Phoenix, AZ Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 1 net acre
- Front setback
- 40 feet
- Side/rear setback
- 30 feet
- Max lot coverage (≤2 acres)
- 20 percent
- Governing code
- Zoning Ordinance § 603
Summary
Phoenix's S-1 Suburban district zones one-acre-minimum lots specifically to protect farm and agricultural uses from encroachment.
The S-1, Ranch or Farm Residence District, is a district designed to provide for very low density farm or residential uses to protect and preserve low density areas in their present or desired character. It is intended that the S-1 district will afford areas where semi-rural residential and agricultural uses can be maintained without impairment from industrial, commercial or higher density residential development.
A. Permitted uses.
1. Dwelling Units. Each lot may have the following:
a. One primary dwelling unit;
b. Two accessory dwelling units; and
c. For each additional ten acres provided above the minimum lot size, one additional accessory dwelling unit for use by on-site laborers may be provided.
d. In addition to the above, one additional accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be permitted only when at least one ADU qualifies as affordable housing.
2. Adult day care home; provided, that:
a. Care is provided for no more than four adult persons, not including staff.
b. Care is provided for five to ten adult persons, not including staff, and subject to a use permit.
c. Outdoor recreation areas shall be screened from adjacent properties by a six-foot-high landscape hedge, solid fence, or solid wall.
3. Community residence home; provided, that:
a. The home has no more than five residents, not including staff (unless permitted by Section 36-582(A), Arizona Revised Statutes); or
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Phoenix maintains a dedicated S-1 "Ranch or Farm Residence" zoning district under Zoning Ordinance § 603, requiring a minimum one-acre net lot area and permitting field, tree, and bush crop raising, farm/ranch product sales stands, and agricultural schools by right. The district exists specifically to preserve semi-rural and agricultural uses from industrial, commercial, or higher-density residential encroachment, with a 40-foot front and 30-foot side/rear setback and 20 percent maximum lot coverage.
Violations & Fines
Development exceeding S-1's 20 percent lot coverage cap, building under one acre net area, or nonresidential accessory buildings closer than 50 feet to side/rear lines requires zoning variance or use-permit approval from the Planning and Development Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep farm crops or a ranch on residential land in Phoenix?
Does Phoenix protect existing farms from being crowded out by development?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona right to farm overview
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle agricultural zoning protection.