Section 1.13 Land Use Classifications

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Section 1.13 Land Use Classifications 
Land use classifications describe one or more uses of land having similar characteristics, but do 
not list every use or activity that may appropriately be within the classification. The Zoning 
Administrator shall determine whether a specific use shall be deemed to be within one or more 
use classifications or not within any classification in this Section. The Zoning Administrator may 
determine that a specific use shall not be deemed to be within a classification, whether or not 
named within the classification, if its characteristics are substantially incompatible with those 
typical of uses named within the classification. 
 
A. Open space. 
Golf Course.  An area of land laid out for playing golf with a series of 9 or 18 holes, each 
including tee, fairway, and putting green and often with one or more natural or manmade 
hazards.  This use classification includes associated clubhouses and maintenance facilities.  
Does not include miniature golf or practice driving ranges. 
Parks and Nature Preserves.  Includes passive and active parks, natural area preservation, 
public and private wildlife reservations, and archeological and historic sites. 
Trails, Trail Heads.  Improved trails for biking and hiking.  May include provision of trailhead 
facilities such as parking lots, restrooms, benches, ramadas, and similar features. 
Undeveloped Natural Land.  Land that has been left in it’s natural, unaltered condition including 
topography and vegetation. 
 
 
B. Agricultural. 
Corrals.  Areas set aside and fenced for the keeping of livestock. 
 
C. Residential.

Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance Chapter 1, Introduction 
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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Assisted Living Facility.  A residential care institution, including adult foster care, that is licensed 
by the State of Arizona to provide supervisory care services, personal care services or directed 
care services on a continuing basis for eight (8) or more residents. 
Community Residence.  A dwelling unit shared by five (5) or more unrelated individuals as 
defined in Sec. 1.12 of the Zoning Ordinance. 
Family Community Residence. A community residence with five (5) to eight (8) beds, including 
resident staff, that is a relatively permanent living arrangement with no limit on the length of 
tenancy as determined in practice or by the rules, charter, or other governing documents of the 
community residence. The minimum length of tenancy is typically a year or longer. 
Transitional Community Residence. A community residence with five (5) to six (6) beds, 
including resident staff, that provides a relatively temporary living arrangement with a limit on 
length of tenancy more than thirty (30) days and less than a year, as determined either in 
practice or by the rules, charter, or other governing document of the community residence. 
Duplex.  Two attached dwelling units on one lot. 
Multiple Residence.  Three or more primary dwelling units on a single lot.  Types of multiple 
residence dwellings include garden apartments, multi-story apartments, and condominiums. 
Single Residence.  A dwelling unit designed for occupancy by one household, and located on a 
separate lot form any other unit (except for an accessory dwelling unit where allowed).  This 
classification includes individual manufactured housing units and individual recreational 
vehicles when used as residences in RV parks and subdivisions. 
Attached.  A single residence dwelling unit, located singly on a lot, but attached through 
common vertical walls to one or more dwellings on abutting lots.  An attached single 
residence dwelling unit is sometimes referred as a “townhome” or a “rowhouse.”  
Detached.  A single residence dwelling unit that is not attached to any other dwelling 
unit (except accessory living quarters, where allowed). 
 
 
D. Public/Quasi-Public.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Community and Cultural Activities.  Public or non-profit facilities and institutions providing 
services and activities to the population of the community such as recreation centers, 
community centers, libraries, and museums.  
Clubs and Lodges.  Meeting, recreational, or social facilities of a private or nonprofit 
organization primarily for use by members or guests.  This classification includes union halls 
and social clubs. 
Detoxification Center, Inpatient.  Facilities that provide onsite, inpatient detoxification services.  
These same facilities may also provide outpatient detoxification services. 
Educational Facilities. 
Colleges and Universities.  Public or private post-secondary institutions of higher 
learning that grant associates or higher degrees and may also have research facilities.  
This classification includes community colleges that grant associate degrees and/or 
certificates of completion in business or technical fields. 
Primary and Secondary Schools.  Public facilities for primary or secondary education 
having curricula of general academic education consistent with the academic 
requirements of the State of Arizona, including kindergarten, elementary, junior high 
school, and high school, including accessory facilities traditionally associated with 
schools, such as athletic stadia, cafeterias and libraries. 
Trade School, Commercial.  Public schools established to provide teaching of clerical, 
medical, managerial, or artistic skills such as nursing, accounting, data processing, or 
computer repair.  This classification excludes establishments providing training for 
activities that are not otherwise allowed in the zoning district. 
Trade School, Industrial.  Public schools offering training in industrial trades such as 
welding or metal fabrication. 
Government Offices.  Administrative, clerical, or public contact offices of a government agency, 
including postal facilities, together with incidental storage and maintenance of vehicles.  This 
classification excludes equipment service centers and similar centers and similar facilities that 
primarily provide maintenance and repair services and storage facilities for vehicles and 
equipment.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Hospitals.  Institutions providing medical and surgical care to the sick or injured, including 
operating facilities and beds for patients to stay overnight.  These establishments may include 
ancillary uses such as nursing facilities, extended care facilities, physical therapy, gift shops, 
retail pharmacies, temporary housing for families of patients, cafeterias or restaurants, and 
related uses operated primarily for the benefit of patients, staff, and visitors. 
Nursing and Convalescent Facilities.  Establishment that provide 24-hour medical, convalescent 
or chronic care to individuals who, by reason of advanced age, chronic illness or infirmity, are 
unable to care for themselves, and is licensed as a skilled nursing facility by the State of Arizona, 
including but not limited to, rest homes and convalescent hospitals, but not Residential Care, 
Hospitals, or Clinics. 
Parks and Recreation Facilities. Parks, playgrounds, wildlife preserves, and related open spaces, 
all of which are noncommercial.  This classification includes playing fields, courts, gymnasiums, 
swimming pools, picnic facilities, tennis courts, and botanical gardens and ancillary concessions 
or other support facilities. 
Places of Worship.  A facility of religious worship and incidental religious education and offices 
and may include private schools (grades K -12) for primary or secondary education, as defined 
in this section.  This classification includes churches, synagogues, temples, and other facilities 
primarily used for religious services and activities. 
Protective Services.  Facilities providing public safety and emergency services, including police 
and fire protection and emergency medical services, with incidental storage, and maintenance 
facilities. 
Public Maintenance Facilities.  Facilities providing maintenance and repair services for vehicles 
and equipment and materials storage areas for government entities.  This classification 
includes equipment service centers and similar public facilities. 
Substance Abuse or Addiction Treatment Center, Lodging.  Facilities providing treatment, 
training, or education as part of an alcoholism or drug addiction program. May include 
providing detoxification services in conjunction with the treatment and may include provisions 
where clients can lodge at the facility and receive meals. 
 
E. Office.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Business and Professional.  Offices of firms or organizations providing professional, executive, 
management, administrative, or design services, such as accounting, architectural, computer 
software design, engineering, graphic design, interior design, investment, insurance, real estate, 
and legal services. 
Detoxification Center, Outpatient.  Facilities providing outpatient drug or alcohol detoxification 
services with or without training, education, or treatment services at the same location. 
Medical.  Offices where medical and dental services are provided by physicians, dentists, 
chiropractors, optometrists, and similar medical professionals.  This classification includes 
medical laboratories, massage therapy, and counseling services. 
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations.  An establishment containing one or more 
broadcasting studios for over-the-air, cable or satellite delivery of radio or television programs, 
or studios for the audio or video recording or filming of musical performances, radio, or 
television programs or motion pictures.  This use category does not include transmission 
towers. 
Substance Abuse or Addiction Treatment Centers.  Facilities providing treatment, training or 
education as a part of an alcoholism or drug addiction program without on-site detoxification, 
lodging, or meals. 
 
F. Commercial. 
Adult Businesses.  An adult business is a commercial establishment that regularly offers, sells, 
or distributes adult-oriented material or sexually-oriented merchandise, or that features 
entertainment or services characterized by depictions or descriptions of specified sexual 
activities or anatomical areas. This often includes establishments like adult bookstores, arcades, 
theaters, cabarets, and motels. 
Animal Services. 
Day Care and Training.  Commercial facilities for the keeping or training of four (4) or 
more dogs, cats, or other household pets not owned by the facility owner or operator 
for periods no longer than twelve (12) hours.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Groomers.  Facilities providing grooming services for dogs and cats including incidental 
keeping of animals associated with drop off and pick up. 
Kennels. Facilities for keeping, boarding, breeding or maintaining for commercial 
purposes, four (4) or more dogs, cats, or other household pets not owned by the kennel 
owner or operator.  This classification excludes pet shops, grooming services, and 
animal hospitals that provide 24-hour accommodation of animals receiving medical. 
Veterinary.  Medical care for small and large animals on a commercial basis.  This 
classification allows 24-hour accommodations of animals receiving medical services but 
does not include kennels.  This classification includes animal hospitals and clinics 
providing services such medical examinations, diagnosis, and procedures; dispensing of 
medications for animals; providing surgical procedures, and space for supervised 
recuperation from medical and surgical procedures. 
 
Automotive Sales and Rentals. 
Automobile Rentals.  Rental of automobiles, including storage and incidental 
maintenance. 
Automobile Sales.  Sales or leasing of motorcycles, automobiles and trucks up to 14,000 
pounds gvw, including storage and incidental maintenance. 
Golf Cart and ATV’s. Sales or leasing of electric or gas-powered golf carts and ATV’s up to 
2000 pounds in size. 
Large Trucks and RV’s.  Sales and leasing of large vehicles, boats, motor homes and 
recreational vehicles including storage and incidental maintenance. 
Construction Equipment.  Sales, service, rental and storage of construction equipment 
such as forklifts, excavators, backhoes, dump trucks, etc. 
Automotive Maintenance and Repair. 
Automotive Repair, Major.  Repair of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, 
and recreational vehicles, including the sale, installation, and servicing of related 
equipment and parts, generally on an overnight basis.  This classification includes auto 
repair shops, body and fender shops, transmission shops, but excludes vehicle 
dismantling or salvaging and tire re-treading or recapping.

Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance Chapter 1, Introduction 
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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Automotive Repair, Minor.  The service and repair of automobiles, light-duty trucks, and 
motorcycles, including the sale, installation, and servicing of related equipment and 
parts.  This classification includes quick-service oil, tune-up, wheel and brake shops, 
muffler shops, auto glass services, and tire sales and installation, where repairs are 
made, or service is provided in enclosed bays and no vehicles are stored overnight.  This 
classification excludes establishments providing engine repair, body and fender work, 
vehicle painting, or towing.  It also excludes repair of heavy (14,000 pounds or more) 
trucks or construction vehicles.  
Carwash.  Washing, waxing, vacuuming, or cleaning of automobiles or similar light 
vehicles, including automatic, self-serve, and hand washing facilities. 
Business Support Services.  Establishments that primarily provide goods and services to other 
businesses on a fee or contract basis, including such things as printing and copying, blueprint 
services, advertising and mailing, equipment rental and leasing, office security, custodial 
services, photo finishing, and model building. 
Child/Adult Day Care Facilities.  Establishments providing non-medical care for persons on a 
less than 24-hour basis other than in a residential home.  This classification includes nursery 
schools, preschools, and day care facilities for children or adults, and any other day care facility 
licensed by the State of Arizona. 
Commercial Entertainment. Provision of spectator entertainment to the general public 
including live and motion picture theaters and concert halls. This category excludes cabarets, 
nightclubs, and similar establishments providing entertainment incidental to food or beverage 
sales. 
Commercial Parking.  Surface lots and structures offering parking to the public for a fee when 
such use is not incidental to another activity.  
Contractors, Building and Property Maintenance.  Establishments engaged in providing 
contracting, or building, property and landscape maintenance services.  This classification 
includes uses such as land surveyors, pest control, plumbers, electricians, homebuilders, etc. 
Offices Only.  Establishments for the uses described above that maintain an office only 
with parking for company vehicles but no other onsite storage of equipment or 
materials.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Indoor Storage.  Establishments for the above uses that also include provisions for 
indoor storage and warehousing of equipment and supplies. 
Outdoor storage/Large Equipment.  Establishments for the above uses that include 
onsite storage and maintenance of large construction equipment and/or outdoor 
storage of other equipment, material, or supplies. 
Eating and Drinking Establishments.  Businesses primarily engaged in serving prepared food 
and/or beverages for consumption on or off the premises. 
Bar, Club, Lounge.  Businesses serving beverages for consumption on the premises as a 
primary use including on-sale service of alcohol including beer, wine, or mixed drinks, 
and businesses that do not meet the definition of restaurant. 
Catering.  Businesses that prepare food and drinks for delivery to an event which takes 
place off-site. 
Restaurants.  Establishments providing food and beverage sales and services to patrons 
for consumption on-site, take out, or delivery.  At least 40% of gross sales revenue must 
be from serving food to be classified as a restaurant. 
Event and Reception Centers.  Facilities that are rented on a short-term basis for events such as 
weddings, receptions, banquets, and conferences as a principle business activity (not as an 
accessory to an other use such as a place of worship or a community center). 
Financial Institutions.  Financial institutions providing retail banking services.  This classification 
includes only those institutions engaged in the on-site circulation of money, including credit 
unions and businesses offering check-cashing facilities, but excluding non-chartered financial 
institutions. 
Food and Beverage Stores.  Retail sales of food and beverages for off-site preparation and 
consumption.  Typical uses include food markets, groceries, liquor stores, and retail bakeries. 
Convenience Stores.  Retail establishments that sell a limited line of groceries, 
prepackaged food items, tobacco, magazines, and other household goods, primarily for 
off-premises consumption and typically found in establishments with long or large 
hours of operation and relatively small building of less than 5,000 square feet.  This

Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance Chapter 1, Introduction 
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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
classification includes small retail stores located on the same parcel as or operated in 
conjunction with a fueling station. 
General Market.  Retail markets of food and grocery items for off-site preparation and 
consumption.  Typical uses include supermarkets and specialty food stores, such as 
bakeries, candy, nuts and confectionary stores, meat or produce markets, vitamins and 
health food stores, cheese stores and delicatessens. 
Liquor Stores.  Retail establishments that sell a variety of beer, wine, and other 
spirituous liquors for off-site consumption. 
Fueling Stations.   
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. Establishments providing stations for charging of 
electric vehicles as a primary use. 
Gasoline Stations. Establishments primarily engaged in retailing automotive fuels or 
retailing these fuels in combination with activities such as providing repair services; 
selling automotive oils, replacement parts, and accessories; and/or providing 
convenience or grocery services. 
Funeral Parlors and Mortuaries.  An establishment primarily engaged in the provision of 
services involving the care, preparation, or disposition of the human dead and conducting 
memorial services.  Includes facilities for pets. 
Crematory, columbarium, or mausoleum. 
Furniture and Appliance Repair.  The on-site maintenance or repair of office machines, 
household appliances, furniture, and similar items.  This classification excludes maintenance 
and repair of vehicles or boats (see Automotive Maintenance and Repair) and personal apparel 
(see Personal Care). 
Hotels/Motels/Lodging. Establishments offering lodging to transient patrons. These 
establishments may provide additional accessory services, such as conference and meeting 
rooms, restaurants, bars, or recreation facilities available to guests and the general public. This 
classification includes motor lodges, motels, hostels, extended-stay hotels, and tourist courts, 
but does not include rooming houses, boarding houses, or private residential clubs. The length 
of stays for the majority of guests at these facilities are for 30 days or less.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Landscape Nurseries and Garden Centers. Establishments primarily engaged in retailing 
nursery and garden products - such as trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs, and sod - that are 
predominantly grown elsewhere. These establishments may sell a limited amount of a product 
they grow themselves as well as other related products such as pavers, fence materials, 
landscape lighting, etc. This classification includes wholesale and retail nurseries offering plants 
for sale. 
Live/Work Units.  A commercial or industrial unit with integrated residential accommodations 
that include adequate working space reserved for office, commercial or industrial use and 
regularly used for such purpose by 1 or more persons residing in the unit and a cooking space 
and sanitary facilities in conformance with applicable building code standards.  
Medical Marijuana.  A nonprofit facility operating as medical marijuana dispensary and/or 
cultivation site in conformance duly registered and certified pursuant to ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 36-
2801 - 2822.  
Personal Care. Provision of recurrently needed services of a personal nature. This classification 
includes barber and beauty shops, seamstresses, tailors, dry cleaning agents (excluding large-
scale bulk cleaning plants), shoe repair shops, self-service laundries, photocopying and photo 
finishing services, and travel agencies. 
Recreation. Provision of commercial participant or spectator recreation to the general public, 
excluding public park and recreation facilities. 
Indoor.  This classification includes indoor facilities such as billiard parlors, bowling 
centers, card rooms, dance studios, exercise studios, health clubs, yoga studios, dance 
halls, small tennis club facilities, poolrooms, archery and gun ranges, and amusement 
arcades. This classification may include restaurants, snack bars, and other incidental 
food and beverage services to patrons. 
 
 
Small.  Occupy less than 15,000 square feet of building area, 
 
 
Large.  Occupy 15,000 square feet of building area or more. 
Outdoor.  This classification includes outdoor facilities such as amusement and theme 
parks, sports stadiums and arenas, racetracks, amphitheaters, driving ranges, golf 
courses (daily fee), riding stables, pickleball, tennis facilities, campgrounds etc. This

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
classification may include restaurants, snack bars, and other incidental food and 
beverage services to patrons. 
Small.  Occupy less than 2 acres and do not have stadium seating. 
Large.  Occupy more than 2 acres or have stadium seating.  
Retail/Rental.  The retail sale or rental of merchandise not specifically listed under another use 
classification. This classification includes department stores, clothing stores, furniture stores, 
pet supply stores, hardware stores, and businesses retailing the following goods: toys, hobby 
materials, handcrafted items, jewelry, cameras, photographic supplies and services (including 
portraiture and retail photo processing), medical supplies and equipment, pharmacies, 
electronic equipment, records, sporting goods, kitchen utensils, hardware, appliances, antiques, 
art galleries, art supplies and services, paint and wallpaper, carpeting and floor covering, office 
supplies, bicycles, video rental, and new automotive parts and accessories (excluding vehicle 
service and installation). Retail sales may be combined with other services such as office 
machine, computer, electronics, and similar small-item repairs. This classification includes 
secondhand and wholesale stores. 
Small.  Occupy less than 25,000 square feet of building area and maintain all 
merchandise and materials indoors. 
Large.  Occupy 25,000 square feet of building area or more or include outdoor display or 
storage of merchandise for sale. 
 
Pawn Shops. A business in which a principal business activity involves advancing money 
on the security of pledged goods or purchasing tangible personal property on the 
condition that it may be redeemed or repurchased by the seller for a fixed or variable 
price within a fixed or variable period of time. 
 
Schools, Private.  An institution conducting regular academic instruction at kindergarten, 
elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels operated by a nongovernmental organization. 
Primary and Secondary Schools.  Private facilities for primary or secondary education 
having curricula of general academic education consistent with the academic 
requirements of the State of Arizona, including kindergarten, elementary, junior high 
school, and high school, including accessory facilities traditionally associated with 
schools, such as athletic stadia, cafeterias and libraries.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Trade School, Commercial.  Private schools established to provide teaching of clerical, 
medical, managerial, or artistic skills such as nursing, accounting, data processing, or 
computer repair.  This classification excludes establishments providing training for 
activities that are not otherwise allowed in the zoning district. 
Trade School, Industrial.  Private schools offering training in industrial trades such as 
welding or metal fabrication. 
Self-storage. Commercial facilities offering storage for individual use. An on-site residence may 
be present for use by the site manager and family. 
Indoor.  Facilities which have all of the individual storage units accessed from a climate 
controlled interior hallway. 
Exterior.  Facilities which have some or all of the individual storage units accessed from 
an exterior door. 
Vehicle, Boat and RV.  Facilities providing outdoor storage for cars, trucks, boats, RV’s 
and similar vehicles. 
Studios (art, dance, music, photography, etc.) Galleries and workspace for artists and artisans, 
including individuals practicing one of the fine arts or performing arts, or skilled in an applied 
art or craft. There may be incidental retail sales of items produced on the premises. This 
category may also include incidental instruction. 
Taxidermists.  Businesses involved in the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the 
skins of animals with lifelike effect 
Tattoo and Body Piercing Studios.  Establishments whose principal business activity is one (1) or 
more of the following: 1) using ink or other substances that result in the permanent coloration 
of the skin through the use of needles or other instruments designed to contact or puncture 
the skin; or 2) creation of an opening in the body of a person for the purpose of inserting 
jewelry or other decoration. Exception: Piercing earlobes as an accessory or subordinate activity 
when done at a shop or store selling jewelry as primary activity. 
 
G. Employment and Industrial.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Art, Metal and Ornamental Iron Shops. Manufacture of crafts, art, sculpture, stained glass, 
jewelry, apparel, furniture, cabinet making, and similar items using hand tools and small 
mechanical devices. 
Light Assembly/Cabinet Shops.  Putting together, fabricating, or making minor modifications to 
pre-manufactured items or pre-cut lumber as a last step for items intended to be sold as 
finished products. Includes assembling cabinets, furniture making and welding of pre-made 
parts, but excludes metal extrusion, sawmills, and manufacturing. 
General Industrial.  Manufacturing of products from extracted or raw materials or recycled or 
secondary materials, or bulk storage and handling of such products and materials. This 
classification includes operations such as biomass energy conversion; food and beverage 
processing; textile mills; production apparel manufacturing; photographic processing plants; 
leather and allied product manufacturing; wood product manufacturing; paper manufacturing; 
chemical manufacturing; plastics and rubber products manufacturing; nonmetallic mineral 
product manufacturing; primary metal manufacturing; fabricated metal product manufacturing; 
recycling materials processing facilities in which post-consumer materials are sorted, 
condensed, baled, or transformed; and automotive, ship, aircraft, and heavy equipment 
manufacturing. 
Light Industrial.  Establishments engaged in light industrial activities taking place primarily 
within enclosed buildings and producing minimal impacts on nearby properties. This 
classification includes operations such as manufacturing finished parts or products primarily 
from previously prepared materials; commercial laundries and dry cleaning plants; mobile 
home manufacturing; monument works; printing, engraving and publishing; computer and 
electronic product manufacturing; furniture and related product manufacturing; and industrial 
services. 
Impound Yard.  These facilities are for the temporary storage of abandoned, wrecked or legally 
impounded vehicles regardless of running condition.  Such facilities are not to be used for the 
dismantling of any vehicle, the storage of parts, nor the retailing or wholesaling of any vehicle 
or vehicle parts. 
Indoor Warehousing and Storage. Storage within an enclosed building of commercial goods 
prior to their distribution to wholesale and retail outlets and the storage of industrial 
equipment, products and materials including but not limited to automobiles, feed, and lumber.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
Also includes cold storage, draying or freight, moving and storage, and warehouses. This 
classification excludes the storage of hazardous chemical, mineral, and explosive materials. 
Outdoor Storage.  Storage of materials, vehicles or commercial goods (other than construction 
materials and commercial vehicle storage facilities) in open lots. 
Recycling.  A center for the collection and/or processing of recyclable materials. 
Research and Testing Laboratories. Establishments primarily engaged in scientific research, and 
the design, development, engineering, and testing of high-technology electronic, industrial or 
scientific products in advance of product manufacturing. The production of products, plans, or 
designs may be part of this classification when the primary purpose of such production is 
research, development, or evaluation, rather than sale. Typical uses include biotechnology 
firms, electronic research firms, or pharmaceutical research laboratories. 
Salvage. Storage and dismantling of vehicles and equipment for sale of parts, as well as their 
collection, storage, exchange or sale of goods including, but not limited to, used building 
materials, used containers or steel drums, used tires, and similar or related articles or property. 
Wholesale. Establishments engaged in the distribution and sale of items for resale by retail 
stores, or bulk sale of goods to other professional business, industrial, or institutional users. 
Such activities are characterized through sales of items in large or gross quantities and not as 
individual items, and such establishments are typically not open to the general public for the 
purpose of offering items for individual sale or consumption of goods.  
 
H. Utilities. 
Utility Facilities.  Electric substations, solid waste collection, including transfer stations and 
materials recovery (recycling processing) facilities, solid waste treatment and disposal, water or 
wastewater treatment plants, and similar facilities of public agencies or public utilities. 
Utility Services.  Includes distribution mains with attendant facilities and appurtenances, water 
tanks, control cabinets, and related equipment to facilitate the functioning of the utility system.

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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 24-20, passed November 19, 2024. 
I. Accessory Uses.  In addition to uses listed above that could become an accessory use to 
another primary activity on a property, the following uses may only occur as an accessory use. 
Guest House. Living or sleeping quarters within an accessory building for the sole use of 
occupants of the premises, guests of such occupants or persons employed on the premises. 
The accessory building may be attached to or detached from the main building. Such quarters 
shall not be rented, and/or otherwise used for income producing purposes. 
Home Day Care Center. A residential facility in which care for nonresidents is provided for 
periods of less than twenty-four hours per day, for five or less people. 
Home occupation. Any occupation or profession carried on in a dwelling unit by residents 
thereof which use or activity is incidental and subordinate to the use of the dwelling unit for 
dwelling purposes and which does not change the character thereof. 
Master-Planned Village Sales and Information Center.  A temporary facility as part of a master 
planned development offering information about the development. 
Model Home. Temporary use of a home built in a subdivision for the purposes of 
demonstrating the types of homes and features that can be built in the subdivision. 
Stand-alone ATM.  An automated teller machine located away from and not part of any other 
building or structure. 
Swim school. A school provided from a single-family dwelling providing swimming lessons. 
Wireless Communications Towers. Towers erected on a property to contain antennas for 
broadcast of radiofrequencies.