Washoe County Recorder, Kalie Work, celebrates SB 117

Discrimination, restrictive language ousted from property documents

Reno, Nev. Oct. 9, 2019. Washoe County Recorder’s Office is pleased to announce a new form in their office, a Declaration of Removal of Discriminatory Restriction, which would remove racially restrictive deeds and covenants in property documents still in existence in Washoe County.

SB 117, a bill co-sponsored by Senator Julia Ratti, Senator Dallas Harris and Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner, allows homeowners offended by racially restrictive covenants on their property to record a Declaration of Removal of Discriminatory Restriction. On October 1, SB 117 went into effect. It was celebrated at the Washoe County Recorder’s Office by County Recorder Kalie Work, Senator Ratti, community members Lonnie Feemster and Kent Ervin, and Recorder’s Office staff (pictured left).

“I am thrilled our office can now offer this form to restrict offensive language found in our public record,” says Kalie Work, Washoe County Recorder. “The enduring language of segregation and discrimination sends an outdated and harmful message to our community. I am pleased SB 117 addresses these stains of racism and seeks equality for all Washoe County residents.”

The Declaration of Removal of Discriminatory Restriction would allow a property owner to acknowledge any repugnant clauses and then formally disavow the offensive language. The Declaration would then affirm the rights of Nevadans to have an equal opportunity to inherit, purchase, lease, rent, sell, hold, and convey real property without discrimination because of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

Certain neighborhoods in our community still have restrictive language such as: “That said lots or any portion thereof shall not be sold, transferred, leased, rented, or mortgaged to any person or persons other than the Caucasian Race, nor shall any person or persons other than the Caucasian Race occupy or be permitted to occupy said lots or any portion thereof except as the servant of the occupant thereof” (example of language in documents, pictured right).  Although these discriminatory covenants have not been enforceable for more than 70 years, they can still be viewed within a chain of title or even within the language of many property deeds. 

The Declaration of Removal of Discriminatory Restriction is now available at the Washoe County Recorder’s Office.

For more information, please contact 775-328-3661 or Washoe311 by dialing 3-1-1 from any phone, or by clicking here.

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