Sedona's Environmental Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles environmental rules a little differently. In Sedona, Arizona, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Erosion Control

Sedona requires a permit before any grading, excavation, filling, or earthwork on private property, and its Grading and Drainage standards exist specifically to keep silt out of Oak Creek. The Land Development Code caps cut-and-fill slopes near property lines, bars flattening an entire lot, and lets the City Engineer require storm water capture so runoff leaving a site is not increased or degraded.

Key details: Governing section: SLDC § 5.3, Grading and Drainage. Permit required: Before any grading, excavation, or fill work. Slope limit: No more than 1:3 within 5 ft of lot line. Purpose stated in code: Reduce siltation into Oak Creek. Reviewing authority: City Engineer.

Grading or earthwork without the required permit, or in violation of Section 5.3's standards, is enforceable under the Code's general penalty provision, SLDC Section 1.7.A: a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable as provided by law, or, at the discretion of a peace officer or the Code Enforcement Officer, a civil citation heard in Sedona Magistrate Court. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the City may seek an injunction or abatement order in addition to any citation.

Vehicle Idling Restrictions

Sedona lets the city council designate areas where a parked passenger bus cannot run or idle its engine, and once the city engineer posts signs under SCC 10.20.070, idling there becomes a civil traffic offense. The rule is narrow: it reaches only passenger buses in council-designated, posted zones, not cars or trucks generally.

Key details: Regulated vehicle type: Passenger buses only. Trigger for restriction: Council resolution plus posted signs. Violation type: Civil traffic offense. Signage authority: City engineer. Governing section: SCC 10.20.070.

Parking a passenger bus with its engine running or idling inside a posted no-idling area established by council resolution violates SCC 10.20.070(B), a civil traffic offense. Enforcement and fines follow the general parking-violation schedule and hearing process at SCC 10.20.080, with a magistrate court fine of no less than $20.00 excluding state surcharges if the citation is contested and upheld.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Sedona gives residents more flexibility on vehicle idling restrictions.

Flood Elevation Requirements

Sedona requires nonconforming structures that increase flood damage potential to be floodproofed or elevated to at least one foot above the base flood elevation, called the regulatory flood elevation, under Sedona Land Development Code Section 1.6.D(4).

Key details: Freeboard margin: One foot above base flood elevation. Residential structures: Must elevate; floodproofing not allowed. Non-residential structures: May floodproof or elevate. Governing section: SLDC Section 1.6.D(4). Definition section: SLDC Section 9.9.

A nonconforming structure that is enlarged, altered, or repaired without meeting the freeboard requirement in Section 1.6.D(4) is out of compliance with the Land Development Code, and the work can be halted. The City Engineer and Community Development Director review flood-related site work, and unpermitted grading, filling, or construction in a drainage way or floodplain is separately barred without authorization under the Engineering Manual (Section 5.2). Noncompliant elevation or floodproofing work found during permitting review must be corrected before the City will sign off on the modification, and residential structures cannot substitute floodproofing for the elevation requirement under any circumstance.

Stormwater Management

Sedona bans altering natural drainage or dumping anything but clean stormwater into its storm drain system without the city engineer's written approval. Violations can bring corrective-action orders, cost recovery, liens and injunctions.

Key details: Governing chapter: SCC 13.50, Storm Water Discharge. Drainage alteration: Requires city engineer's written approval. Appeal window: 10 calendar days from notice. Unpaid cleanup cost: Becomes recorded property lien.

Altering natural drainage or changing runoff flow without the city engineer's written approval violates SCC 13.50.070; discharging anything other than clean stormwater into the public storm drain system violates SCC 13.50.080. The city engineer may issue a notice of violation under SCC 13.50.160 requiring corrective action or immediate abatement, recover all cleanup and administrative costs (which become a recorded lien on the property if unpaid within 15 days), and petition Yavapai County superior court for an injunction against continued violations.

This is one of the stricter rules in Sedona's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Flood Zones

In Sedona's Oak Creek (OC) zoning district, the Land Development Code permanently protects the Oak Creek floodway and its riparian habitat in its natural state. Permanent structures are barred from the floodway outright, and only minor improvements such as trails or recreation amenities are allowed. At least 25 percent of any OC-district site must remain natural open space.

Key details: Applies to: OC (Oak Creek) zoning district only. Floodway rule: permanently protected, no permanent structures. Allowed in floodway: trails, recreation amenities only. Min open space: 25% of site. Plan implemented: Schnebly CFA Plan.

A project in the OC district that places a permanent structure in the mapped Oak Creek floodway, or that fails to set aside the required 25 percent open space, doesn't meet Section 5.7.D(3) and cannot clear site plan review; the applicant has to redesign the layout to pull structures out of the floodway and restore the open-space percentage before the City will approve the project.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Sedona actively enforces its flood zones requirements.

The Bottom Line

Sedona is tougher than many cities when it comes to environmental rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Sedona, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Sedona's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.