ScottsdaleAZ.Gov

In general, the city does not regulate the number of horses allowed on single-family residential as long as they are for personal use. The city does not allow the commercial raising of animals as is typically associated with a farm.

The Zoning Codes limits the location of farms, ranches and stables:

• Single-Family Residential - farms, commercial stables, & ranches by use permit
• Resort Residential (R4-R) - guest ranches allowed

Applicable Regulations:

• City Code: Keeping Of Domestic Animals (pdf / 83 kb / 2 pgs)
• Definitions
• Use Permit Criteria - Ranch, Commerical Stable - Example: 27-UP-2004

Definitions:

• Farm shall mean an area of five (5) or more contiguous acres which is used for the production of farm crops such as vegetables, fruit trees, cotton or grain and their storage, as well as raising thereon of farm animals such as poultry or swine on a limited basis. Farms also include dairy produce [products]. Farming does not include the commercial raising of animals, commercial pen feeding (feed lots) or the commercial feeding of garbage or offal to swine or other animals.
• Guest ranch shall mean a use incorporating two (2) or more guest rooms, other than a boardinghouse, hotel or motel, and including outdoor recreational facilities such as but not limited to horseback riding, swimming, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, barbecue and picnic facilities, and dining facilities intended primarily for use by the guests of the guest ranch. Bars and restaurants which cater primarily to those other than guests of the guest ranch are not permitted.
• Ranch shall mean a lot which is used primarily for the breeding of horses; raising of livestock; individual training or training of small groups of eight (8) or fewer students; practice polo courses and arenas not used for scheduled, public, or club events; boarding only of horses, mules or ponies directly involved with current breeding or training activities; and ancillary sales and previews of livestock and occasional weekend seminars and clinics. Permanent housing for ranch employees shall be permitted as an accessory use to the ranch. No feed lot shall be permitted. A ranch shall meet the provisions of the applicable zoning district and the conditions of Section 1.403.
• Stable, commercial shall mean a lot which may be used for commercial riding stable open to the general public; boarding of livestock not involved with current breeding or training; training involving large groups of eight (8) or more students; polo fields or arenas used for scheduled, public or club events; and those uses permitted in a ranch. No feed lot shall be permitted. A commercial stable shall meet the provisions of the applicable zoning district and the conditions of Section 1.403.
• Stable, private shall mean a detached accessory building for the keeping of horses, mules or ponies owned by the occupants of the premises and not kept for remuneration, hire or sale.

Use Permit Criteria (Section 1.403)

Ranch

1. The minimum property shall be five (5) acres gross.
2. Structures or facilities used for the stabling, storing, showing or training of animals and for temporary manure storage shall be set back a minimum of fifty (50) feet from any single-family residential property other than those zoned R1-190 and R1-130. Dwelling units, accessory structures incidental to dwelling units, and irrigated pasturage may occur within the fifty-foot setback area subject to the setback requirements of the applicable zoning district.
3. The front yard shall be that of the applicable zoning district or forty (40) feet, whichever is greater.
4. There shall be no shows or other activities which would generate more traffic than is normal to a residential area unless the proposed site has direct access from a major street as set forth in the City of Scottsdale right-of-way standards. Permission for such shows may be obtained from City Council. Notification shall be provided in a letter that explains the nature and duration of the activity, accommodations for spectators, traffic impacts and additional parking for cars and trailers. This letter shall be submitted to the City Clerk at least one (1) month prior to the date of the show or activity.
5. All pasture and animal storage shall be enclosed with fences or walls of a minimum of four (4) feet six (6) inches in height. The design of these enclosures shall be shown on drawings submitted with the use permit application.
6. The applicant shall provide a specific plan which includes the physical containment and location for manure storage and/or a disposal program which minimizes odor and fly impacts on adjacent parcels. The spreading and tilling of manure into the soil of paddock, pasture or arena areas may be considered manure disposal.
7. The owner shall provide a specific program for fly control in barn and stable areas which minimizes the attraction to and successful breeding of flies.
8. All laws applicable to the public health must be complied with for the entire period of operation of the ranch.
9. All activity and pasture areas shall be grassed, sprinklered, or treated with regularly tilled high organic soil mix for dust suppression as approved by the project review director.
10. Upon revocation of the use permit or abandonment of the ranch operation any accessory residential structures shall be removed.

Commercial Stable

1. The minimum property size shall be ten (10) acres gross.
2. The proposed site shall not be adjacent to single-family residential properties of less than two (2) gross acres in size unless that residential property contains an equestrian trail easement along the contiguous boundary.
3. Structures or facilities used for stabling, storing, showing or training of animals, and for temporary manure storage shall be set back a minimum of one hundred (100) feet from any adjacent privately-owned property. Dwelling units, accessory structures incidental to dwelling units, and irrigated pasture may occur within the one-hundred-foot setback area subject to the setback requirements of the applicable zoning district.
4. The front yard shall be that of the applicable zoning district or forty (40) feet, whichever is greater.
5. All pasture and animal storage areas shall be enclosed with fences or walls of a minimum of four (4) feet six (6) inches in height. The design of these enclosures shall be shown on drawings submitted with the use permit application.
6. The applicant shall provide a specific plan which includes the physical containment and location for manure storage and/or a disposal program which minimizes odor and fly impacts in adjacent parcels. The spreading and tilling of manure into the soil of paddock, pasture or arena areas may be considered manure disposal.
7. The owner shall provide a specific program for fly control in barn and stable areas which minimizes the attraction to and successful breeding of flies.
8. All activity and pasture areas shall be grassed, sprinklered, or treated with regularly tilled high organic soil mix for dust suppression as approved by the project review director.
9. There shall be no shows or other activities which would generate more traffic than is normal to a residential area, unless the proposed site has direct access from a major street as set forth in the City of Scottsdale right-of-way standards. Permission for such shows and activities may be obtained from the City Council. Notification shall be provided in a letter that explains the nature and duration of the activity, and accommodations for spectators, traffic and additional parking for cars and trailers. This letter shall be submitted to the City Clerk at least one (1) month prior to the date of the show or activity.
10. All laws applicable to the public health must be complied with for the entire period of operation of the stable.
11. Upon renovation of the use permit or abandonment of the commercial stable operation any accessory residential structures shall be removed.