Tempe Zoning & Land Use Guide
Notable local initiatives in Tempe
Named ordinances, statutes, and reforms specific to Tempe — each linked to an official source you can verify directly.
Tempe Zoning and Development Code (ZDC)
Tempe's land-use rules are codified in a stand-alone Zoning and Development Code (ZDC) separate from the Municipal Code. The ZDC establishes residential (R1-6, R-3, R-4, R-5), commercial, industrial, and mixed-use districts; sets dimensional, parking, and design standards; and prescribes amendment, variance, and use-permit procedures.
Source · library.municode.comZDC Part 5 — Overlay Zoning Districts (Rio Salado, Mill Avenue)
Tempe's ZDC Part 5 contains overlay districts including the Rio Salado Overlay District (RSOD) covering land along Rio Salado Parkway and Tempe Town Lake; the Southwest Overlay District; the General Industrial Overlay District (GIOD); the Planned Area Development Overlay; the Historic Overlay District; and the Transportation Overlay District. Character Area 3 design guidelines (adopted by Council June 7, 2018) further govern the Downtown/Rio Salado/ASU/NW Neighborhoods area.
Source · library.municode.comTempe ADU Code Amendment (HB 2720 implementation)(2024)
Tempe (population ~180,000) updated its ZDC to comply with Arizona HB 2720 (2024). On lots where single-family use is allowed, one attached and one detached ADU are permitted; on lots ≥1 acre, one additional ADU is allowed if at least one ADU is a restricted-affordable dwelling unit. Maximum ADU floor area is 75% of the primary dwelling's habitable area or 1,000 sq ft on lots <1 acre (up to 2,000 sq ft on lots ≥1 acre). ADUs have been allowed in Tempe since 2019; the 2024 amendments expanded eligibility.
Source · tempe.govArizona HB 2720 (2024) / A.R.S. § 9-461.18 — Casita / ADU Statute(2024)
HB 2720 (signed May 21, 2024) requires Arizona cities >75,000 to permit ADUs by right on single-family lots, caps ADUs at 75% of primary dwelling or 1,000 sq ft, and limits setbacks to 5 ft. Compliance deadline was January 1, 2025; cities that did not comply lose ADU regulatory authority. Tempe falls squarely under this preemption.
Source · azleg.govCharacter Area 3 — Downtown / Rio Salado / ASU / NW Neighborhoods(2018)
Approved by Tempe City Council June 7, 2018, the Character Area 3 Design Guidelines and Placemaking Principles direct redevelopment in the Downtown/Rio Salado/ASU corridor — the city's densest area, including the Arizona State University Tempe Campus, Mill Avenue, and the Tempe Town Lake waterfront. They complement (not replace) the ZDC overlay districts.
Source · tempe.gov
Key Zoning Facts
Regulatory Layers That Apply in Tempe
Your property is subject to ALL of these regulatory layers. Each one can impose additional requirements beyond the others.
Federal
- FEMA Flood Zones: Applicable
- View FEMA Flood Map
State — Arizona
- Building Code: No mandatory statewide code (local adoption)
- State ADU Override: Yes (Arizona HB 2720 (2024) / A.R.S. § 9-461.18 — requires cities with populations over 75,000 to permit ADUs by right on single-family lots, caps ADUs at 75% of the primary dwelling or 1,000 sq ft, limits setbacks to 5 ft, and prohibits owner-occupancy and additional parking requirements. Effective January 1, 2025.)
County — Maricopa County
- Role: Property records, tax assessment, unincorporated area planning
City / Municipal
The city's zoning ordinance, building codes, and local permits form the primary layer of land-use regulation for your property.
Overlay Districts
No overlay districts identified.
Private Restrictions
- HOA / CC&Rs common: Yes
- Check HOA CC&Rs for additional restrictions.
Primary Zoning Districts
- Min Lot
- 6,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 30 ft
- Front Setback
- 20 ft
- Side Setback
- 5 ft
- Rear Setback
- 20 ft
- Min Lot
- 10,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 40 ft
- Front Setback
- 20 ft
- Side Setback
- 10 ft
- Rear Setback
- 20 ft
- Min Lot
- None
- Max Height
- 50 ft
- Front Setback
- 0 ft
- Side Setback
- 0 ft
- Rear Setback
- 0 ft
ADU Rules in Tempe
- Max Size
- 75% of the primary dwelling's habitable area or 1,000 sq ft (whichever is less) on lots <1 acre; up to 2,000 sq ft on lots ≥1 acre
- Rear Setback
- 5 ft (per HB 2720 cap)
- Side Setback
- 5 ft (per HB 2720 cap)
- Parking
- No additional parking required (per Arizona HB 2720)
- Owner Occupancy
- Not required (per Arizona HB 2720)
Permit Costs & Timelines
Permit Costs & Timelines
Specific permit fee schedules for Tempe are available from the local planning department. Fees vary based on project type, scope, and valuation.
Check Tempe permit fees →Official Sources
City-specific