Unincorporated towns in Nevada facts for kids

Nevada has special rules for how communities that aren't officially cities are run. These communities are called unincorporated towns. There are two main ways Nevada state law allows these towns to be governed. One system, called the Unincorporated Town Government Law, started in 1975. It's mostly for bigger counties, or any other county that chooses to use it. For other counties, there's a mix of older laws that apply. In 1975, a study found 39 unincorporated towns in Nevada. By 2014, there were 44 such towns listed by the state.

How Towns Are Governed in Nevada

In Nevada, how an unincorporated town is run depends on its county.

Town Boards for Smaller Towns

In counties where the 1975 Unincorporated Town Government Law doesn't apply, a town can set up a special group called a town board. This board can be created if local people ask for it, or if the county leaders decide to form one.

• The town board has five members.
• These members are chosen by the people who live in the town.

The county leaders can collect a property tax from homes and businesses in the town. This tax, along with other money the town earns, goes into a special fund. This fund is managed by the county, but the money can only be used to help the town.

Town boards and county leaders often work together. They can provide local services like trash collection, make local rules, control businesses, set up police and fire departments, and even borrow money for town projects.

Advisory Councils: Another Option

Instead of a town board, county leaders can create a citizens' advisory council for an unincorporated town.

• This council has three to five members.
• County leaders choose these members after an "informal election" where local people give their opinions.

The advisory council's job is to give advice and connect the town's residents with the county leaders. They help share ideas and concerns. However, they don't make final decisions. The county leaders still have the main responsibility for the town.

A Little History

The idea of having a town board was first put into law in 1967. At first, this system wasn't very popular. One reason was that it required two county leaders to be part of the town board, which made things complicated. By 1975, only one town, Crescent Valley, had adopted it. Later, in 1973, the law allowing citizens' advisory councils was passed. The town board law was changed in 1985. This change removed the rule that county leaders had to serve on the town board, making it easier for towns to use.