DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE RM DISTRICT
Mesa City Code § 11-5-5
in effect11-5-5: - DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THE RM DISTRICT
A. Zoning District Standards. Table 11-5-5 prescribes the development standards for the RM Districts. Section numbers in this column refer to other sections of the Zoning Ordinance, while individual letters refer to subsections that directly follow the table.
Table 11-5-5: Development Standards - RM Residential Multiple Dwelling Districts
Standard | RM-2 | RM-3 | RM-4 | RM-5 | Additional Standards
Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) | 7,200 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000
Minimum Lot Width (ft.)
Single Residence - Detached | 36 | 30 | 25 | —
Single Residence - Attached | 36 | 25 | 25 | 25
Multiple Residence | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60
Minimum Lot Depth (ft.)
Single Residence- Attached or Multiple Residence | 94 | 94 | 94 | 65
Single Residence -Detached | 94 | 94 | 75 | 75
Maximum Density (dwelling units/net acre) | 15 | 20 | 30 | 43
Minimum Lot Area per Dwelling Unit (sq. ft.) | 2,904 | 2,183 | 1,452 | 1,000
Maximum Height (ft.) | 30 | 40 | 40 | 50
Maximum Lot Coverage (% of lot) | 70% | 70% | 70% | 80%
Minimum Setbacks: 2 or More Units Per Lot (ft.)
Front and Street-Facing Side | Varies by street classification identified in the Mesa Transportation Plan: 6-lane arterial: 30 ft. 4-lane arterial: 20 ft. Collector: 25 ft. Local Street: 20 ft. Freeways: 30 ft. | Setbacks shall be landscaped according to standards in Chapter 33, Landscaping.
Interior Side and Rear: 3 or More Units Per Lot | Single Story: 20 ft. Multiple Story: 15 ft. per story | Single Story: 15 ft. Multiple Story: Additional 10 ft. per story | Section 11-5-5(B)(1), Additional Setback Adjacent to RS District Section 11-5-5(B)(2), Setbacks Adjacent to a Canal
Interior Side: 2 Units Per Lot | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10
Interior Side: Single Residence - Attached (ft.) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | Section 11-5-5(B)(2), Setbacks Adjacent to a Canal
Rear | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Section 11-5-5(B)(1), Additional Setback Adjacent to RS District Section 11-5-5(B)(2), Setbacks Adjacent to a Canal
Minimum Setbacks: 1 Unit Per Lot (ft.)
Front and Street-Facing Side | Varies by street classification identified in the Mesa Transportation Plan: 6-lane arterial: 30 ft. 4-lane arterial: 20 ft. Collector: 25 ft. Local Street: 20 ft. Freeways: 30 ft. | Setbacks shall be landscaped according to standards in Chapter 33, Landscaping.
Interior Side: Single Residence - Detached (ft.) | 5 | 5 | 5 | N/A | Section 11-5-5(B)(2), Setbacks Adjacent to a Canal
Interior Side: Single Residence - Attached (ft.) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Section 11-5-5(B)(2), Setbacks Adjacent to a Canal Section 11-5-3(B)(3), Zero Setback for Attached Single Residences
Rear | 15 | 15 | 15 | Single Residence- Attached: 15 | Section 11-5-5(B)(2), Setbacks Adjacent to a Canal
One-story Building | 25 | 25 | 25 | 15 | Section 11-5-5(B)(5), Additional Building Separation Requirements
Two-story Building | 30 | 30 | 30 | 20
Three-story Building | 35 | 35 | 35 | 25 | Section 11-5-5(B)(5), Additional Building Separation Requirements
Detached Covered Parking Canopies and Buildings | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20
Maximum Building Coverage (% of lot) | 45 | 50 | 55 | 65 | Section 11-5-5(B)(5), Additional Building Separation Requirements
Minimum Open Space (sq. ft./unit) | 200 | 175 | 150 | 120 | Section 11-5-5(B)(6), Standards for Required Open Space
B. Additional Standards.
1. Additional Setback Adjacent to RS District. Where a lot located in an RM District is adjacent to the RS District, the following shall apply:
a. A single-story building on the RM-zoned lot shall be setback from the RS District property line at least 25 feet.
b. Multiple story buildings shall be setback a minimum of 15 feet of setback for each story (i.e., two-story buildings must be setback at least 30 feet; three-story buildings must be setback, 45 feet), except in the RM-5 District, in which the minimum setback is limited to 25 feet from a RS District, with no additional setback per story.
c. At least 20 feet of the depth of such setbacks must be landscaped consistent with the standards of Chapter 33, Landscaping, and shall remain free from parking, driveways, and encroachment by any structures that are not part of the landscaping design.
d. On lots of five (5) acres or more, at least 25 feet of the depth of such setbacks must be landscaped and free from parking or encroachments.
2. Setback Adjacent to Canal. A setback of at least 15 feet shall be maintained along property lines that abut a canal.
3. Zero Setback for Attached Single Residences. Attached Single Residence structures may have zero-setback on both sides of the structure.
a. The minimum interior side setback shall be 10 feet on the end units.
b. Any portion of the building not placed on a zero-setback line shall maintain a minimum of 10-foot building setback.
c. Where a zero-side setback is used, the abutting property must be held under the same ownership at the time of initial construction, or the owners of the abutting property must sign an agreement that grants consent in writing to such zero setback. Additionally, owners of zero-lot-line developments must provide a maintenance easement providing the owner of the zero-lot-line structure with access to the zero side to maintain the structure. A copy of the easement shall be provided to the City and recorded in the Maricopa County Recorder's Office prior to recording a plat.
4. Limitation on Paving of Street-Facing Setbacks. No more than 50% of any required front or street-facing side setback may be covered with a paved surface.
[image omitted; see the official code]
FIGURE 11-5-5.B(1): SETBACK ADJACENT TO RS DISTRICT
5. Additional Building Separation Requirements. Buildings shall be arranged in a manner that addresses privacy issues for individual units and allows sufficient separation so that daylight and air is available for each residential unit.
a. Non-Parallel Buildings. For non-parallel buildings, the minimum building separation requirement shall be calculated by determining the open area that would be required between any two (2) buildings if they were parallel and met the minimum requirement; then ensuring that the same or greater total open area is available between the two (2) buildings. At no time shall any points of the buildings be closer than 10 feet.
b. Ground Floor Separation. Ground floor building separation distance may be reduced up to 20% if the upper floor steps back an equal distance. For example, if the required building separation between two (2), three (3) story buildings is 35 feet, the ground floor units may be separated by 28 feet provided the upper stories are stepped back so that the building separation for upper stories is no less than 42 feet.
6. Standards for Required Open Space. Provide residents with both private and public outdoor space that may be used for social, recreational, aesthetic, and economic purposes.
a. Proportion of Private and Common Open Space. Open space may be provided in any combination of private and common open space, as long as studio and one (1) bedroom units have at least 60 square feet of private open space, two (2) bedroom units have at least 100 square feet of private open space and three (3) bedroom or more have at least 120 square feet of private open space.
b. Surfacing. Surfaces provided for outdoor activities shall allow convenient use for outdoor activities. Such surface may be any combination of lawn, garden, brick, flagstone, wood planking, concrete, or other serviceable, dust-free surface.
c. Slope. The slope of required open space areas shall not exceed 10%.
d. Exclusive Dedication. Off-street parking and loading areas, driveways, and service areas shall not be counted as usable open space.
7. Additional Standards for Private Open Space.
a. Accessibility and Location. Private open space shall be accessible to only one (1) living unit by a doorway to a habitable room or hallway. Multiple spaces may be provided for individual living units to meet the aggregate open space requirement, provided at least one (1) private open space meets the minimum dimensions below:
i. Private open space located at the ground level (e.g., yards, decks, patios) shall have no dimension less than 10 feet.
ii. Above-ground private open space (e.g., balconies) shall be a minimum of 60 square feet and shall not be less than eight (8) feet wide or less than six (6) feet deep.
b. Openness. Open space shall be at least 50% covered and shall have at least one (1) exterior side that is open and unobstructed between three (3) and eight (8) feet above its floor level.
8. Additional Standards for Common Open Space.
a. Accessibility. Common open space shall be located no more than 400 feet from the main entrance of any dwelling unit it is intended to serve, as measured along accessible pedestrian routes.
b. Location. Common open space shall be located within the same development as the units served. It may not be located within the required front or street-facing side setback. Up to 20% of common open space may be located on the roof of a building.
c. Minimum Dimensions. Common open space shall have no dimension less than 15 feet.
d. Openness. Common open space shall be unroofed and unobstructed, except for facilities that enhance its usability, such as armadas or playground shade structures, and except that up to 25% of ground-level common open space may be covered by a balcony projecting from a higher story.
e. Amenities. Common open space shall include amenities for the everyday use and enjoyment of residents of the development.
i. Amenities Required. Multiple Residence and Single Residence-attached developments containing five (5) or more dwelling units shall provide amenities from Table 11-5-5.B.2 to meet the minimum point value specified in Table 11-5-5.B.1, unless an alternative amenity is approved in accordance with Subsection (iii) below.
Table 11-5-5.B.1: Multiple Residence and Single Residence-Attached Amenity Minimums
Number of Dwelling Units | Minimum Points Required
5—19 dwelling units | 1
20—50 dwelling units | 2
51—100 dwelling units | 3
101—150 dwelling units | 4
151—250 dwelling units | 5
>250 dwelling units | 6
ii. Amenity Types. Table 11-5-5.B.2 below lists amenity types, the minimum standard (where applicable), and the point value. A proposed amenity may be counted only once toward the required minimum point total, except that regulation-sized sports courts of different types may each be counted separately.
Table 11-5-5.B.2: Amenity Types
Amenity Type | Minimum Standard | Points
Fenced dog park/pet run area | 500—1,000 sq. ft. | 1
>1,000 sq. ft | 2
Ramada with barbeque and seating area | Min. 200 sq. ft. | 1
Putting green | 1
Fire pit with seating area | 1
Regulation-size sports court (e.g., tennis court, racquetball court, pickleball court, basketball court, etc.) | Regulation size | 2
Jacuzzi | Min. 6-person capacity | 2
Covered pavilion with seating area | Min. 600 sq. ft. | 2
Community garden | Min. 25 ft. in any direction | 2
Swimming pool | 500—1,000 sq. ft. | 2
>1,000 sq. ft. | 3
Outdoor fitness area | Min. 3 stations | 2
Tot lot | 1,000—2,500 sq. ft., 2 distinct play features | 2
>2,500 sq. ft., 3 distinct play features | 3
Rooftop deck/terrace with seating and weather protection | Min. 1,500 sq. ft. | 3
Indoor recreational facility (e.g., fitness center, game room, movie theater, etc.) | Min. 1,500 sq. ft. | 3
iii. Alternative Amenities. Additional amenities not listed above may be approved by the Planning Director. Upon approval, the Planning Director shall assign a point value based on the amenity's comparability in function, scale, and resident benefit to those listed in Table 11-5-5.B.2.
9. Encroachments. To facilitate the use of architectural features, building projections may extend into required setbacks, subject to the following standards:
a. Entry porches, balconies and patios may encroach no more than 10 feet into a required street side setback, 20 feet or greater in depth (measured from property line to building).
b. No projection may extend into a public utility easement or closer than two (2) feet to an interior lot line.
c. Awnings, eaves, overhangs, or basement window wells may encroach up to three (3) feet into any required setback.
d. Vestibules, bay windows, nooks, chimneys, or similar wall projections with or without footings may encroach no more than three (3) feet into any required front or rear setback and no more than two (2) feet into any required side setback, provided the aggregate width of all such projections does not exceed one-third (⅓) of the length of the building wall.
e. Staircases may encroach up to three (3) feet into any required front setback, and up to 10 feet into any required rear setback.
(Ord. No. 5541, § 2, 12-9-19; Ord. No. 5593, § 5, 12-1-20; Res. No. 12269, § 3, 9-23-24; Ord. No. 5883, § 3, 10-7-24; Ord. No. 5928, §§ 1, 2, 2-3-25; Ord. No. 5996, § 1, 3-9-26)
Source: City of Mesa, Arizona, Mesa City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/az/mesa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT11ZOOR_ART2BAZO_CH5REDI_11-5-5DESTRMDIFetched: 11/1/2026