Mesa, AZ Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Section 11-31-10 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance regulates Community Gardens as a distinct land use, permitted in Agricultural, RS-35/RS-43/RS-90, and other residential and mixed-use districts subject to size caps that range from unlimited plot size in Agricultural districts to a 400-square-foot individual plot maximum and half-acre aggregate cap in all other districts. Within that framework, Subsection F, Maintenance, requires the garden site to be kept clear of weeds, debris, and waste in conformance with Mesa City Code § 8-6-3, and it specifically addresses composting: all composting must be done in a screened area or within a container, and tools and equipment must be stored or screened from view when not in use.

The community garden rules also restrict where composting-related structures can sit, storage buildings (which could house compost bins or tools) are capped at 200 square feet, a maximum height of 10 feet, and must be located within the buildable area in the rear half of the lot, with one shed allowed per site up to one acre and two sheds for larger sites. Overhead lighting is prohibited on community garden sites, and any fencing around a composting or garden area, including chain-link, must comply with the location, height, and design standards of § 11-30-4, Fences and Freestanding Walls, community gardens carry an express exception permitting chain-link fencing that other residential uses don't get.