Reno's Flag

The official City of Reno flag was adopted by City Council on April 25, 2018. The approved design is public domain, and the City encourages residents to use it, as long as the official design and specifications approved by City Council are followed. 

The flag was designed by Tucker Stosic, a 23-year-old Reno native. The blue field represents the State of Nevada. The silver notch at the bottom of the circle symbolizes the silver mining boom that led to Reno’s founding. The bright blue band represents the Truckee River, an important landmark and water source for early settlers and current residents. Above it are the Sierra Nevada mountains, outlined in gold to represent the surrounding desert landscape. The star in the corner references the star atop the Reno Arch, a symbol that unites Reno and its residents. 

 The Reno Flag Project was created to celebrate Reno’s 150th anniversary and to better represent the city today. Led by the Arts & Culture Commission, now Arts and Culture Advisory Board, the project focused on community involvement, education about flag design, and Reno history to create a strong symbol of civic pride. 

History 

Reno’s previous flag was created in 1959 but was never adopted by City Council. It was designed through a community contest by Robert Dressler, an 11-year-old fifth-grade student at Orvis Ring School. The flag served as a community banner and is still displayed at the Nevada Historical Society, but it never became a widely used city symbol. 

The 2018 project began with two public workshops on flag culture and design held at The Holland Project. An open submission period ran from November 30, 2017 through March 2, 2018. A Reno Flag Committee reviewed all entries and selected 13 designs for a public online vote from March 19 to April 6. The Arts & Culture Commission then selected three finalists to present to City Council. On April 25, 2018, City Council officially adopted Tucker Stosic’s design, which was also a favorite in the public vote.