Surprise, Arizona zoning

A plain-language summary of the Surprise zoning ordinance, organized by district and topic. Source: the official ordinance on Municode, last reviewed July 3, 2026.

Zoning districts

RRResidential
Rural Residential
Large-lot rural residential district for single-family homes in a rural setting, equivalent zoning for former county RU-43 parcels annexed by the city (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.2). Maximum density 1 dwelling unit per acre. Dimensional figures (Table 106-2b) confirmed live this session: 1-acre minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 25 percent lot coverage.
R-1Residential
Residential Low Density
The city's standard low-density single-family district, sorted into six lot categories (A-F) by lot area (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (R1, R1-8, RL-4, RL-5) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-2c) confirmed live this session: lot areas from 4,950 sf to 43,560+ sf, 35-foot height cap across all categories.
R-2Residential
Residential Medium Density
Medium-density district for single-family, duplex, triplex, and townhouse product, sorted into four lot categories (A-D) (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.4). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (RM-6, RM-9, and some RH-15 parcels) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Maximum 3 dwelling units per lot of record. Dimensional figures (Table 106-2d) confirmed live this session: lot areas from 800 sf (single-family/townhouse) to 12,000+ sf, 35-foot height cap across all categories.
R-3Residential
Residential High Density
High-density residential district covering townhouse, multifamily, and apartment development at a net density above 8 dwelling units per acre for multifamily, minimum 1-acre lot (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.5). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (R3, RH, RH-15) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Tables 106-2e, 106-2f) confirmed live this session: multifamily height 45-60 feet by net density; townhouse-specific standards including a 1,200 sf minimum lot and 45-foot height cap.
SHD-ROResidential
Surprise Heritage District - Residential Overlay
Overlay zone within the Surprise Heritage District (SHD), the city's Original Town Site (bounded by Bell Road, Greenway Road, El Mirage Road, and Dysart Road), consolidating single-family, duplex, live/work, and small multifamily uses (LDO Chapter 106, Article III, Sec. 106-3.1 through 106-3.2). Approved by City Council in June 2016; comprehensive design standards apply to all Original Town Site properties. Property owners may opt out of the overlay within three years of the rezoning notice, in which case the underlying pre-overlay zoning and the rest of the LDO apply instead.
SHD-COCommercial
Surprise Heritage District - Commercial Overlay
Overlay zone within the Surprise Heritage District consolidating commercial and industrial land into neighborhood-scale commercial, retail, entertainment, and mixed-use development, including multifamily and true mixed-use residential-over-retail buildings (LDO Chapter 106, Article III, Sec. 106-3.1 through 106-3.2). New regional commercial and industrial uses are prohibited after rezoning into this overlay, though existing land use rights are preserved. Approved by City Council in June 2016.
SHD-CCCommercial
Surprise Heritage District - Community Commercial
SHD-tagged variant of the Community Commercial (C-2) base district applied within the Surprise Heritage District boundary, per the City's zoning layer crosswalk. Confirm whether this parcel falls under the SHD Commercial Overlay standards or a distinct SHD-CC standard with Planning and Zoning.
SHD-CRCommercial
Surprise Heritage District - Regional Commercial
SHD-tagged variant of the Regional Commercial (C-3) base district applied within the Surprise Heritage District boundary, per the City's zoning layer crosswalk. Confirm whether this parcel falls under the SHD Commercial Overlay standards or a distinct SHD-CR standard with Planning and Zoning.
SHD-RL-5Residential
Surprise Heritage District - Residential Low Density
SHD-tagged variant of the Residential Low Density (R-1) base district applied within the Surprise Heritage District boundary, per the City's zoning layer crosswalk. Confirm whether this parcel falls under the SHD Residential Overlay standards or a distinct SHD-RL-5 standard with Planning and Zoning.
C-1Commercial
Neighborhood Commercial
Neighborhood-serving commercial district for smaller shops, dining, and services meeting daily neighborhood needs (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.1 through 106-6.3). Dimensional figures (Table 106-6a) confirmed live this session: 12,000 sf minimum lot, 35-foot height cap, 5,000 sf maximum per use/tenant.
C-2Commercial
Community Commercial
Community-serving commercial district for retail, office, and service uses, emphasizing shopping/office commerce centers over strip commercial (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.1 through 106-6.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (C2, CC) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-6a) confirmed live this session: 18,000 sf minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 45,000 sf maximum per use/tenant.
C-3Commercial
Regional Commercial
Large-format, regional-draw commercial district for general business at large building scale and intensity (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.1 through 106-6.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (C-3, CR) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district; this is the district actually confirmed live via GIS point query on 2026-07-03 (ZONING_STATUS ACTIVE). Dimensional figures (Table 106-6a) confirmed live this session: 90,000 sf minimum lot, 45-foot height cap, no size limit per use/tenant or commerce center.
BPIndustrial
Business Park
Office, research, and light industrial campus district for integrated technology, R&D, office, and distribution uses developed in a campus-like setting (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3); minimum 50-acre parcel to request BP zoning. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 20-acre minimum lot, 45-foot height cap, 75-foot residential-adjacency setback.
I-1Industrial
Light Industrial
Light manufacturing, warehousing, and assembly district for uses with limited retail/consumer interaction and largely indoor operations (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (IG in some records, IP) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 20,000 sf minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 50-foot residential-adjacency setback (may be reduced to 15 feet with a landscape buffer).
I-2Industrial
General Industrial
General industrial and manufacturing district for uses requiring large land areas unencumbered by nearby residential or commercial development (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3). The zoning layer also carries a legacy pre-2021 code value (IG in most records) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 5-acre minimum lot, 85-foot height cap, 75-foot residential-adjacency setback (may be reduced to 15 feet with a landscape buffer).
I-3Industrial
Heavy Industrial
Heavy industrial district for uses requiring major earth-moving activities suitable only in certain locations, which may require land reclamation on completion (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3). The zoning layer also carries a legacy pre-2021 code value (ILM) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 40-acre minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 150-foot residential-adjacency setback (may be reduced to 75 feet with a landscape buffer).
OS-1Special purpose
Open Space Conservation
Open space conservation district for natural open spaces (desert washes/floodplains, environmentally sensitive lands, wildlife habitats, steep hillsides, historic/archeological sites) with only limited passive recreational uses (LDO Chapter 106, Article VIII, Sec. 106-8.2); minimum 10-acre parcel, requires the property owner's express written consent if privately held. The zoning layer's OS attribute value does not distinguish OS-1 from OS-2; confirm which civic district applies to a specific parcel with Planning and Zoning. Dimensional figures (Table 106-8a) confirmed live this session: 15-foot ROW setback, 15-foot maximum building height.
OS-2Special purpose
Open Space Recreation
Open space recreation district for lands developed for recreational uses (such as parks and golf courses) through the plan approval process (LDO Chapter 106, Article VIII, Sec. 106-8.3). The zoning layer's OS attribute value does not distinguish OS-1 from OS-2; confirm which civic district applies to a specific parcel with Planning and Zoning. Dimensional figures (Table 106-8b) confirmed live this session: 15-foot ROW and adjacency setbacks, 35-foot maximum building height (up to 60 feet with additional setback).
PFSpecial purpose
Public Facilities
Public and institutional uses district for federal, state, county, and city owned land, such as government facilities, schools, and utility infrastructure (LDO Chapter 106, Article VIII, Sec. 106-8.4). Confirmed live this session: PF has no fixed dimensional chart; standards are determined case-by-case based on use and impact on surrounding development as part of the site plan review process, working in conjunction with the Planning and Engineering Design Standards (Chapter 107).
MU-1Mixed use
Mixed Use Medium Density
Medium-density mixed-use district integrating diverse housing with a limited range of neighborhood-scale commercial uses (LDO Chapter 106, Article V, Sec. 106-5.2); maximum gross density 8 dwelling units per acre, 25-75 percent of floor area must be residential. Dimensional figures (Table 106-5a) confirmed live this session: 1-acre minimum development parcel, 45-foot height cap, 5,000 sf maximum building footprint.
MU-2Mixed use
Mixed Use High Density
High-density mixed-use district (LDO Chapter 106, Article V, Sec. 106-5.3). Exact dimensional figures and use list are exact-figure review-gated in this draft; confirm the current Sec. 106-5.3 chart with Planning and Zoning or the Municode publication before acting.
MU-3Mixed use
Mixed Use Resort
Resort-scale mixed-use district (LDO Chapter 106, Article V, Sec. 106-5.4). Exact dimensional figures and use list are exact-figure review-gated in this draft; confirm the current Sec. 106-5.4 chart with Planning and Zoning or the Municode publication before acting.
TNDMixed use
Traditional Neighborhood Development
Custom-platted neighborhood district established parcel by parcel through its own review process rather than a single standard chart (LDO Chapter 106, Article IV, Sec. 106-4.1 through 106-4.4). Each TND establishment sets its own development standards; confirm the specific TND ordinance for the property with Planning and Zoning.
PADSpecial purpose
Planned Area Development
The city's most common zoning designation by mapped area (roughly 40 percent of zoning polygons in the City's GIS layer as of 2026-07-03). Each PAD is its own adopted ordinance with a PAD document that sets the district's specific uses and dimensional standards, generally organized around an underlying base district shown in the zoning layer's UNDERLYING_ZONING field. Confirm the specific PAD name, ordinance number, and current PAD document for the property with Planning and Zoning; do not assume base-district standards apply.
PUDSpecial purpose
Planned Unit Development
Legacy planned-development designation, less common than PAD in current zoning layer records. Confirm the specific PUD ordinance and any development agreement for the property with Planning and Zoning; do not assume base-district standards apply.
C-OCommercial
Office Commercial
Office commercial district providing for offices and services with smaller, supportive shops and dining, intended to create an employment-friendly environment that limits impact on and can be integrated within residential neighborhoods (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.2.A, Sec. 106-6.3). Applicable in rural, suburban, urban, and community commercial development types under the General Plan. This district was confirmed live from Sec. 106-6.2 in this session; it is not carried in the pack's original district roster and does not currently appear in the city's zoning GIS layer group-by check, so its mapped extent, if any, is unconfirmed.

Code	Name	Category	Summary
RR	Rural Residential	Residential	Large-lot rural residential district for single-family homes in a rural setting, equivalent zoning for former county RU-43 parcels annexed by the city (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.2). Maximum density 1 dwelling unit per acre. Dimensional figures (Table 106-2b) confirmed live this session: 1-acre minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 25 percent lot coverage.
R-1	Residential Low Density	Residential	The city's standard low-density single-family district, sorted into six lot categories (A-F) by lot area (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (R1, R1-8, RL-4, RL-5) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-2c) confirmed live this session: lot areas from 4,950 sf to 43,560+ sf, 35-foot height cap across all categories.
R-2	Residential Medium Density	Residential	Medium-density district for single-family, duplex, triplex, and townhouse product, sorted into four lot categories (A-D) (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.4). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (RM-6, RM-9, and some RH-15 parcels) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Maximum 3 dwelling units per lot of record. Dimensional figures (Table 106-2d) confirmed live this session: lot areas from 800 sf (single-family/townhouse) to 12,000+ sf, 35-foot height cap across all categories.
R-3	Residential High Density	Residential	High-density residential district covering townhouse, multifamily, and apartment development at a net density above 8 dwelling units per acre for multifamily, minimum 1-acre lot (LDO Chapter 106, Article II, Sec. 106-2.5). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (R3, RH, RH-15) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Tables 106-2e, 106-2f) confirmed live this session: multifamily height 45-60 feet by net density; townhouse-specific standards including a 1,200 sf minimum lot and 45-foot height cap.
SHD-RO	Surprise Heritage District - Residential Overlay	Residential	Overlay zone within the Surprise Heritage District (SHD), the city's Original Town Site (bounded by Bell Road, Greenway Road, El Mirage Road, and Dysart Road), consolidating single-family, duplex, live/work, and small multifamily uses (LDO Chapter 106, Article III, Sec. 106-3.1 through 106-3.2). Approved by City Council in June 2016; comprehensive design standards apply to all Original Town Site properties. Property owners may opt out of the overlay within three years of the rezoning notice, in which case the underlying pre-overlay zoning and the rest of the LDO apply instead.
SHD-CO	Surprise Heritage District - Commercial Overlay	Commercial	Overlay zone within the Surprise Heritage District consolidating commercial and industrial land into neighborhood-scale commercial, retail, entertainment, and mixed-use development, including multifamily and true mixed-use residential-over-retail buildings (LDO Chapter 106, Article III, Sec. 106-3.1 through 106-3.2). New regional commercial and industrial uses are prohibited after rezoning into this overlay, though existing land use rights are preserved. Approved by City Council in June 2016.
SHD-CC	Surprise Heritage District - Community Commercial	Commercial	SHD-tagged variant of the Community Commercial (C-2) base district applied within the Surprise Heritage District boundary, per the City's zoning layer crosswalk. Confirm whether this parcel falls under the SHD Commercial Overlay standards or a distinct SHD-CC standard with Planning and Zoning.
SHD-CR	Surprise Heritage District - Regional Commercial	Commercial	SHD-tagged variant of the Regional Commercial (C-3) base district applied within the Surprise Heritage District boundary, per the City's zoning layer crosswalk. Confirm whether this parcel falls under the SHD Commercial Overlay standards or a distinct SHD-CR standard with Planning and Zoning.
SHD-RL-5	Surprise Heritage District - Residential Low Density	Residential	SHD-tagged variant of the Residential Low Density (R-1) base district applied within the Surprise Heritage District boundary, per the City's zoning layer crosswalk. Confirm whether this parcel falls under the SHD Residential Overlay standards or a distinct SHD-RL-5 standard with Planning and Zoning.
C-1	Neighborhood Commercial	Commercial	Neighborhood-serving commercial district for smaller shops, dining, and services meeting daily neighborhood needs (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.1 through 106-6.3). Dimensional figures (Table 106-6a) confirmed live this session: 12,000 sf minimum lot, 35-foot height cap, 5,000 sf maximum per use/tenant.
C-2	Community Commercial	Commercial	Community-serving commercial district for retail, office, and service uses, emphasizing shopping/office commerce centers over strip commercial (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.1 through 106-6.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (C2, CC) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-6a) confirmed live this session: 18,000 sf minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 45,000 sf maximum per use/tenant.
C-3	Regional Commercial	Commercial	Large-format, regional-draw commercial district for general business at large building scale and intensity (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.1 through 106-6.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (C-3, CR) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district; this is the district actually confirmed live via GIS point query on 2026-07-03 (ZONING_STATUS ACTIVE). Dimensional figures (Table 106-6a) confirmed live this session: 90,000 sf minimum lot, 45-foot height cap, no size limit per use/tenant or commerce center.
BP	Business Park	Industrial	Office, research, and light industrial campus district for integrated technology, R&D, office, and distribution uses developed in a campus-like setting (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3); minimum 50-acre parcel to request BP zoning. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 20-acre minimum lot, 45-foot height cap, 75-foot residential-adjacency setback.
I-1	Light Industrial	Industrial	Light manufacturing, warehousing, and assembly district for uses with limited retail/consumer interaction and largely indoor operations (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3). The zoning layer also carries legacy pre-2021 code values (IG in some records, IP) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 20,000 sf minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 50-foot residential-adjacency setback (may be reduced to 15 feet with a landscape buffer).
I-2	General Industrial	Industrial	General industrial and manufacturing district for uses requiring large land areas unencumbered by nearby residential or commercial development (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3). The zoning layer also carries a legacy pre-2021 code value (IG in most records) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 5-acre minimum lot, 85-foot height cap, 75-foot residential-adjacency setback (may be reduced to 15 feet with a landscape buffer).
I-3	Heavy Industrial	Industrial	Heavy industrial district for uses requiring major earth-moving activities suitable only in certain locations, which may require land reclamation on completion (LDO Chapter 106, Article VII, Sec. 106-7.1 through 106-7.3). The zoning layer also carries a legacy pre-2021 code value (ILM) that the City's own crosswalk maps to this district. Dimensional figures (Table 106-7a) confirmed live this session: 40-acre minimum lot, 40-foot height cap, 150-foot residential-adjacency setback (may be reduced to 75 feet with a landscape buffer).
OS-1	Open Space Conservation	Special purpose	Open space conservation district for natural open spaces (desert washes/floodplains, environmentally sensitive lands, wildlife habitats, steep hillsides, historic/archeological sites) with only limited passive recreational uses (LDO Chapter 106, Article VIII, Sec. 106-8.2); minimum 10-acre parcel, requires the property owner's express written consent if privately held. The zoning layer's OS attribute value does not distinguish OS-1 from OS-2; confirm which civic district applies to a specific parcel with Planning and Zoning. Dimensional figures (Table 106-8a) confirmed live this session: 15-foot ROW setback, 15-foot maximum building height.
OS-2	Open Space Recreation	Special purpose	Open space recreation district for lands developed for recreational uses (such as parks and golf courses) through the plan approval process (LDO Chapter 106, Article VIII, Sec. 106-8.3). The zoning layer's OS attribute value does not distinguish OS-1 from OS-2; confirm which civic district applies to a specific parcel with Planning and Zoning. Dimensional figures (Table 106-8b) confirmed live this session: 15-foot ROW and adjacency setbacks, 35-foot maximum building height (up to 60 feet with additional setback).
PF	Public Facilities	Special purpose	Public and institutional uses district for federal, state, county, and city owned land, such as government facilities, schools, and utility infrastructure (LDO Chapter 106, Article VIII, Sec. 106-8.4). Confirmed live this session: PF has no fixed dimensional chart; standards are determined case-by-case based on use and impact on surrounding development as part of the site plan review process, working in conjunction with the Planning and Engineering Design Standards (Chapter 107).
MU-1	Mixed Use Medium Density	Mixed use	Medium-density mixed-use district integrating diverse housing with a limited range of neighborhood-scale commercial uses (LDO Chapter 106, Article V, Sec. 106-5.2); maximum gross density 8 dwelling units per acre, 25-75 percent of floor area must be residential. Dimensional figures (Table 106-5a) confirmed live this session: 1-acre minimum development parcel, 45-foot height cap, 5,000 sf maximum building footprint.
MU-2	Mixed Use High Density	Mixed use	High-density mixed-use district (LDO Chapter 106, Article V, Sec. 106-5.3). Exact dimensional figures and use list are exact-figure review-gated in this draft; confirm the current Sec. 106-5.3 chart with Planning and Zoning or the Municode publication before acting.
MU-3	Mixed Use Resort	Mixed use	Resort-scale mixed-use district (LDO Chapter 106, Article V, Sec. 106-5.4). Exact dimensional figures and use list are exact-figure review-gated in this draft; confirm the current Sec. 106-5.4 chart with Planning and Zoning or the Municode publication before acting.
TND	Traditional Neighborhood Development	Mixed use	Custom-platted neighborhood district established parcel by parcel through its own review process rather than a single standard chart (LDO Chapter 106, Article IV, Sec. 106-4.1 through 106-4.4). Each TND establishment sets its own development standards; confirm the specific TND ordinance for the property with Planning and Zoning.
PAD	Planned Area Development	Special purpose	The city's most common zoning designation by mapped area (roughly 40 percent of zoning polygons in the City's GIS layer as of 2026-07-03). Each PAD is its own adopted ordinance with a PAD document that sets the district's specific uses and dimensional standards, generally organized around an underlying base district shown in the zoning layer's UNDERLYING_ZONING field. Confirm the specific PAD name, ordinance number, and current PAD document for the property with Planning and Zoning; do not assume base-district standards apply.
PUD	Planned Unit Development	Special purpose	Legacy planned-development designation, less common than PAD in current zoning layer records. Confirm the specific PUD ordinance and any development agreement for the property with Planning and Zoning; do not assume base-district standards apply.
C-O	Office Commercial	Commercial	Office commercial district providing for offices and services with smaller, supportive shops and dining, intended to create an employment-friendly environment that limits impact on and can be integrated within residential neighborhoods (LDO Chapter 106, Article VI, Sec. 106-6.2.A, Sec. 106-6.3). Applicable in rural, suburban, urban, and community commercial development types under the General Plan. This district was confirmed live from Sec. 106-6.2 in this session; it is not carried in the pack's original district roster and does not currently appear in the city's zoning GIS layer group-by check, so its mapped extent, if any, is unconfirmed.

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