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Planning staff warns state laws will force local code changes on fowl, rezonings and housing studies
Summary
Planning staff told the Commission that recent state legislation will require the town to update zoning and local codes: the state limits local prohibitions on keeping fowl on parcels under half an acre (allowing up to six animals in some conditions), imposes a 180‑day decision requirement for complete rezoning applications, and mandates periodic five‑year housing studies. Staff said it will bring code amendments for commission initiation.
In a planning update at the June 4 meeting, Mr. Vella summarized recent state legislative changes he said will require Oro Valley to amend local zoning code.
"One change has to do with small farm animals," Vella told commissioners. He said the legislature has limited local authority to prohibit fowl on sites smaller than a half‑acre and indicated in the presentation that such sites may allow up to six animals under parameters set by the state.
Vella also outlined changes affecting rezoning timelines. "The state essentially created a shot clock that has to be incorporated into all zoning codes," he said, describing a requirement that town council make a decision within 180 days after an application is deemed complete.
Finally, Vella said the state now requires jurisdictions to conduct housing studies at regular intervals — described in the presentation as five‑year increments — and that the town will need to incorporate that mandate into its planning workflow.
Vella asked commissioners to expect a future agenda in which staff will ask the commission to initiate a series of code amendments to align local ordinances with the new state requirements. He also encouraged attendance at the Arizona State Planning Conference Sept. 18–20 in Tucson and noted the town will offer to cover associated membership and attendance costs for commissioners.
Next steps: staff will return with ordinance language and a request to initiate code amendments reflecting the state changes, and the commission will consider those items at an upcoming hearing.
