Glendale, AZ Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- District
- Agricultural (A-1)
- Min net lot area
- 40 acres
- Setbacks
- 75 ft front / 50 ft side / 50 ft rear
- Max lot coverage
- 10 percent
- Max height
- 30 feet, two stories
Summary
Glendale's Agricultural (A-1) zoning district covers semi-rural or vacant land not needing full urban services, and Section 35.2.101 keeps it available for agriculture, single-family homes, public uses, and multi-purpose arenas until the General Plan calls for transition to suburban or urban development.
Agricultural (A-1). The purpose of this district is to accommodate semi-rural or vacant lands, which may be suitable for interim agricultural uses and which may not require the full range of urban services. The district provides for agricultural uses, single-residences, public uses and multi-purpose arenas until transition to suburban or urban land uses in accordance with the General Plan. [...] Table 2.100-2: Agricultural District Development Standards. Zoning District, Lot Dimensions minimum (Net Lot Area (acres), Lot Width (feet)), Setbacks (Front, Side, Rear), Lot Coverage maximum (%), Building Height maximum (feet): A-1 40 N/A 75 50 50 10 30
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 115).
Full Breakdown
B. Single-family detached homes, modular homes, and residential care homes are permitted by right alongside agricultural use, and short-term or vacation rentals are also allowed by right. 902 is required for a cemetery, golf course, major utility yard, or resort hotel in A-1. 100-2 sets A-1's dimensional standards: a minimum net lot area of 40 acres, a 75-foot front setback, 50-foot side setback, 50-foot rear setback, a maximum lot coverage of 10 percent, and a maximum building height of 30 feet limited to two stories.
Older A-1 parcels that don't meet the current minimum lot area get grandfathered setbacks: those platted between December 16, 1960 and September 13, 1983 use a 20-foot front yard, 7-foot and 5/10-foot side yards, a 15-foot rear yard, and up to 40 percent lot coverage, while those platted between September 13, 1983 and July 23, 1993 use a 25-foot front yard, 15-foot side yards, a 25-foot rear yard, and up to 20 percent lot coverage.
Violations & Fines
Building or operating a use in the A-1 district without the required Conditional Use Permit (for an intensive agricultural operation) or Special Use approval (for a cemetery, golf course, or major utility yard) is a Unified Development Code violation. Because Title 35 sets no specific fine, Section 1-7's general penalty applies: an uncured violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor with each day of continued violation a separate offense, and the City may also pursue it as a civil code infraction in City Court or abate it as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I build in Glendale's A-1 Agricultural district?
How big does a lot have to be to build in the A-1 district?
How far back must an A-1 building sit from the property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle agricultural zoning protection.