(A) Intent. The following regulations shall be applicable to the keeping of horses and all other members of the equine family including donkeys and mules. See Apache Junction City Code, Vol. I, Chapter 6, for non-zoning regulations pertaining to the keeping of animals.
(B) Non-business equine regulations. The following regulations shall be applicable to the keeping of horses for personal use in the city:
(1) Allowed zoning districts. All single-family (i.e., RS) residential zoning districts.
(2) Minimum lot area. 1.25 gross acres.
(3) Maximum number of equine. No limit as long as the equine are owned by the residents or owners of the property.
(4) Horse training. Horse training, but not boarding, as an incidental business use shall be allowed.
(5) Accessory buildings and structures. Barns and stables that house equine shall maintain a minimum 50 foot side, rear and front setback. Horse shades shall maintain the minimum accessory building setbacks as indicated in Vol. II, § 1-5-2, Table 5-2.
(C) Horse rental stables. Commercial horse rental stables include any enterprise providing horses and equipment rented on a temporary basis, and wherein the rented horses are permitted to be ridden away from the property either by individual renters, with a group or with a guide. The following regulations shall be applicable to commercial horse rental stables in the city.
(1) Allowed zoning districts. Horse rental stables shall only be allowed in the RS-GR, RS-54 and RS-54M zoning districts.
(2) Minimum lot area. 10 gross acres.
(3) Maximum number of horses. No limit.
(4) Accessory buildings and structures. Barns and stables that house equine shall maintain a minimum 50 foot side, rear and front setback. Horse shades and mare motels shall maintain the minimum accessory building setbacks as indicated in Vol. II, §Table 5-2.
(5) Permit required. A CUP shall be required prior to constructing and operating a commercial rental stable.
(D) Commercial horse boarding regulations. The following regulations shall be applicable to commercial house boarding within the city.
(1) Allowed zoning districts. Commercial horse boarding shall only be allowed in the RS-GR, RS-54 and RS-54M zoning districts.
(2) Minimum lot area. 2.5 gross acres.
(3) Maximum number of horses. None.
(4) Permit required. A CUP and business license shall be required prior to any new commercial horse boarding business being established in the city subsequent to February 3, 2011.
(5) Accessory buildings and structures. Barns and stables that house equine shall maintain a minimum 50 foot side, rear and front setback. Horse shades shall maintain the minimum accessory building setbacks in Vol. II, § 1-5-2, Table 5-2.
(6) Horse trailer parking.
(a) Licensed horse trailers owned by horse boarders may be parked on a commercial horse boarding property subject to the number of horse trailers not exceeding the total number of horses being boarded on-site. The parking and/or storage of a horse trailer at a specific boarding facility shall not be permitted unless the owner of the trailer has a horse boarded at the facility at the same time. Horse trailers shall be set back a minimum of 4 feet from adjacent properties and 25 feet from public road rights-of-way. Trailers shall be parked in a manner that does not interfere with safe traffic circulation and visibility as determined by the Director or designee.
(b) Prior to parking horse trailers on a commercial horse boarding property, the property owner/operator shall submit to the Development Services Department a properly scaled and dimensioned site plan that illustrates all existing buildings, setbacks and the location and layout of the parking area for horse trailers. The Development Services Director, or designee, shall review the plan and either approve, modify and approve, or disapprove the parking site plan based on an evaluation of safe traffic circulation and compliance with the standards identified above. Failure by the owner and/or operator of a boarding facility to operate and comply with this section shall be grounds for possible revocation of the business license of the facility.
(7) Property caretaker/ranch hand accommodations. One seasonal or full-time commercial horse boarding ranch hand, along with his or her family, shall be allowed to reside on-site. The primary purpose and responsibility of the ranch hand is to assist in the management and care of the commercial horse boarding facility. The ranch hand shall be allowed to live in the main residential building or within a travel trailer, motor home or 5th wheel RV unit on-site. The RV may be permanently connected to waste, water, gas, and/or electrical service, or may operate as a self-contained unit. Construction of a conventionally built home to accommodate the ranch may also be allowed in accordance with the accessory dwelling unit standards in Vol. II, § 1-6-19 of this Chapter.
(8) Restroom facilities. An operator of a commercial horse boarding facility with an on-site residence may allow the restroom facilities of the residence to be used by patrons of the facility. Alternatively, the owner/operator may provide a portable chemical toilet ("porta-potty") subject to Development Services Department review and approval of a site plan that illustrates the location and screening of the toilet.
(9) Health and sanitation. The operator of a horse boarding facility shall comply with all regulations for health and safety, sanitation, odor vector control and other related issues.
(10) Related events. Social events and parties shall be subject to the same noise, parking, traffic and health and safety regulations applied to other residential properties within the city.
(11) Hours of operation. Horse boarding businesses shall be allowed to operate 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
(12) Additional commercial services allowed. Riding lessons and horse training services shall be allowed on licensed and approved commercial horse boarding properties. Commercial horse boarding facilities may also accommodate veterinarian, farrier, horse care specialists, and equine services visits to serve horses kept both on-site and off-site.
(13) Sign requirements. Commercial horse boarding facilities shall be allowed one detached, double-sided, 32-square-foot sign to include the name of the facility and the property address. The sign may be externally lit, shall comply with Dark Sky regulations, shall not be animated and shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from the road right-of-way and side lot lines.
(14) Runoff and waste management. Commercial horse boarding facilities shall control the runoff of equine waste material from encroaching onto adjacent properties or rights-of-way.
(E) Camping for horse boarders. The following regulations shall be applicable to camping on licensed and approved commercial house boarding properties within the city.
(1) Allowed zoning districts. Horse boarder camping shall be allowed in the RS-GR, RS-54 and RS-54M zoning districts where a licensed commercial horse boarding facility exists.
(2) Minimum lot area. Five gross acres.
(3) Permit required. A CUP and business license shall be required prior to any camping activity being established and maintained in the city. If the RV camping use fails to operate in accordance with the approved conditions of the CUP and/or creates a public nuisance within the neighborhood, the Planning and Zoning Commission may schedule a public hearing to discuss revocation of the CUP.
(4) Fees. In addition to the required administrative permitting fees, the property owner shall be required to pay a one-time development impact fee for each campsite in accordance with the city's Development Fee Ordinance and fee schedule.
(5) Maximum number of campsites allowed. A maximum of one campsite per acre shall be allowed, with the total number of campsites not exceeding the total number of boarded horses.
(6) Time period restrictions. A maximum stay of 6 cumulative months per calendar year per RV camper shall be allowed.
(7) Type of camping allowed. Camping shall only be allowed in RVs (excluding park models), and may be operated as either a self-contained unit or with properly permitted connections to utilities. Campers must have a horse boarded at the facility. No on-site dumping of sewage waste shall be allowed unless the boarding facility is connected to the sewer district system or unless other sewage disposal system solutions are permitted by the Pinal County Health Department.
(8) Setbacks and RV spacing. RVs shall maintain a minimum separation of 6 feet from each other, be setback a minimum of 3 feet to a side or rear property line and 25 feet from a road right-of-way.
(9) Minimum camping space size. An RV camping space shall contain no less than 1,000 square feet and shall be at least 25 feet wide.
(10) Parking. A maximum of 2 vehicles per individual RV campsite shall be allowed, consisting of the RV and one passenger vehicle.
(11) Generator use. Use of generators to charge batteries within the RV shall be permitted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., daily.
(12) Nuisance impacts. Standards regarding the impact of noise, light, smoke, fumes, and odors resulting from the RV camping activities shall be subject to local ordinance and public nuisance laws.
(13) Dust control. Areas where RVs are parked shall be treated to control fugitive dust particles (i.e., PM-10 requirements), as determined by the Development Services Engineer.
(Ord. 1402, passed 5-6-2014)