LAND USE REGULATIONS
Mesa City Code § 11-8-2
in effect11-8-2: - LAND USE REGULATIONS
In Table 11-8-2, which follows, the land use regulations for each Downtown District are established by letter designations as follows:
• "P" designates use classifications permitted in downtown districts.
• "TUP" designates use classifications permitted on approval of a Temporary Use Permit
• "SUP" designates use classifications permitted on approval of a Special Use Permit.
• "CUP" designates use classifications permitted on approval of a Council Use Permit.
• "(x)" a number in parentheses refers to limitation following the table.
• "—" designates a prohibited use.
Use classifications not listed are prohibited. The "Additional Use Regulations" column includes specific limitations applicable to the use classification or refers to regulations located elsewhere in this Ordinance.
Table 11-8-3 Downtown Districts
Proposed Use | DR-1 | DR-2 | DR-3 | DB-1 | DB-2 | DC | Additional Use Regulations
Residential Use Classifications
Single Residence
Detached | P | P | P | — | — | —
Attached | — | P | P | P | CUP | —
Multiple Residence | P (16) | P (16) | P (16) | P (16) | P/CUP (16) | P (1, 16) | Chapter 81, Adaptive Reuse Permit
Middle Housing | P | P | P | — | — | — | Section 11-31-38, Middle Housing
Assisted Living Facility
Assisted Living Home (up to 10 residents) | P | P | P | P | CUP | P | Section 11-31-14, Community Residences
Assisted Living Center (greater than 10 residents) | — | — | CUP | CUP | CUP | CUP | Section 11-31-28, Assisted Living Centers, Nursing and Convalescent Homes
Boarding House | — | — | SUP | SUP | — | —
Community Residence
Family Community Residence | P | P | P | P | CUP | P | Section 11-31-14, Community Residences
Transitional Community Residence | P | P | P | P | CUP | P
Day Care Group Home
Small Home Day Care (up to 5) | P | P | P | P | — | —
Large Home Day Care (6 to 10) | — | SUP | SUP | P | — | — | Section 11-31-13, Large Day Care Group Homes
Home Occupations | P | P | P | P (9) | — | P (9) | Section 11-31-33, Home Occupations
Public and Semi-Public Use Classifications
Clubs and Lodges | — | — | — | P | P | P
Schools, Colleges, and Trade Schools
Colleges or Universities, Private | — | — | — | P | P | P | Section 11-31-24, Schools
Colleges or Universities, Public | P | P | P | P | P | P
Commercial Trade Schools, Private | — | — | — | P | P | P | Section 11-31-24, Schools
Commercial Trade Schools, Public | P | P | P | P | P | P
Industrial Trade Schools, Private | — | — | — | P | P | P | Section 11-31-24, Schools
Industrial Trade Schools, Public | P | P | P | P | P | P
K-12, Private | CUP | CUP | CUP | CUP | CUP | CUP | Section 11-31-24, Schools
K-12, Public | P | P | P | P | P | P
Community Center | — | SUP | SUP | P | P | P
Community Gardens | P | P | P | P | P | P | Section 11-31-10, Community Gardens
Cultural Institutions | — | — | — | — | — | P
Day Care Centers | — | SUP | SUP | P | P | P
Government Offices | — | — | — | P (2) | P | P
Hospitals and Clinics
Clinics | — | — | — | P (3) | P (3) | — | Section 11-31-15, Hospitals and Clinics
Hospitals | — | — | — | P | P | —
Nursing and Convalescent Homes | — | — | — | CUP | CUP | — | Section 11-31-28, Assisted Living Centers, Nursing and Convalescent Homes
Parks and Recreation Facilities, Public | P | P | P | P | P | P
Places of Worship | P | P | P | P | P | P | Section 11-31-22, Places of Worship
Public Safety Facilities | — | — | — | P | P | P
Skilled Nursing Facility | — | — | — | CUP | CUP | —
Social Service Facilities | — | — | — | CUP | CUP | — | Section 11-31-26, Social Service Facilities
Commercial Use Classifications
Animal Sales and Services
Kennels | — | — | — | — | P (4) | —
Pet Stores | — | — | — | — | P | P (4, 6)
Veterinary Services | — | — | — | P (4) | P | —
Artists' Studios | — | — | — | P | P | P
Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Services
Accessory Automobile Rentals | — | — | — | SUP | — | SUP (12) | Section 11-31-5, Automobile Rentals; Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Leasing
Automobile Rentals | — | — | — | — | SUP | CUP
Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Leasing | — | — | — | — | SUP | —
Automobile/Vehicle Repair, Major | — | — | — | — | SUP | — | Section 11-31-6, Automobile/ Vehicle Repair; Major and Minor
Automobile/Vehicle Service and Repair. Minor | — | — | — | — | SUP | CUP
Automobile/Vehicle Washing | — | — | — | — | SUP | CUP | Section 11-31-7, Automobile/Vehicle Washing
Large Vehicle and Equipment Sales, Services, and Rental | — | — | — | — | SUP | — | Section 11-31-5, Automobile Rentals; Automobile/ Vehicle Sales and Leasing
Service Station | — | — | — | — | SUP (15) | CUP (15) | Section 11-31-25, Service Stations
Banks and Financial Institutions | — | — | — | P | P | P
With Drive-Thru Facilities | — | — | — | CUP | SUP | CUP | Section 11-31-18, Drive-Thru and Pick-Up Window Facilities
Banquet and Conference Center | — | — | — | P | P | P
Bed and Breakfast Inns | SUP | P | P | — | — | — | Section 11-31-8, Bed and Breakfast Inns
Business Services | — | — | — | — | P (15) | P (15)
Commercial Entertainment | — | — | — | P | P | P
Commercial Recreation
Small-Scale | — | — | — | P | P | P
Large-Scale | — | — | — | — | — | P (5)
Eating and Drinking Establishments
Bars/Clubs/Lounges | — | — | — | P | P | P
Coffee Shops/Cafes | — | — | — | P | P | P
Restaurants, Bar and Grill | — | — | — | P | P | P
Restaurants, Full Service | — | — | — | P | P | P
Restaurants, Limited Service | — | — | — | P | P | P
With Drive-Thru Facilities | — | — | — | CUP | SUP | — | Section 11-31-18, Drive-Thru and Pick-Up Window Facilities
With Outdoor Seating Areas | — | — | — | P | P | P | Section 11-31-19, Outdoor Eating Areas
With Pick-Up Window Facilities | — | — | — | SUP | SUP | — | Section 11-31-18, Drive-Thru and Pick-Up Window Facilities
Food and Beverage Sales
Convenience Market | — | — | — | SUP (15) | SUP (15) | P (15) | Section 11-31-11, Convenience Markets
General Market | — | — | — | P (15) | P (15) | P (15)
Funeral Parlors and Mortuaries | — | — | — | — | P | CUP
Hotels and Motels | — | — | — | P | — | P
Laboratories | — | — | — | — | P | —
Large Commercial Development | — | — | — | — | CUP | CUP | Section 11-31-16, Large Commercial Development
Light Fleet-Based Services | — | — | — | — | P | CUP
Live-Work Unit | — | P | P | P | P | SUP | Section 11-31-17, Live Work Units
Maintenance and Repair Services | — | — | — | — | P | —
Offices
Business and Professional | SUP (10, 15) | SUP (10, 15) | SUP (10, 11, 15) | P (15) | P (15) | P (15)
Medical and Dental | — | — | — | P (15) | P (15) | P (15)
Parking, Commercial | — | — | — | — | SUP | P (7)
Personal Services | — | — | — | P (15) | P (15) | P (15)
Plant Nurseries and Garden Centers | — | — | — | — | SUP | —
Retail Sales
General | — | — | — | P (15) | P (15) | P (15)
Pawn Shops | — | — | — | CUP (8) | CUP (8) | — | Section 11-31-21, Pawn Shops
Tattoo and Body Piercing Parlors | — | — | — | P | P | P
Employment and Industrial Use Classifications
Handicraft/Custom Manufacturing | — | — | — | — | P | —
Manufacturing, Light Cabinet Assembly | — | — | — | — | P | —
Manufacturing, Limited | — | — | — | — | P | —
Research and Development | — | — | — | — | P | —
Warehousing and Storage
Contractors' Yards | — | — | — | — | SUP (13) | —
Indoor Warehousing and Storage | — | — | — | — | CUP | —
Mini-Storage | — | — | — | — | CUP | —
Recycling Facilities
Reverse Vending Machine | — | — | — | P (4) | P (4) | — | Section 11-31-23, Recycling Collection and Processing Facilities
Small Indoor Collection Facility | — | — | — | — | SUP (14) | —
Transportation, Communication, and Utilities Use Classifications
Communication Facilities
Antenna and Transmission Towers | See Chapter 35
Facilities within Buildings | See Chapter 35
Transportation Passenger Terminals | — | P | P | P | P | P
Utilities, Minor | P | P | P | P | P | P
Specific Accessory Uses and Facilities
Accessory Dwelling Unit | P | P | P | P (16) | P (16) | P (16) | Section 11-31-3, Accessory Dwelling Unit
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) | P (17) | P (17) | P (17) | P (17) | P (17) | P (17) | Section 11-31-37, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and BESS Facilities
Caretakers' Residences | — | — | — | — | SUP | —
Drive-Thru Facilities | — | — | — | CUP | SUP | CUP
Outdoor Display | — | — | — | P | P | P | Section 11-31-20, Outdoor Display
Outdoor Storage | — | — | — | — | SUP (13) | — | Section 11-30-7, Outdoor Storage
Temporary Outdoor Entertainment | — | TUP (15) | TUP (15) | TUP (15) | TUP (15) | TUP (15) | Section 11-31-30, Temporary Uses
Temporary Outdoor Sales | — | TUP (15) | TUP (15) | TUP (15) | TUP (15) | TUP (15)
Notes:
1. Multiple Residence permitted at a minimum density of 20 units/acre in an exclusive multiple residence project. No minimum density when part of a mixed-use project.
2. Permitted if occupying less than 5,000 square feet; greater floor area requires approval of an SUP.
3. A CUP is required for plasma centers and substance abuse detoxification and treatment centers; other Clinics are permitted by right.
4. Must be confined to completely enclosed, sound-attenuated facilities.
5. Permitted if all activities pertaining to commercial recreation are conducted entirely within an enclosed building.
6. Permitted if floor area is no more than 1,500 square feet.
7. Structured parking garages are permitted. A CUP is required for surface (open) parking lots.
8. Must be at least 1,200 feet from any use in the same classification, and at least 1,200 feet from any school.
9. Home Occupations permitted where and when a residence is authorized.
10. Eligible sites are limited to locations designated as Class 1 Historic Buildings based on the City of Mesa Historical Survey, 1984.
11. Eligible sites limited to lots with frontage on an arterial street as designated in the Mesa Transportation Plan.
12. Eligible sites limited to ancillary use to a Hotel or Motel.
13. Use is Permitted as an accessory use only. Permitted only in the rear half of a lot and if fully screened by a minimum 8-foot-high masonry screen wall composed of masonry blocks utilizing varying colors and textures arranged in an attractive design.
14. Facility may be as large as 6,000 square feet in the DB-2 District, subject to approval of a Special Use Permit.
15. Only permitted in conjunction with non-residential uses.
16. Permitted if an existing non-conforming residential use is located on the lot.
17. Refer to Section 11-31-37(B)(2) for conditions under which a BESS may qualify as an accessory use.
(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_CH8DODI_11-8-2LAUSREFetched: 11/1/2026