General Industrial (GI) District Use Guide for Mesa, Arizona

The General Industrial (GI) district in the City of Mesa is designated for intense industrial activities including manufacturing, processing, assembly, and wholesale storage that require separation from residential areas due to potential impacts like noise or vibration. While the City of Mesa permits most industrial and commercial operations by right, high-impact activities such as metal refining and salvage yards require a Council Use Permit (CUP), and certain sensitive uses like hospitals or places of worship are strictly prohibited.

Purpose of the General Industrial District

The primary intent of the General Industrial (GI) zoning designation is to provide dedicated areas within the City of Mesa for manufacturing, research, wholesale, and storage operations [Section 11-7-1(B)]. These areas are specifically situated to accommodate businesses that may have off-site impacts, ensuring compatibility with the City of Mesa's broader land-use goals by providing appropriate buffers between industrial and residential zones [Section 11-7-1(A)].

Technical Development Standards

Landowners in the General Industrial (GI) district must adhere to specific site and building requirements. The following standards apply to all developments within the City of Mesa GI designation:

Standard	GI Requirement
Minimum Site Area	1.0 acre [Table 11-7-3]
Minimum Lot Width	100 feet [Table 11-7-3]
Minimum Lot Depth	100 feet [Table 11-7-3]
Maximum Lot Coverage	90% [Table 11-7-3]
Maximum Building Height	50 feet [Table 11-7-3]
Front Setback (Arterial Street)	15 feet [Table 11-7-3]
Interior Side/Rear Setback	0 feet (none), unless adjacent to AG/RS/RSL/RM [Table 11-7-3]

Allowed Land Uses in the GI District

Permitted Uses (By-Right)

The City of Mesa allows the following uses to be established in the General Industrial (GI) district without a special use permit, provided they meet standard building and safety codes [Table 11-7-2]:

Industrial/Manufacturing: Manufacturing (General, Limited, and Heavy), Light Assembly/Cabinetry, Handicraft/Custom Manufacturing, and Research and Development.
Storage and Wholesale: Indoor Warehousing and Storage, Wholesale operations, and Contractors' Yards.
Commercial Services: Automobile Repair (Major and Minor), Automobile Sales and Leasing, Automobile Washing, and Large Vehicle/Equipment Sales and Service.
Office and Professional: Business and Professional Offices, Medical and Dental Offices, and Laboratories.
Retail: General Retail Sales, Convenience Markets, Pet Stores, and Plant Nurseries/Garden Centers.
Dining and Entertainment: Restaurants (Full and Limited Service), Coffee Shops/Cafes, and Bars/Clubs/Lounges.
Public/Semi-Public: Public Safety Facilities, Public Maintenance Facilities, and Government Offices.

Uses Requiring a Special Use Permit (SUP) or Council Use Permit (CUP)

Certain uses are subject to additional scrutiny by the City of Mesa to ensure they do not negatively impact the surrounding environment or infrastructure [Table 11-7-2]:

Special Use Permit (SUP): Required for Cultural Institutions, Day Care Centers, Medical Clinics, Service Stations, Towing and Impound yards, and Large Collection Recycling Facilities.
Council Use Permit (CUP): Required for Correctional Transitional Housing Facilities (CTHF), K-12 Schools (Private), Metal Refining/Casting, Processing Facilities, Salvage and Wrecking operations, and Mini-Storage.
Special Exception (SE): Data Centers may be permitted through a special review process [Table 11-7-2 and Section 11-31-36].

Accessory Uses

The City of Mesa permits certain accessory uses within the General Industrial (GI) district to support primary business functions [Table 11-7-2]:

Outdoor Storage: Permitted as an accessory use only if activities are conducted within an enclosed building or if the storage is confined to the rear one-half of the lot [Section 11-7-2, Note 5].
Caretakers' Residences: Permitted as an accessory to the primary industrial use [Table 11-7-2].

Prohibited Uses

To maintain the industrial integrity of the GI district and protect public health, the City of Mesa explicitly prohibits the following uses [Table 11-7-2]:

Residential: Single-Family residences (except via Adaptive Reuse), Multiple-Family complexes, and Assisted Living facilities.
Sensitive Public Uses: Hospitals, Places of Worship, and most Schools (Colleges/Universities).
Heavy Environmental Impact: Cement Plants, Hazardous Waste Disposal Facilities, Incineration of Garbage, Meat Slaughterhouses, and Oil Refineries.
Large-Scale Commercial: Large Commercial Developments (over 25,000 square feet) and Large-Scale Commercial Recreation.
Extraction: Mining and Quarrying.

Sections Cited

Section 11-7-1: Purpose and Intent
Section 11-7-2: Land Use Regulations
Section 11-7-3: Development Standards
Section 11-31-36: Data Centers
Section 11-86-5: Employment and Industrial Use Classifications