At one time or another you probably lived next to an 'annoying' neighbor.
Maybe there was a barking dog or broken-down car on the property. All these, and similar issues, are governed by what are called "nuisance codes" -- And Washoe County is considering strengthening some of them.

The county is basically organizing all it's nuisance codes and state laws on the issue into one chapter of the law. Most of nuisance codes remain unchanged, Community Services Planning Manager Bob Webb said. However, there are some proposals to change the code.

"It's an attempt to regulate lifestyle that does not threaten other persons' safety," Gary Schmidt of Gerlach said. Schmidt said he opposes most of what's being proposed.

The proposed nuisance codes aim to reduce junk in yards. With the exception of codes relating to animals, which remain unchanged, the new codes being discussed only apply to people living in unincorporated areas of Washoe County. One proposal is to limit the number of junk vehicles on a property -- not more than two on a property of an acre or less.

"You have more than a city lot the standards should be different and you shouldn't have to be up at 40, 60 100 acres before those standards become different," Washoe County Resident Nancyann Leeder said.

There's also a proposal relating to motorcycles and off-road-vehicles. Codeis they could be considered a nuisance within 500 feet of a residence -- now it may become a thousand.

And the county is considering coming into line with a new state law on foreclosures. Now people who purchased foreclosed homes must maintain them and avoid certain nuisances.

"The accumulation of debris or waste or standing water that might attract mosquitoes," Webb said.

A decision by Washoe commissioners on whether to adopt the proposed codes may come on October 27th.