ALLEYS
Tucson Unified Development Code § 7.10
in effect7.10. ALLEYS
Alleys are public ways used primarily for the placement of utilities
Utilities
Services such as gas, electric, water, telephone, and cable television.
and refuse collection. Alleys are not required for new development
Development
Any human alteration to the state of land, including its vegetation, soil, geology, or hydrology, for any residential, commercial, industrial, utility, or other use, such as, but not limited to, clearing, grubbing, or grading of land, and structural improvements, e.g., buildings, walls, fences, signs, and vehicular use areas.
not located in a subdivision
Subdivision
Any division of land, improved or unimproved, for the purpose of financing, sales, or lease, whether immediate or future, in one of four ways:
A. Any property whose boundaries are fixed by a recorded plat, which is divided into three or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land;
B. Any property whose boundaries are not fixed by a recorded plat which is divided into four or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land;
C. Any property that requires the development of a new street, which is divided into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land; or,
D. Any condominium, cooperative, community apartment, townhouse, or similar project containing four or more parcels, in which an undivided interest in the land is coupled with the right of exclusive occupancy of any unit located thereon.
. Alleys are required in new subdivisions
Subdivision
Any division of land, improved or unimproved, for the purpose of financing, sales, or lease, whether immediate or future, in one of four ways:
A. Any property whose boundaries are fixed by a recorded plat, which is divided into three or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land;
B. Any property whose boundaries are not fixed by a recorded plat which is divided into four or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land;
C. Any property that requires the development of a new street, which is divided into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land; or,
D. Any condominium, cooperative, community apartment, townhouse, or similar project containing four or more parcels, in which an undivided interest in the land is coupled with the right of exclusive occupancy of any unit located thereon.
only for the purposes of completing existing alley
Alley
Alleys are public ways used for the placement of utilities, refuse collection, or similar public services, and under certain circumstances as provided in the UDC, access to individual properties.
systems or providing turning radii for vehicles within existing alley
Alley
Alleys are public ways used for the placement of utilities, refuse collection, or similar public services, and under certain circumstances as provided in the UDC, access to individual properties.
systems that abut the proposed subdivision
Subdivision
Any division of land, improved or unimproved, for the purpose of financing, sales, or lease, whether immediate or future, in one of four ways:
A. Any property whose boundaries are fixed by a recorded plat, which is divided into three or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land;
B. Any property whose boundaries are not fixed by a recorded plat which is divided into four or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land;
C. Any property that requires the development of a new street, which is divided into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land; or,
D. Any condominium, cooperative, community apartment, townhouse, or similar project containing four or more parcels, in which an undivided interest in the land is coupled with the right of exclusive occupancy of any unit located thereon.
.
7.10.1. When alleys are required or are provided by the developer, they may be not less than 16 feet wide where there is residential development
Development
Any human alteration to the state of land, including its vegetation, soil, geology, or hydrology, for any residential, commercial, industrial, utility, or other use, such as, but not limited to, clearing, grubbing, or grading of land, and structural improvements, e.g., buildings, walls, fences, signs, and vehicular use areas.
or residential zoning on both sides of the alley
Alley
Alleys are public ways used for the placement of utilities, refuse collection, or similar public services, and under certain circumstances as provided in the UDC, access to individual properties.
and not less than 20 feet wide where there is nonresidential development
Development
Any human alteration to the state of land, including its vegetation, soil, geology, or hydrology, for any residential, commercial, industrial, utility, or other use, such as, but not limited to, clearing, grubbing, or grading of land, and structural improvements, e.g., buildings, walls, fences, signs, and vehicular use areas.
or nonresidential zoning on at least one side.
7.10.2. Alley
Alley
Alleys are public ways used for the placement of utilities, refuse collection, or similar public services, and under certain circumstances as provided in the UDC, access to individual properties.
intersections and sharp changes in alignment shall be avoided, but if necessary, corners will be designed with a radius spandrel in accordance with City Engineering standards as provided in Section 10-01.0.0, Street
Street
Any permanent public or private right-of-way, other than an alley, access lane, or parking area access lane, set aside to accommodate vehicular travel lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, pedestrian facilities, utility areas, and other such design features, whether designated as a street, drive, highway, thoroughfare, road, boulevard, avenue, lane, or place.
Technical Standards, of the Technical Standards Manual to permit safe vehicular movement. Spandrels of lesser dimensions may be approved by the City Engineer or designee where determined that safe circulation and public services will not be impeded.
7.10.3. Alleys must be designed in accordance with the standard street
Street
Any permanent public or private right-of-way, other than an alley, access lane, or parking area access lane, set aside to accommodate vehicular travel lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, pedestrian facilities, utility areas, and other such design features, whether designated as a street, drive, highway, thoroughfare, road, boulevard, avenue, lane, or place.
design requirements as they pertain to pavement and base materials and thicknesses. Additionally, the design must meet minimum and maximum cross slopes
Slope
An inclined ground surface the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.
requirements in accordance with Section 10-01.0.0, Street
Street
Any permanent public or private right-of-way, other than an alley, access lane, or parking area access lane, set aside to accommodate vehicular travel lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, pedestrian facilities, utility areas, and other such design features, whether designated as a street, drive, highway, thoroughfare, road, boulevard, avenue, lane, or place.
Technical Standards, of the Technical Standards Manual.
7.10.4. Alleys must be designed to operate as water conveyance systems. The design must improve drainage conditions, or at least not worsen them.
7.10.5. The use of alleys for vehicular maneuvering or loading is prohibited, unless specifically permitted by Section 7.4.6.K, Use of Street
Street
Any permanent public or private right-of-way, other than an alley, access lane, or parking area access lane, set aside to accommodate vehicular travel lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, pedestrian facilities, utility areas, and other such design features, whether designated as a street, drive, highway, thoroughfare, road, boulevard, avenue, lane, or place.
or Alley
Alley
Alleys are public ways used for the placement of utilities, refuse collection, or similar public services, and under certain circumstances as provided in the UDC, access to individual properties.
for Maneuvering Area, or another section of this article.
Source: City of Tucson, Tucson Code (Charter and General Ordinances) and Unified Development Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/tucson/latest/tucson_az_udc/0-0-0-6399Fetched: 10/28/2026