Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance Chapter 9

Chapter 9 
Open Space Zoning District (OSC and OSR and OSP) 
Section 9.01 
Purpose 
The principal purpose of the Open Space Zoning Districts are to conserve and protect open space, natural desert 
lands, wildlife habitat, and lands agreed to be left undeveloped in master plan approval through hillside 
disturbance transfers. The primary purpose of designating these areas is to raise the degree of assurance that 
designated open space and recreational areas will remain open. 
Section 9.02 
Permitted Uses 
A. 
In the Open Space Conservation ("OSC") Zoning District: 
1. 
Undeveloped natural land. 
2. 
Trails, with the approval of the Town Council. 
3. 
No other uses or structures, except those specifically allowed above, are permitted in the "OSC" Zoning 
District. 
B. 
In the Open Space Recreational ("OSR") Zoning District: 
1. 
Golf course, including clubhouses located thereon, but not including miniature courses. 
2. 
Park land. 
3. 
Public and private wildlife reservations. 
4. 
Publicly and privately owned or operated fire and/or public police stations. 
5. 
Undeveloped natural land. 
6. 
Utility services, but not including offices, wastewater treatment plants, generating stations, and wireless 
communications towers and antennas, unless otherwise specifically permitted elsewhere in the ordinance. 
7. 
Special Event Facility as an Accessory Use to a Clubhouse. A golf course operator may develop and operate a 
special event facility within or immediately adjacent to a clubhouse, if those criteria listed below are met. A 
special event facility is a permanent building that is developed for individual short-term special events at the 
clubhouse, including weddings, parties, meetings, golf tournaments and other similar events. The size 
limitations of the special event facility, as noted below, shall include any restrooms, storage areas, or other 
Ch. 9 Open Space Zoning District (OSC and OSR and OSP) | Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance
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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 25-08, passed September 2, 2025.

portions of the building that are developed for the sole use of the special events facility. In the review of a 
building permit application for a special event facility, the Town may consider building elevations, building 
materials, building color, landscaping, hours of operation, signage, parking, duration, and neighborhood 
impact. As a minimum, the following standards shall apply: 
a. 
A special event facility shall be constructed using the same exterior building materials and paint 
color as the clubhouse. Unless permitted by a development agreement, tents, membrane structures or 
similar buildings or structures are specifically prohibited. However, temporary single-event tent(s) may 
be permitted by Special Event permit pursuant to Section 5.16 of this Ordinance. 
b. 
Any golf course clubhouse may have a special event facility that is up to 2,400 square feet in size, 
regardless of the size of the clubhouse. A special event facility may be greater than 2,400 square feet in 
size, but the special event facility shall be no greater than thirty (30%) percent of the air-conditioned 
areas of the clubhouse, but not including any golf cart storage or maintenance areas of the clubhouse, 
c. 
In no case shall a special event facility be used between the hours of 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM on 
Friday and Saturday evenings. A special event facility shall not be used between the hours of 10:00 PM 
and 6:00 AM on Sunday through Thursday evenings. However, on holidays that occur on Sunday through 
Thursday evenings, the Development Services Director may, with prior approval, allow a special event 
facility to be used until 12:00 AM instead of 10:00 PM. If the Development Services Director determines 
that music or crowd noise has disturbed adjacent residential users, the Development Services Director, 
at his/her discretion and by certified letter to the golf course operator, may further limit the hours of 
future special events. 
d. 
No additional parking spaces are required to be provided for a special event facility. However, there 
shall be no nongolf-related events that utilize the special event facility that begin before 4:00 PM unless 
either additional on-site parking for the facility is provided at a rate of one parking space per every 4 
persons of the capacity of the special event facility or alternative parking accommodations and 
transportation (if necessary) are provided and prior approval is given by the Development Services 
Director. 
e. 
There shall be no additional signage associated with the special event facility. 
C. 
In the Open Space Preservation (“OSP”) Zoning District: 
1. 
Undeveloped natural land and open space. 
2. 
Parks and Nature Preserves. 
3. 
Archaeological or historic sites. 
4. 
Public Trailhead with facilities such as, but not limited to , ranger stations, parking areas, restrooms, seat 
benches, covered armadas and similar structures, trails, trail improvements, and similar features that 
substantially conform to the adopted Master Plan for the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve, with 
specific approval of the Town Council. 
Ch. 9 Open Space Zoning District (OSC and OSR and OSP) | Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance
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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 25-08, passed September 2, 2025.

5. 
Public Trailhead with facilities such as, but not limited to, ranger stations, parking areas, restrooms, seat 
benches, covered armadas and similar structures, trails trail improvements, and similar features on land 
other than the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve with specific approval of the Town Council. 
6. 
Utility services, water tanks, and emergency access easements, may grade, landscape, or otherwise 
encroach, but not including offices, wastewater treatment plants, generating stations, sub-stations, or similar 
structures, with specific approval of the Town Council with an encroachment permit. 
7. 
No other uses or structures, other than as listed above are permitted in the OSP Zoning District. 
Section 9.03 
Uses Subject to Temporary Use Permit in the "OSR" Zoning 
District 
A. 
Master – Planned Village Sales and Information Center within a Clubhouse. The developer of a master-planned 
village may operate a master-planned village sales and information center within a clubhouse by temporary use 
permit only. In the review for a master-planned village sales and information center temporary use permit, the 
Town staff may consider lighting, landscaping, hours of operation, signage, parking, duration, and neighborhood 
impact. At a minimum, the following standards shall apply: 
1. 
On-site sales personnel must be present at least five (5) days a week during normal business hours. In no 
case shall a center be open before 7:00 A.M. or after 9:00 P.M. 
2. 
The center shall be for the purpose of marketing the specific master-planned village, the sale of lots in 
the master-planned village and the distribution of material concerning the attributes of the Town and 
surrounding areas. The office may not be used as an office for the sales of houses, the resale of lots, 
subdivisions with model homes, or property outside of the master-planned village. The sale of country club 
memberships within the master-planned village is permitted as an accessory use only if the master-planned 
village has such a country club. 
3. 
There shall be at least twenty (20) off-street parking stalls provided in addition to the minimum parking 
demand for the golf course. 
4. 
The use shall cease upon termination of the temporary use permit or the completion of the master 
developer's marketing activities, whichever comes first. 
5. 
Signage shall be in conformance with Chapter 6, Section 6.07 of this ordinance. 
Section 9.04 
Height Regulations 
A. 
Open Space Conservation ("OSC") Zoning District: In the "OSC" Zoning District, any building or other structure 
that height regulations regulate are not permitted. 
Ch. 9 Open Space Zoning District (OSC and OSR and OSP) | Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance
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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 25-08, passed September 2, 2025.

B. 
Open Space Recreations ("OSR") Zoning District: In the "OSR" Zoning District, the height of the buildings shall 
not exceed thirty – (30) feet. 
C. 
Open Space Preservation (“OSP”) Zoning District: In the “OSP” Zoning District, the height of any buildings shall 
not exceed twenty – (20) feet. 
Section 9.05 
Yard Regulations 
The required yards are as follows: 
A. 
Open Space Conservation ("OSC") Zoning District: In the "OSC" Zoning District, buildings or other structures 
which would need to observe specific setbacks are not permitted. 
B. 
Open Space Recreations ("OSR") Zoning District: 
1. 
There shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than sixty (60) feet. 
2. 
There shall be a side yard on each side of a building having a width of not less than thirty (30) feet. 
3. 
There shall be a rear yard having a depth of not less than sixty – (60) feet. 
C. 
Open Space Preservation (“OSP”) Zoning District: 
1. 
There shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than sixty – (60) feet. 
2. 
There shall be a side yard on each side of a building having a width of not less than thirty – (30) feet. 
3. 
There shall be a rear yard having a depth of not less than sixty – (60) feet. 
Section 9.06 
Intensity of Use Regulations 
The intensity of use regulations are as follows: 
A. 
Lot Area: There shall be no minimum lot area. 
B. 
Lot Width: There shall be no minimum lot width. 
C. 
Lot Area per Building in the "OSR" Zoning District: The minimum lot area per building shall be five (5) acres. 
D. 
Lot Coverage in the "OSR" Zoning District: The maximum lot coverage shall be five (5%) percent of the lot 
area. 
E. 
Distance Between Building in the "OSR" Zoning District: The minimum distance between buildings on the 
same lot shall be ten (10) feet. 
Ch. 9 Open Space Zoning District (OSC and OSR and OSP) | Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance
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The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 25-08, passed September 2, 2025.

The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 25-08, passed September 2, 2025. 
Disclaimer: The town clerk’s office has the official version of the Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance. Users should 
contact the town clerk’s office for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above. 
Town Website: www.fh.az.gov 
Hosted by General Code. 
F. 
Lot area per building in the “OSP” Zoning District: The minimum lot area per building shall be ten (10) acres. 
G. 
Lot coverage in the “OSP” Zoning District: The maximum lot coverage shall be five (5%) percent of the lot area. 
H. 
Distance between buildings in the “OSP” Zoning District: The minimum distance between buildings on the 
same lot shall be ten (10) feet. 
Section 9.07 
General Provisions 
The General Provisions in Chapter 5 herein shall apply. 
Section 9.08 
Signs 
All signs shall comply with Chapter 6 herein. 
Section 9.09 
Parking Regulations 
The parking regulations are as provided in Chapter 7 hereof. 
Section 9.10 
Outdoor Lighting 
All outdoor lighting shall conform to Chapter 8 herein. 
Section 9.11 
Plan Review 
The provisions of Chapter 2, Section 2.04 shall apply. 
Ch. 9 Open Space Zoning District (OSC and OSR and OSP) | Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance
Page 5 of 5
The Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 25-08, passed September 2, 2025.