This website provides information on the City of Flagstaff's new Zoning Code, as well as City Code, Title 11 (General Plans and Subdivisions).

On November 1, 2011, in a unanimous vote of approval, the Flagstaff City Council adopted the City's new Zoning Code with an effective date of December 5, 2011. This action by the Council concluded over three years of work by City staff and the consultant team hired to assist with the Code rewrite.

A hallmark of the project was the commitment to inform, involve, and engage Flagstaff residents in the process to create a new Zoning Code, and earlier this year the City won the 2011 Arizona Planning Association's Public Participation Award for its outreach efforts. Credit though must be given to Flagstaff's many passionate residents who cared deeply about the new Zoning Code, and who through their participation, helped to shape and form its contents. The new Zoning Code is a better document because of the comments, suggestions, and critique provided by the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and citizens who were engaged in the project. Thank you for your contributions! 

The former 1991 Land Development Code (LDC) is a complex document that, over the past few years, has added numerous zoning methodologies to its original Euclidean-based zoning system. It has also been amended numerous times resulting in conflicts and inconsistencies that often make the document dificult to interpret and use. At the direction of the City Council, in response to a Request for Proposals issued in July 2008 and a comprehensive review and interview process of nine firms, in January 2009 the City Council awarded a contract to Opticos Design Inc. and their supporting team of consultants (Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc., Sherwood Design Engineers, and Hall Planning and Engineering) to rewrite and update the City's existing zoning regulations.

The intent of a new Zoning Code was to not only update and modernize the Code, but also to create regulations that reinforce the community's desires as expressed in the Regional Plan to promote sustainable development practices and Smart Growth principles. It also ensures the protection of resources and open space, and allows for more compact development, and it has been written to support local businesses and development interests in Flagstaff. As a result, review procedures and processes have been streamlined and improved as much as possible, a new zone change process will be implemented, unnecessary and contradictory standards have been removed, and more opportunities for creative development consistent with Regional Plan goals and policies will be facilitated. 

The final Zoning Code may be accessed by clicking on the links below.

Table of Contents
Provides a list of all contents of the new Zoning Code, including Chapters, Divisions, Maps and Appendices.

Preamble
Provides an introduction to the Zoning Code, steps for Using the Zoning Code, an overview of Form-based Codes and Transects, and a short history of Zoning Regulations in Flagstaff.

Chapter 10-10: Intent and Applicability
Included Divisions:  Title; Legislative Intent and Purpose; Authority; Disclaimer of Liability and Severability; Effective Date

Chapter 10-20: Administration, Procedures and Enforcement
Included Divisions:  Purpose; Administration; Common Procedures; Permits and Approvals; Amendments to the Zoning Code Text and the Zoning Map; Nonconforming Provisions; Variances; Procedures for Appeals; Annexations; Assurance of Performance for Construction; Enforcement 

Chapter 10-30 (Table of Contents)  Chapter 10-30:  General to All
Included Divisions:  10-30.10 (Purpose); 10-30.20 (Affordable Housing); 10-30.30 (Heritage Preservation); 10-30.40 (Community Benefit Program); 10-30.50 (Public Improvements); 10-30.60 (Site Planning Design Standards); 10-30.70 (Sustainability); 10-30.80 (Traditional Neighborhood Community Plans)   

Chapter 10-40:  Specific to Zones (Table of Contents)  (Part 1)  (Part 2)
Included Divisions:  10-40.20 (Establishment and Designation of Zones); 10-40.30 (Non-Transect Zones); 10-40.40 (Transect Zones); 10-40.50 (Overlay Zones); 10-40.60 (Specific to Uses)

Chapter 10-50:  Supplemental to Zones (Part 1)  (Part 2)  (Part 3)  (Part 4)
Included Divisions:  10-50.10 (Purpose and Introduction); 10-50.20 (Architectural Standards); 10-50.30 (Building Height Standards); 10-50.40 (Encroachments); 10-50.50 (Fences and Screening Standards); 10-50.60 (Landscaping Standards); 10-50.70 (Outdoor Lighting Standards); 10-50.80 (Parking Standards); 10-50.90 (Resource Protection Standards); 10-50.100 (Sign Standards); 10-50.110 (Specific to Building Types); 10-50.120 (Specific to Private Frontage Types)  

Chapter 10-60: Specific to Thoroughfares
Included Divisions: Thoroughfare Types

Chapter 10-70: Specific to Civic Spaces
Included Divisions: Civic Space Types

Chapter 10-80: Definitions of Terms and Uses
Included Divisions: Purpose; Definition of Specialized Terms, Phrases, and Building Functions

Chapter 10-90:  Maps 
Includes:  Cultural Resource Sensitivity Map; Flagstaff Southside Historic District Map; Flagstaff Townsite Historic Residential District Map; North End Historic Residential District Map; Railroad Addition Historic District Map; Rural Floodplain Map; Airport Avigation Area Map; Airport Overlay Zone Map; Downtown Overlay Zone Map; Flagstaff Central District Map; Resource Protection Overlay Zone Map; Townsite Overlay Zone Map; Lighting Zone Map  

Appendices
Includes:  1.1 (Design Guidelines); 1.2 (Additional Information on Smart Growth and Traditional Neighborhood Development); 1.3 (Sustainability Guidelines); 2 (Planning Fee Schedule); 3 (Introduction / City of Flagstaff Landscape Plant List); 4 (Outdoor Lighting Reference Materials); 5 (Additional Information Applicable to Divisionn 10-50.90 (Resource Protection Standards)); 6 (How the Zoning Code Implements the General Plan); 7 (Additional Information on Affordable Housing) 

Zoning Map
Please view the City of Flagstaff Zoning Map and Zoning Overlay Map. These maps are available in either a poster format or as an 11" x 17" map book in which each map covers a small section of the City in more detail. This will make it easy to see how the zones are applied parcel by parcel.

From time to time the Zoning Code Administrator will make interpretations of how the Zoning Code should be applied or interpreted. Please view a current list of Zoning Code interpretations.

Despite staff and the consultant's best efforts, we know that errors and omissions are likely in the new Zoning Code. As a result, staff will be conducting a careful review of the Code as it is implemented, and it is likely that in about six months or so, various amendments will be brought forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council for their consideration.

If you notice a provision in the new Code that you think may be incorrect or that requires amendment, please send an e-mail to .   

A video of the October 27, 2011 Zoning Code Overview Class may be viewed. This class provides an overview of the Flagstaff Zoning Code and how it may be applied to various projects. 

The Flagstaff City Council approved amendments to the City's subdivision regulations and the procedures for the adoption and amendment of General Plans in November 2010, with an effective date to be coordinated with the adoption of the new Zoning Code. For this reason, links to the new Title 11, General Plans and Subdivisions of the City Code have been included below.

• Table of Contents and Introduction
• 11-10 General Plans
• 11-20 Subdivision and Land Split Regulations
• 11-30 Definitions