at the request of a person who is
not the owner. After 120+ years of motorized travel,
one would think this problem would have been solved
by now.
They
will tow and impound a vehicle under the following conditions:
-
Private Parking Lot Policy Violation
-
At the request of Law Enforcement Officers
-
Fire Lane Violation
-
Handicapped Parking Violation
NRS 487.281 Unlawful abandonment of
vehicle.
1. A person shall not abandon a vehicle
upon any public highway or road.
2. A person shall not abandon a vehicle
upon public or private property without the express or implied consent of the
owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property.
Every person who violates any provision of
NRS 487.281 or 487.290 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Do us all a favor if your motor
vehicle or motor home breaks down: do the best you
can to get it off the road so you are not impeding
traffic. Call for a tow truck ASAP. If
you simply must leave it, at least have the courtesy
to leave a note on the inside of the
windshield explaining your predicament. It
does not have to be an essay - just let the
neighborhood know that you are not abandoning
the vehicle and that you will will be back as soon
as you can.
There are many generous,
skilled people out here who may be able to help you.
Just ask. No one will give you a hard time if
you truly need help. Malicious abandonment and
dumping, however, will result in a great deal
of unpleasantness for you.
Why did the county extract
money from me for a so-called park
fund? I don't see a park here. This is an
outrageous taxpayer rip-off. Years ago, some
politicians thought it would
be a great idea to require that a public park be built in every area of the
county for every x number of people, including Warm Springs. There are now 45
county-owned parks.
So where is
"our park," you may ask" We don't have one in the
traditional sense, yet the county still has our
money. We are expected to use the Washoe County
Regional Shooting Facility as our park! That's right
- the shooting range. This is an absurd joke that is
not remotely humorous. Be sure to take your ear
muffs with you as you enjoy your picnic lunch in the
pot-holed asphalt parking lot behind the line of
people shooting guns.
The Lazy 5 Regional Park is the closest "real" park to
us. While it is actually a nice park, it has quite the list of rules and
restrictions.
As far
as many other regional parks, many are over-run with vagrants,
druggies, homeless encampments, and other undesirable entities.
Not the sort of place to take the family for a safe outing. Be
careful.
So why
can't we have a "real" park? Why would you
want one? Since all of us (with the exception of
those who live in the SPA) have 40+ acres, we have
our own private park, in effect. We don't need a
park; we need a refund of that money they extracted
from us in order to build that never-to-be-built
park. It will never materialize, but the County will keep our money
forever. Do you see the rip-off now?
We could really use a
"community center" in Palomino Valley, but the
geniuses who wrote this law specifically disallowed
our money to be used for buildings.
How do
I keep these horrible bugs (scorpions, spiders,
ants, crickets, etc) from entering my house?
Please click
here for an
effective DIY remedy, without using chemicals.
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Volunteer Opportunities
-
Our
community needs volunteers in these areas:
-
Community yard sales. Do you have a place
wherein you can host a yard sale? If so, post
that event on
NextDoor.
-
Fire prevention via the Palomino Valley
Volunteer Fire Department.
-
Elderly help: yard cleanup, driving to medical
appointments, other.
-
Litter pickup
-
Snow removal
-
Other (share your ideas
here)
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Water
Issues -
I am new to
the West. What's a "water right?"
Click
here to learn about
water rights
How do acquire water rights?
Click
here to learn how
to buy water rights
What is the purpose of the
water study being conducted in Palomino Valley?
The
Sustainable Water Resource Feasibility Study (aka
Palomino Valley Farms Project) is part of a regional
effort to optimize and expand available water
resources. Read more
here. See the
map showing the domestic well study area
here.
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