Land Use, Subdivision and Planning Applications

Applications for Land Use Planning, Zoning and Subdivision of land. For additional information, call 602-506-3301 or submit an online inquiry.

Electronic Document Review (EDR) Overview

Electronic Document Review (EDR) is a new on-line planning application submittal process provided for certain Planning Services applications. EDR allows applicants to file planning application on-line and receive review comments electronically. EDR also allows you to submit and check the status of your application on-line 24/7.

Pre-Application Meeting

The Planning and Development Department has designed this Pre-Application service for clients who would like to meet with staff prior to a planning submittal to guide their efforts and resources. Pre-Application materials can be dropped off at the Planning and Development drop-off bin located outside the front door or submitted electronically.

To submit electronically generate Adobe PDF’s of the application form, narrative and site plan and send via e-mail to Rachel.Applegate@maricopa.gov. Staff will generate a tracking number with e-mail notification to the applicant with the balance owed with instructions to contact the Planning and Development Cashier to process payment. Once payment has been made the Pre-Application materials will be routed and a Pre-Application meeting will be scheduled. All Pre-Application meetings are currently being held via Microsoft Teams.

  1. Administrative Applications
  2. Board of Adjustment Applications
  3. Planning & Zoning Commission Applications

Administrative Actions and Appeal

Requests for uses by right subject to conditions, requests for a reasonable accommodation under Article 1207.3.7 and other requests not subject to a legislative process as required by the provisions of the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance (PDF)  or state law may be processed administratively as set forth in the provision of the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance. 

Agricultural Exemption

Agricultural uses may be exempt from the County’s zoning authority. A Request for Real Property Agricultural Verification Form will need to be completed through the Assessor’s Office before submitting an Agricultural Exemption application to P&D. Please review the Agricultural Exemption packet for more information on the application process.

Chapter 13, Section 1304, of the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance (PDF) states "This Ordinance shall not prevent, restrict or otherwise regulate the use or occupation of land or improvements for railroad, mining, metallurgical, grazing or general agricultural purposes, if the tract concerned is five or more contiguous commercial acres. Property is not exempt from the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Safety Ordinance unless and until the Maricopa Planning and Development Department has issued a Certificate of Exemption for that property."

Community Residence 

Except as required by state law, a Community Residence is a residential living arrangement for six to ten unrelated individuals with disabilities or who are elderly or who are minors, and live-in staff living as a single housekeeping unit in a single dwelling unit where residents are in need of the mutual support furnished by other residents as well as the support services, if any, provided by the staff. Residents may be self-governing or supervised by a sponsoring entity or its staff, which provides habilitative or rehabilitative services related to the residents’ disabilities. A community residence seeks to emulate a family to foster normalization of its residents and to integrate them into the surrounding community. Its primary purpose is to provide shelter in a family–like environment. Supportive inter-relationships between residents are an essential component. Medical treatment shall not comprise treatment beyond that which would be provided in the confines of a traditional family residential setting. 

Community residences include, but are not limited to, those residences that conform to this definition that are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services, including but not limited to adult care homes, elder care homes, child care homes, and sober living homes, certified by the Arizona Recovery Housing Association, or awarded an Oxford House Charter. The term “community residence” does not include any other group living arrangement for unrelated individuals who are not disabled, or any shelter, rooming house, boarding house, transient occupancy, or other use as defined in the Zoning Ordinance. 

The Planning and Development Department has developed a process to ensure community residences operate in accordance with applicable zoning regulations and requirements. Initially, an applicant must apply for licensure or certification, obtain entitlement for the use through a Land Use application and then applicable building permits must be obtained.

Development Master Plan Minor Amendments

Changes to Development Master Plans (DMP) will require an amendment to be filed with the Planning and Development Department. All amendments will be classified as major or minor. Minor amendments to a DMP may be processed administratively at the discretion of the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department. Formal determination of whether an amendment will be considered a minor or major amendment may be requested in writing to the Planning and Development Department.

Please see the DMP Guidelines below for additional information on the process and criteria for a Major or Minor DMP Amendment.

Legal Non-Conforming and As-Built Plan of Development

Learn about the legal non-conforming development uses, government action policies, and as-built plan of development.

Mining Exemption

Mining uses may be exempt from the County’s zoning authority. Review the Mining Exemption packet for more information on the application process.

If approved, the Certificate of Exemption for Mining is an exemption from portions of the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance, and the County’s Building Code Authority, for the use of the land for the approved mining activities. Any use not incidental to the approved mining operation will be required to comply with the current regulations imposed upon said land by the underlying zoning district. The primary use of land shall be the mining operation. If the mining operation use is abandoned or is not the primary use of the land, then the appropriate zoning regulations shall apply.

Chapter 13, Section 1304 of the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance (PDF), Exempted Uses states "This Ordinance shall not prevent, restrict or otherwise regulate the use or occupation of land or improvements for railroad, mining, metallurgical, grazing or general agricultural purposes, if the tract concerned is five or more contiguous commercial acres. Property is not exempt from the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance and/or Building Safety Ordinance unless and until the Maricopa Planning and Development Department has issued a Certificate of Exemption for that property."

Plan of Development

A Plan of Development (POD) is a site plan which describes how a parcel of land is proposed to be improved. It includes outlines of all structures and site improvements, including but not limited to:

  • Property lines
  • Setbacks
  • Driveways
  • Landscaping
  • Existing structures
  • Proposed structures
  • Utility connections

Typically, a POD does not involve any entitlements – that is, there is no requirement to obtain additional approvals for the type of development proposed (i.e., zoning, variance, etc.). The POD review focuses on reviewing the entire project layout for basic design and compatibility and to ensure that a project meets applicable regulations and policies.

Approval of a Plan of Development must occur before any development of property requiring a plan of development can occur. Please see the application packet below for additional information.

Recovery Community 

A Recovery Community is defined as multiple dwelling units located on a single parcel, or a series of adjacent lots under unified ownership, not to exceed a total area of three gross acres, providing a drug-free and alcohol-free living arrangement for people in recovery from substance use disorder, (i) that are not held out to the general public for rent or occupancy and, (ii) which taken together, do not emulate a single family and are under the auspices of a single entity or group of related entities. 

A Plan of Development application is required in conjunction with the Recovery Community land use application for sites in the R-5, C-1, C-2, C-3, IND-1, IND-2 and IND-3 zoning districts.  Sites zoned R-3 and R-4 require a Special Use Permit. 

Special Use Permit Minor Amendment 

Minor amendments to a Special Use Permit (SUP) may be processed administratively at the discretion of Maricopa County Planning and Development Department.

Status Report

Status Reports may be required at set dates as a condition of approval of certain development applications (typically Special Use Permits) by the Board of Supervisors.

Status Reports should be submitted to the Planning & Development Department at least one (1) month before the review deadline.

Temporary Use Permit

Certain uses are not allowed on a property but may be necessary or desirable for a limited period of time and these uses can be carefully regulated through the issuance of a Temporary Use Permit.

A Temporary Use Permit is required for any of the following:

  • Temporary housing during construction of a dwelling
  • Non-residential use of a mobile home
  • Temporary caretaker's quarters
  • Underage occupancy within the Senior Citizen Overlay Zoning District
  • Temporary construction office/yard complex
  • Temporary model home sales complex
  • Temporary seasonal sales
  • Other temporary uses as determined by the zoning inspector

Procedures for a Temporary Use Permit are provided in Section 1302 of the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance (PDF).

Use Compatibility & Consistency Determination

Any proposed land use not specifically identified as consistent and compatible with the high noise or accident potential of the military airport or ancillary military facility pursuant to Article 1010.6.1 of the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance - Military Airport and Ancillary Military Facility Overlay Zone shall, as a pre-condition to filing an application for a Military Compatibility Permit and Plan of Development, require an individual Use Compatibility and Consistency Determination (UCCD) by Luke Air Force Base.

Zone Change Minor Amendment

Minor amendments to a Zone Change may be processed administratively at the discretion of Maricopa County Planning and Development Department. 

Potential Zones

See if your parcel is in a high noise or accident potential zone by using PlanNet.