Hearing officer recommends Huachuca City zoning change to align home-based firearms businesses with state law

At a public hearing on Feb. 19, 2026, Huachuca City hearing officer Dr. Johnson presented a proposed text amendment to Section 18.100.210D(1) of the town zoning code that would clarify and prohibit certain firearms- and explosives-related activities in home-based businesses. The hearing took place in Council Chambers at 500 N. Gonzales Blvd.; Dr. Johnson said the public-review period had been open since Feb. 5 and that notice was posted and published in the newspaper.

Dr. Johnson read the proposed wording into the record, saying: "The operation of a home based business involving the sale, mail order, trade, manufacture, display, storage or repair of any sort of explosive or improvised explosive device, and or prohibited weapons, as defined under ARS Section 13-3101." He also noted that "to date, there are no written comments, no phone in comments of any kind has been submitted." The hearing officer explained that anything highlighted in yellow on the handout would be deleted from the existing code and red text represented additions.

No members of the public spoke at the hearing; Dr. Johnson opened the floor for public input, observed that only Town Clerk Brandye Thorpe and Chief of Police Wyatt Barry were present in the chamber in addition to himself, and closed the hearing when no attendees came forward. He recommended approval of the amendment as written and said the recommendation and record would be sent to the Town Council for the council's final reading.

The amendment references state law definitions in Arizona Revised Statutes §13-3101. The minutes of the hearing were included in the record and the meeting minutes show approval by Mayor Johann R. Wallace on Feb. 26, 2026. The Council must take any final legislative action; the hearing record itself does not constitute final adoption of the zoning change.