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 mapping: check parcel-specific flood-zone status
- 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 municipality's zoning ordinance, building-code enforcement, and local permits form the primary local layer of land-use regulation for your property.
Overlay Districts
No overlay districts identified.
Private Restrictions
- Private covenants, deed restrictions, condominium rules, or association rules can impose requirements beyond zoning.
- 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
Check Current Permit Fees & Timelines
Permit fees and review times can vary by project type, scope, valuation, and required approvals. Check the current schedule with the local permitting authority before filing.
Check current Tempe permit information →Official Sources
City-specific