Mesa Agricultural (AG) District Setback Requirements
The primary setback requirements for the AG: Agricultural district in Mesa consist of a 30-foot front yard, 60-foot interior side yards, and a 60-foot rear yard. Mesa further requires that the interior side yards for the AG: Agricultural district maintain a minimum aggregate of 120 feet for both sides combined [Table 11-4-3].
AG: Agricultural District Development Standards
In Mesa, the AG: Agricultural district is intended to preserve agricultural lands and related activities while protecting them from incompatible urban encroachment [Section 11-4-1]. To maintain this character, specific dimensional standards are applied to all primary structures within the district.
| Standard | AG: Agricultural District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front Yard (Minimum) | 30 feet |
| Interior Side Yard (Minimum each side) | 60 feet |
| Interior Side Yard (Minimum aggregate of 2 sides) | 120 feet |
| Street Side Yard (Minimum) | 30 feet |
| Rear Yard (Minimum) | 60 feet |
| Maximum Building Height | 30 feet |
| Maximum Building Coverage | 15% |
[Table 11-4-3]
Rules for Measuring Setbacks in Mesa
When applying these regulations to a property in the AG: Agricultural district, Mesa utilizes specific measurement protocols to ensure consistency:
- Shortest Distance: All required distances and setbacks are measured at the closest or shortest distance between the two objects, such as the structure and the lot line [Section 11-2-3(C)(1)].
- Horizontal Plane: Setbacks are determined along a horizontal plane from the appropriate line or edge of the building. Measurements do not follow the topography or slope of the land [Section 11-2-3(C)(2)].
- Structure Points: Measurements involving a structure are made to the closest support wall, post, or column. Portions of structures that are entirely underground are not included when measuring required distances [Section 11-2-3(C)(3)].
- Alley Adjacency: If a side lot line in the AG: Agricultural district abuts an alley, that yard is considered an interior side yard rather than a corner side yard [Section 11-2-3(L)(2)(a)].
- Planned Street Expansions: If a property in Mesa abuts a street where a future widening is planned, the required setback must be established from the future right-of-way line rather than the current property line [Section 11-2-3(L)(1)].
Permitted Encroachments and Projections
Mesa allows certain architectural features of a single residence in the AG: Agricultural district to project into the required yards, provided they meet specific limitations. No projection is permitted to extend into a public utility easement or closer than 2 feet to an interior lot line [Section 11-4-4(D)(1)].
| Feature Type | Front Yard Encroachment | Rear Yard Encroachment | Side Yard Encroachment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awnings, eaves, or overhangs | 3 feet | 3 feet | 3 feet |
| Basement window wells | 3 feet | 3 feet | 3 feet |
| Vestibules, bay windows, or chimneys* | 3 feet | 3 feet | 2 feet |
| Staircases | 3 feet | 10 feet | 2 feet |
| Attached open porches, patios, or balconies | Not Specified | 10 feet | Not Specified |
*Note: The aggregate width of these projections adjacent to any yard may not exceed one-third of the total length of the building wall [Section 11-4-4(D)(3)].
Sections Cited
- Section 11-2-3: Rules for Measurement
- Section 11-4-1: Purpose (Agricultural District)
- Section 11-4-3: Development Standards (Agricultural District)
- Section 11-4-4: Supplemental Regulations (Agricultural District)
- Chapter 87: Definitions