Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Pima County Overview
Pima County, AZ Code of Ordinances
PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA CODE
Publisher's Introduction
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
Title 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
Title 4 INDIGENT HEALTH CARE
Title 5 BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
Title 6 ANIMALS
Title 7 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Title 8 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Title 9 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
Title 10 TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAYS
Title 11 PIMA COUNTY PROCUREMENT CODE
Title 12 (RESERVED)
Title 13 PUBLIC SERVICES
Title 14 RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVE DISTRICT (REID)
Title 15 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Title 16 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
Title 17 AIR QUALITY CONTROL
Title 18 ZONING
Chapter 18.01 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 18.03 GENERAL DEFINITIONS
Chapter 18.05 ZONES, MAPS AND BOUNDARIES
Chapter 18.07 GENERAL REGULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS
Chapter 18.09 GENERAL RESIDENTIAL AND RURAL ZONING PROVISIONS
Chapter 18.11 TH TRAILER HOMESITE ZONE
Chapter 18.12 IR INSTITUTIONAL RESERVE ZONE
Chapter 18.13 RH RURAL HOMESTEAD ZONE [1]
Chapter 18.14 GR-1 RURAL RESIDENTIAL ZONE
Chapter 18.15 ML MOUNT LEMMON ZONE
Chapter 18.17 SR SUBURBAN RANCH ZONE*
Chapter 18.18 SR-2 SUBURBAN RANCH ESTATE ZONE
Chapter 18.19 SH SUBURBAN HOMESTEAD ZONE
Chapter 18.21 CR-1 SINGLE RESIDENCE ZONE
Chapter 18.23 CR-2 SINGLE RESIDENCE ZONE
Chapter 18.25 CR-3 SINGLE RESIDENCE ZONE
Chapter 18.27 CR-4 MIXED-DWELLING TYPE ZONE
Chapter 18.29 CR-5 MULTIPLE RESIDENCE ZONE
Chapter 18.31 TR TRANSITIONAL ZONE
Chapter 18.33 CMH-1 COUNTY MANUFACTURED AND MOBILE HOME - 1 ZONE
Chapter 18.35 CMH-2 COUNTY MANUFACTURED AND MOBILE HOME - 2 ZONE
Chapter 18.37 MU MULTIPLE USE ZONE
Chapter 18.39 GENERAL COMMERCIAL STANDARDS
Chapter 18.40 MR MAJOR RESORT ZONE
Chapter 18.41 RVC RURAL VILLAGE CENTER ZONE
Chapter 18.43 CB-1 LOCAL BUSINESS ZONE
Chapter 18.45 CB-2 GENERAL BUSINESS ZONE
Chapter 18.47 INDUSTRIAL ZONING CLASSIFICATIONS
Chapter 18.49 CPI CAMPUS PARK INDUSTRIAL ZONE
Chapter 18.51 CI-1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL/WAREHOUSING ZONE
Chapter 18.53 CI-2 GENERAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE
Chapter 18.55 CI-3 HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE*
Chapter 18.57 AIRPORT ENVIRONS AND FACILITIES*
Chapter 18.58 HELIPORTS AND HELISTOPS
Chapter 18.59 GC GOLF COURSE ZONE
Chapter 18.61 HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY ZONE*
Chapter 18.63 HISTORIC ZONE
Chapter 18.65 (RESERVED)
Chapter 18.67 BUFFER OVERLAY ZONE
Chapter 18.68 INFILL OVERLAY ZONE
Chapter 18.69 SUBDIVISION STANDARDS
Chapter 18.70 MINOR LANDS DIVISION
Chapter 18.71 DEVELOPMENT PLAN STANDARDS*
Chapter 18.72 NATIVE PLANT PRESERVATION
Chapter 18.73 LANDSCAPING, BUFFERING AND SCREENING STANDARDS*
Chapter 18.75 OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS
Chapter 18.77 ROADWAY FRONTAGE STANDARDS
Chapter 18.78 GATEWAY OVERLAY ZONE
Chapter 18.79 SIGN STANDARDS*
Chapter 18.81 GRADING STANDARDS
Chapter 18.83 ADDRESS STANDARDS
Chapter 18.85 (RESERVED)
Chapter 18.87 (RESERVED)
Chapter 18.89 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN [2]
Chapter 18.90 SPECIFIC PLANS
Chapter 18.91 REZONING PROCEDURES
Chapter 18.92 TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
Chapter 18.93 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT VARIANCES, TEMPORARY USE PERMITS AND INTERPRETATIONS*
Chapter 18.95 COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT*
Chapter 18.97 CONDITIONAL USE PROCEDURES
Chapter 18.99 REVIEW COMMITTEES
Chapter 18.101 ADMINISTRATORS
Title 19 ROADWAY DEVELOPMENT FEE
Title 20 THE SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PARTICIPATION PROGRAM
Title 21 PUBLIC LANDS AND FACILITIES
STATUTORY REFERENCES FOR ARIZONA COUNTIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
Loading...
18.51.010   Purpose.
   Reserved.
18.51.020   Performance standards.
   Reserved.
18.51.030   Permitted uses.
   A.   Any use as permitted in Section 18.43.030(B) (CB-1 Local Business Zone) and in 18.45.030(B) and (C) (CB-2 General Business Zone), (except non-chartered financial institutions).
   B.   Any of the following if conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building:
      1.   Manufacture, compounding, processing, packaging or treatment of: Bakery goods, candy, cosmetics, dairy products, drugs and pharmaceutical products, perfumes, soap (cold process only), and food products, except fish or meat products, sauerkraut, vinegar, yeast and the rendering or refining of fats and oils;
      2.   Manufacture, compounding, assembling or treatment of articles of merchandise from the following previously prepared materials: Bone, broom corn, cellophane, canvas, cloth, cork, feathers, felt, fibre, fur, glass, hair or bristles, horn, leather, paper, plastics or plastic products, precious or semi-precious metals or stones, shell, textiles, tobacco, wax, (paraffin, tallow, etc.), wood (excluding sawmill or planing mill), yarns, paint (not employing a boiling process);
      3.   Manufacture and maintenance of: Electric and neon signs, billboards, commercial advertising structures and displays, light sheet metal products, including heating or cooling, and ventilating ducts and equipment, cornices, eaves and the like;
      4.   Manufacture of: Glass, pottery or other similar ceramic products (using only previously prepared sand or pulverized clay, and kilns fired only by electricity or gas), concrete or cement products, musical instruments, toys, novelties, rubber or metal stamps;
      5.   Automobile, trailer, or manufactured or mobile home assembling, painting, upholstering, rebuilding, reconditioning, sale of used parts, truck repair or overhauling, tire rebuilding or recapping, battery manufacture and the like;
      6.   Blacksmith and welding shop or machine shop (excluding punch presses over twenty tons rated capacity, and drop hammers), foundry casting lightweight nonferrous metals not causing noxious fumes or odors;
      7.   Laundry, cleaning or dyeing works;
      8.   Carpet and rug cleaning;
      9.   Distribution plant;
      10.   Ice and cold storage plant;
      11.   Beverage bottling plant;
      12.   Wholesale business;
      13.   Storage building or warehouse;
      14.   Assembly of electrical appliances: Radios and phonographs, including the manufacture of small parts only, such as coils, condensers, transformers, crystal holders and the like;
      15.   Laboratory: Experimental, photo or motion picture film or testing;
      16.   Veterinary or cat or dog hospital or kennels;
      17.   Poultry or rabbit killing incidental to a retail business on the same premises.
      18.   Marijuana Dispensary Offsite Cultivation Location - Subject to Type III Conditional Use;
         a.   There is no size limit for the maximum floor area of a marijuana dispensary offsite cultivation location.
         b.   A marijuana dispensary offsite cultivation location shall be located in a permanent, enclosed, locked facility in accordance with state statutes and Arizona Department of Health Services rules and shall not be located in a trailer, cargo container, mobile or modular unit, mobile home, recreational vehicle, or other motor vehicle.
         c.   A marijuana dispensary offsite cultivation location shall be setback a minimum of 500 feet from a K-12 public, private, or charter school, measured in a straight and direct horizontal line from the closest exterior or applicable interior suite wall of the marijuana offsite cultivation location to the closest property line of a school.
         d.   A marijuana dispensary offsite cultivation location shall comply with all lawful, applicable health regulations, including those promulgated by the Arizona Department of Health Services and any other authorized regulatory agency.
         e.   A marijuana dispensary offsite cultivation location shall provide only wholesale products to other marijuana dispensaries, marijuana dispensary offsite manufacturing locations, or marijuana dispensary offsite cultivation locations.
         f.   Odor Mitigation
            (1)   Odor mitigation devices and techniques shall be incorporated in all marijuana facilities to ensure that odors are mitigated. Odor mitigation may be accomplished through an exhaust air filtration system with odor control that prevents internal odors from being emitted externally or through any other best practices adequate for odor mitigation as determined acceptable by the Chief Zoning Inspector, in the Chief Zoning Inspector's sole discretion.
            (2)   An odor mitigation plan shall be submitted with the initial permit application. When a modification is made to a marijuana facility, or the facility operation, that has the potential to impact the nature or degree of odor, or affects the control of odor, the marijuana facility owner must update its odor mitigation plan within 30 days of facility modification.
            (3)   An odor mitigation plan shall include all of the following information:
               (a)   Facility floor plan (showing areas of potential odor emissions);
               (b)   List of odor emitting activities to take place on site;
               (c)   Phases (timing, length, etc.) of odor-emitting activities;
               (d)   Odor mitigation practices based on industry-specific best control technologies and best management practices; and
               (e)   Administrative controls, engineering controls (system design plan, operational processes, maintenance plan).
            (4)   The marijuana facility shall not begin operations until the odor mitigation plan, or any required update to the odor mitigation plan, is approved by Chief Zoning Inspector.
      19.   Marijuana Product Manufacturing Location - Subject to Type III Conditional Use;
         a.   There is no size limit for the maximum floor area of a marijuana product manufacturing location.
         b.   A marijuana product manufacturing location shall be located in a permanent, enclosed, locked facility in accordance with state statutes and Arizona Department of Health Services rules and shall not be located in a trailer, cargo container, mobile or modular unit, mobile home, recreational vehicle, or other motor vehicle.
         c.   A marijuana product manufacturing location shall be setback a minimum of 500 feet from a K-12 public, private, or charter school, measured in a straight and direct horizontal line from the closest exterior or applicable interior suite wall of the marijuana offsite cultivation location to the closest property line of a school.
         d.   A marijuana product manufacturing location shall comply with all lawful, applicable health regulations, including those promulgated by the Arizona Department of Health Services and any other authorized regulatory agency.
         e.   A marijuana product manufacturing location shall provide only wholesale products to other marijuana dispensaries, marijuana product manufacturing locations, or marijuana dispensary offsite cultivation locations.
         f.   Odor Mitigation
            (1)   Odor mitigation devices and techniques shall be incorporated in all marijuana facilities to ensure that odors are mitigated. Odor mitigation may be accomplished through an exhaust air filtration system with odor control that prevents internal odors from being emitted externally or through any other best practices adequate for odor mitigation as determined acceptable by the Chief Zoning Inspector, in the Chief Zoning Inspector's sole discretion.
            (2)   An odor mitigation plan shall be submitted with the initial permit application. When a modification is made to a marijuana facility, or the facility operation, that has the potential to impact the nature or degree of odor, or affects the control of odor, the marijuana facility owner must update its odor mitigation plan within 30 days of facility modification.
            (3)   An odor mitigation plan shall include all of the following information:
               (a)   Facility floor plan (showing areas of potential odor emissions);
               (b)   List of odor emitting activities to take place on site;
               (c)   Phases (timing, length, etc.) of odor-emitting activities;
               (d)   Odor mitigation practices based on industry-specific best control technologies; and best management practices; and
               (e)   Administrative controls, engineering controls (system design plan, operational processes, maintenance plan).
   C.   Any of the following if conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building or within an area enclosed on all sides with a solid wall, compact evergreen hedge or uniformly painted board fence, not less than six feet in height:
      1.   Building material sales yard: Including the sale of rock, sand, gravel and the like as an incidental part of the main business;
      2.   Contractor's equipment sales yard or plant;
      3.   Rental of equipment commonly used by contractors;
      4.   Retail lumber yard: Including only incidental mill work;
      5.   Feed yard;
      6.   Draying, freighting or truck yard or terminal;
      7.   Motion picture studio;
      8.   Automobile or automotive body and fender shop;
      9.   Public utility service yard.
      10.   Animal Rescue and Sanctuary Facility for cats, dogs and small household pets, provided that owners and operators of such facilities meet the eligibility requirements of Sections 18.09.020(N)(3) and 18.09.020(N)(5).
   D.   Accessory building or use: When located on the same building site.
   E.   One dwelling unit, trailer, or manufactured or mobile home: For a watchman or caretaker and family.
   F.   Airport facilities: In accordance with Chapter 18.57.
   G.   Gasoline or flammables bulk station; provided, that said product, including butane, gasoline, petroleum, or propane shall:
      1.   Not be stored in tanks of more than ten thousand gallons capacity each,
      2.   Be located not less than twenty-five feet from any building or lot line or from similar tanks, and
      3.   Be located no closer than one hundred feet from any residential zone.
   H.   Hotel, motel, lodge or inn (collectively referred to as hotel) and customary accessory facilities, including, but not limited to, cocktail lounge, restaurant, gift shop, barber shop, beauty shop and newsstands (collective referred to as accessory uses), provided such accessory uses are a part of the hotel, and further providing that the following criteria are met:
      1.   Location: The hotel and accessory uses are in buildings located within two thousand six hundred forty feet of the right-of-way line of the existing interstate highway full interchanges at Interstate 10 and Palo Verde Boulevard and Interstate 10 and Cortaro Farms Road;
      2.   Minimum lot area: Two hundred seventeen thousand eight hundred square feet;
      3.   Maximum height: Sixty-four feet;
      4.   Height limit exceptions:
         a.   The height limit shall not apply to parapets, elevator or stairway penthouses, or any similar structures used solely for equipment and machinery of the mechanical, electrical or other utility systems of the building, and which do not occupy in total more than twenty-five percent of the roof area,
         b.   Signs shall be permitted on the side of the penthouses erected for the foregoing purposes, but not on the top of the penthouses;
      5.   Building setbacks:
         a.   Front: Fifty feet,
         b.   Side and rear: Ten feet for each story, but not less than thirty feet;
      6.   Enclosures:
         a.   All permanent uses shall be conducted entirely within enclosed buildings, including courtyards or atriums,
         b.   Outdoor storage of material is permitted if the storage area is completely enclosed by walls, fences, buildings, landscape screening or a combination thereof,
         c.   Walls and fences shall be not less than six feet in height, and
         d.   No material shall be stored to a height greater than the adjacent screening wall, fence, building or landscaping;
      7.   Exterior illumination: Illumination of buildings and open areas shall:
         a.   Be arranged to eliminate glare towards streets and adjoining properties, and
         b.   Meet all conditions of the county Light Pollution Code, as may be amended;
      8.   Prohibition: This use shall be prohibited on land that lies under any of the approach zones to an airport (refer to Chapter 18.57, AE Airport Environs and Facilities);
      9.   Fire protection: All structures shall include installation of sprinkler systems in accordance with the city of Tucson fire code.
   I.   Trail-Oriented Development: In accordance with Section 18.07.030(V) (Land use regulations).
(Ord. 2022-16 § 5, 2022; Ord. 2020-24, § 6, 2020; Ord. 2007-81 § 11, 2007; Ord. 2005-105 § 8, 2005; Ord. 1986-188 § 1 (part), 1986; Ord. 1985-152 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 1985-82 (part), 1985)
18.51.040   Conditional uses.
   A.   Uses Conditionally Permitted.
      1.   Public assembly facility:
         a.   Type I procedure: However, following review of the conditional use application but prior to a public hearing, the request shall be placed on the first available planning and zoning commission agenda. Upon review of the application, the commission may direct that a Type III procedure be undertaken,
         b.   Minimum site area: Twenty-five acres,
         c.   Maximum height: One hundred fifty feet,
         d.   Minimum distance of structures from any property line: Three hundred feet,
         e.   Access from a paved public road with collector classification or higher,
         f.   Minimum notification area for public hearing under Section 18.07.030D2: Six hundred feet,
         g.   Prior to public hearing by the hearing administrator, review and recommendation by the design review committee (refer to Section 18.99.030, Design Review Committee).
      2.   Reserved.
(Ord. 1986-67 § 1 (part), 1986)
18.51.050   Development standards—General.
   A.   Minimum lot area: None.
   B.   Minimum lot width: None.
   C.   Minimum yard requirements:
      1.   Front: Fifteen feet;
      2.   Side: None;
      3.   Rear: Ten feet.
   D.   Maximum building height:
      1.   Thirty-nine feet, or,
      2.   Ninety feet for all buildings located outside of the following Approach-Departure Corridors defined in Chapter 18.57:
         a.   ADC-1,
         b.   ADC-2 and greater than 2,500 feet from the ADC-2 boundary,
         c.   ADC-3.
   E.   Buffering and screening shall be in conformance with Chapter 18.73, Landscaping, Buffering and Screening Standards.
   F.   Any large scale retail establishment, regional, neighborhood or small shopping center shall be in accordance with Chapter 18.39.
(Ord. 2019-10 (part), 2019; Ord. 2001-165 § 1 (part), 2001; Ord. 1986-67 § 1 (part), 1986; Ord. 1985-171 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 1985-82 (part), 1985)
18.51.060   Development standards—Detached accessory buildings.
   A.   Permitted coverage: Forty percent of the required rear yard and any additional space within the buildable area.
   B.   Maximum building height:
      1.   Within the required rear yard: Twenty-four feet;
      2.   Within the buildable area: Thirty-nine feet.
   C.   Minimum distance requirements:
      1.   To main buildings: Seven feet;
      2.   To front lot line: Fifteen feet;
      3.   To side lot lines: None;
      4.   To rear lot line: Four feet.
(Ord. 1986-67 § 1 (part), 1986; Ord. 1985-82 (part), 1985)
18.51.070   Mixed Use Option
   A.   Purpose:
      1.   To promote and facilitate innovative and comprehensively planned mixed-use developments which are compatible with surrounding uses.
      2.   To allow residential uses in the CI-1 zone where appropriately mixed with non-residential uses.
   B.   Definition: Mixed use refers to the combining of retail/commercial and/or service uses with residential or office use in the same building or on the same site in one (1) or more of the following ways:
      1.   Vertical Mixed Use. A single structure with the above floors generally used for residential or office use and with all or a portion of the ground floor for retail/commercial or service uses.
      2.   Horizontal Mixed Use — Attached. A single structure which provides retail/commercial or service use in the portion fronting the public or private street with attached residential or office uses behind.
      3.   Horizontal Mixed Use — Detached. Two (2) or more structures on one (1) site which provide retail/commercial or service uses in the structure(s) fronting the public or private street, and residential or office uses in separate structure(s) behind or to the side.
   C.   Applicability: This chapter applies to the following:
      1.   New development or substantial expansion of an existing development on any land within a CI-1 (Light Industrial/Warehousing) zone.
      2.   A rezoning request on any land requesting to zone to CI-1.
   D.   Development Standards:
      1.   Landscaping:
         a.   Mixed use developments shall be exempt from Section 18.73.040 Screening and Bufferyard Requirements, and Sections 18.78.030(B)(2)(d), 18.78.030(C)(2)(a)&(d), and 18.78.030(F)(2)(c) Gateway Development Standards.
         b.   Native plant preservation plans shall be submitted in accordance with Chapter 18.72.
      2.   Site Design:
         a.   Permitted coverage: a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the total development site and a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of the total development site shall be residential use. Residential development constructed over or under other uses shall count toward permitted coverage.
         b.   Maximum building height: thirty-nine (39) feet.
         c.   All non-residential uses within two thousand five hundred (2,500) feet of a residential structure shall adhere to the performance standards set forth in section 18.43.020(B).
         d.   For residential structures, or mixed use structures containing residential uses: A minimum distance of fourteen (14) feet shall separate exterior walls of separate buildings containing dwelling units on the same lot. The windows or window/doors of any one (1) dwelling unit may not face the windows or window/doors of any other dwelling unit unless separated by a distance of fourteen (14) or more feet except where the angle between the wall of the separate dwelling units is ninety (90) degrees or more. Walls parallel to each other shall be considered to be at a zero (0) degree angle.
      3.   Design Guidelines: In addition to the provisions of this section, all developments using the mixed-use option shall conform to the Mixed Use Option Design Guidelines.
   E.   Site Planning Review:
      1.   The design review committee shall review at a regularly scheduled meeting all proposed development subject to this section and shall approve, approve with conditions, deny, or continue for revision, proposed site planning, architectural theme, pedestrian circulation, landscaping, signage, and context to ensure compliance with the purpose, standards, and guidelines of this section.
         a.   The committee shall not approve any development subject to review without finding that the development complies with the Mixed Use Option Guidelines.
         b.   Development proposals subject to committee review shall be submitted to Pima County for review and recommendation by planning staff, subject to the schedule and submittal requirements established by development services to insure a timely, efficient, and complete review by the Committee.
         c.   Development proposals conditionally approved by the committee shall be submitted to planning staff for determination of final compliance with the committee's decision within thirty (30) days of the date of the hearing.
      2.   The decision of the design review committee may be appealed to the board of adjustment. Appeals shall be submitted within sixty (60) days of the date of the decision, appeals after that date shall not be considered.
      3.   Any change in design or layout of more than twenty five percent of the development area must be approved by the design review committee, subject to all review requirements of this section. Minor modifications may be approved by the Planning Official.
      4.   Design review committee approval shall expire two (2) years from the date of approval hearing. Approval may be extended for up to an additional two (2) years at the discretion of the planning official if the circumstances and basis for the design review committee's decision have not significantly changed since the date of approval.
      5.   At the time of plan submittal, the developer shall define the required on-site and off-site infrastructure to serve the development, and shall provide an infrastructure phasing schedule when applicable.
      6.   At the time of plan submittal, the developer shall submit a traffic impact analysis and a master drainage study, which fully addresses floodplain and riparian habitat. If necessary, a riparian mitigation plan shall be submitted and subject to the approval of the Pima County Flood Control District.
   F.   Permitted Uses:
   Any use as permitted in 18.45.030 A, B, and C (CB-2 General Business Zone). Residential use shall be subject to Section 18.31.030 (TR Development Standards — Residential).
   G.   Conditional Uses: Any of the uses of section 18.51.030 B-H and in 18.51.040; provided that:
      1.   The applicant for such a use permit submits to the zoning inspector plans for said proposed use showing certificates by the department of transportation and flood control district, transportation engineer, and health department director, certifying that said use complies with all laws and regulations under their jurisdictions; and
      2.   When the zoning inspector finds that said use will create no foreseeable flood, traffic or health hazards or nuisances as defined by the standards adopted by the board of supervisors and on file in the office of said inspector, said inspector shall then give notice by mail to all property owners of record within three hundred feet of the proposed site of said use of the intention to grant a permit, and giving any interested person thirty days in which to appeal to the board of adjustment from said inspector's interpretation of the application of said standards in connection with said proposed use; and
      3.   If no appeal is taken within thirty (30) days from the date said notices are mailed, the permit shall be issued and become final upon the expiration of said thirty (30) day period.
(Ord. 2006-45 § 1, 2006)