Tucson Zoning Intelligence
Zoning, permitted uses, and development potential for Tucson, Arizona. 107 districts with their permitted uses and building controls.
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How is Tucson zoned?
Tucson's zoning is set by the Unified Development Code, enacted as Chapter 23B of the Tucson Code, and the district roster runs to 107 entries - the largest of Arizona's big five relative to the city's size. Two things account for the length: a parallel set of historic districts, and a very large number of site-specific planned developments.
Unlike most Arizona cities, Tucson's residential numerals are not lot sizes. R-1 states a 7,000 square foot minimum for a single dwelling, R-2 states 5,000, and R-3 states 5,000 for one unit and no separate minimum for multifamily. The numeral marks a step on a density ladder, not an area, so reading R-1 as a 1,000 square foot lot - or as the equivalent of Phoenix's R1-6 - gets the site wrong.
Tucson also states its minimums per use rather than per district. A single district's minimum lot area entry will set one figure for a single-family dwelling, another for a school or place of worship, another for day care, and another again for residential care, each with its own threshold. A single number for "minimum lot size in R-2" does not exist; the answer depends on what is being built.
Alongside the standard districts sit 24 carrying a historic designation - historic residence, historic commercial, historic office and historic landmark categories that shadow the ordinary ones. A further 47 numbered Planned Area Developments, plus three historic landmark PADs, carry regulations adopted for one project each. Across all 107 districts, 74 permit single-family, 67 permit multifamily, 65 permit an accessory dwelling and 89 permit commercial use.
What can you build in Tucson?
- Single-family permitted
- 74of 107 districts
- Multifamily permitted
- 67of 107 districts
- Commercial use permitted
- 89of 107 districts
Tucson, Arizona Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type and which uses it permits.
| Zone Code | Zone Type | Permitted Uses |
|---|---|---|
C-1 Commercial | Commercial |
|
C-2 Commercial | Commercial |
|
C-3 Commercial | Commercial |
|
CB-2 General Business | Commercial |
|
What are the building controls in Tucson?
Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Tucson zoning districts.
- Distance between buildings (ft)
- Front yard (feet)
- Max building height (ft)
- Max coverage
- Max density du (per acre)
- Max far
- Max floor area ratio
- Max height (feet)
- Max lot coverage (%)
- Maximum building height (feet)
- Min front yard (ft)
- Min landscape coverage (%)
- Min landscaped space (%)
- Min lot area (sq ft)
- Min lot size sq (feet)
- Min lot width (ft)
- Min rear yard (ft)
- Min side yard (ft)
- Min side yard both (ft)
- Min usable open space per sq ft per unit
- Minimum building separation (feet)
- Minimum distance standards (feet)
- Minimum front yard (feet)
- Minimum lot area square (feet)
- Minimum lot width (feet)
- Minimum rear yard (feet)
- Minimum setbacks (feet)
- Minimum side yard (feet)
- Minimum site area per dwelling unit square (feet)
- Open space (%)
- Perimeter yard (ft)
- Rear yard (feet)
- Setbacks (ft)
- Side yard (feet)
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Tucson zoning: frequently asked questions
- What is Tucson's zoning code called?
- The Unified Development Code, usually shortened to UDC. It is enacted as Chapter 23B of the Tucson Code and is the single document governing zoning districts, permitted uses and development standards across the city. Planned Area Development zones are established under it but carry their own regulations.
- How many zoning districts does Tucson have?
- 107. That count includes the standard residential, commercial, office and industrial districts, 24 districts carrying a historic designation, and 50 planned area developments - 47 numbered PAD zones plus three historic landmark PADs, each adopted for a single project.
- Does R-1 in Tucson mean a 1,000 square foot lot?
- No. Tucson's residential numerals are density steps, not lot sizes. R-1 states a minimum of 7,000 square feet for a single dwelling, R-2 states 5,000, and R-3 states 5,000 for one unit with no separate minimum for multifamily. This differs from Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler and Scottsdale, where the numeral in a residential symbol does track lot area.
- What is the minimum lot size in a Tucson zoning district?
- It depends on the use, not only on the district. The code sets separate minimums within a single district for a single-family dwelling, a school, a place of worship, day care, medical services and residential care, among others. Asking for one minimum lot size per district produces a misleading answer in Tucson; the figure has to be read against the specific use proposed.
- What are Tucson's historic zoning districts?
- 24 of the 107 districts carry a historic designation, including historic residence, historic commercial, historic office, historic neighbourhood commercial and historic landmark categories, plus a historic preservation district. They shadow the standard districts - there is a historic counterpart to the ordinary residence, office and commercial zones - so the symbol on a parcel tells you both what the land is zoned for and whether it sits inside a historic area.
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Book a demo →Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Tucson planning department before acquisition or design.