Mesa Zoning for Warehousing and Self-Storage Facilities

In the City of Mesa, indoor warehousing and storage is primarily a permitted use in the General Commercial (GC) district and all Employment districts (PEP, LI, GI, HI), whereas self-storage (mini-storage) typically requires a Council Use Permit (CUP) across Commercial and Employment zones. Facilities classified as mini-storage must maintain a minimum distance of 24 feet between buildings for drive aisles and provide specific parking allocations, including spaces for on-site management [Section 11-32-3(A)]. All storage activities in many districts, such as the Mixed Use (MX) zone, must be conducted entirely within enclosed buildings unless specific exceptions for outdoor storage are met [Section 11-30-7].

Allowed Districts for Warehousing and Storage

The City of Mesa distinguishes between general warehousing (industrial scale) and indoor warehousing/storage. General warehousing is defined as a business where storing goods is the principal activity, including shipping and distribution [Section 11-87].

District Type	Zoning District Name	Permissibility	Additional Regulations
Commercial	General Commercial (GC)	Permitted (P)	Subject to general development standards.
Employment	Planned Employment Park (PEP)	Permitted (P)	[Section 11-7-2]
Employment	Light Industrial (LI)	Permitted (P)	[Section 11-7-2]
Employment	General Industrial (GI)	Permitted (P)	[Section 11-7-2]
Employment	Heavy Industrial (HI)	Permitted (P)	[Section 11-7-2]
Downtown	Downtown Business 2 (DB-2)	Council Use Permit (CUP)	Allowed only with specific council approval.

Note: The "Indoor Warehousing and Storage" classification in the City of Mesa explicitly excludes Data Centers [Section 11-86-5].

Allowed Districts for Mini-Storage (Self-Storage)

Mini-storage facilities are defined as those offering storage for individual use, often including an on-site residence for a manager [Section 11-86-5].

District Type	Zoning District Name	Permissibility	Limitations / Notes
Commercial	Limited Commercial (LC)	CUP	Council Use Permit required.
Commercial	General Commercial (GC)	CUP	Council Use Permit required.
Commercial	Mixed Use (MX)	P / CUP	Permitted if $\le$ 5,000 sq. ft.; CUP required if > 5,000 sq. ft.
Employment	Planned Employment Park (PEP)	CUP	Council Use Permit required.
Employment	Light Industrial (LI)	CUP	Council Use Permit required.
Employment	General Industrial (GI)	CUP	Council Use Permit required.
Downtown	Downtown Business 2 (DB-2)	CUP	Max size 6,000 sq. ft. unless modified by CUP.

Parking and Development Standards

The City of Mesa establishes specific off-street parking requirements based on the type of storage facility to ensure efficient on-site circulation.

Use Classification	Required Parking Spaces
Mini-Storage (dead storage only)	4 spaces + 2 for manager's quarters.
Warehousing and Storage	1 space per 900 square feet of floor area.
Boat and RV Storage	Subject to site plan review and specific district requirements.

Circulation Requirements

For mini-storage facilities, the City of Mesa requires that drive aisles located between buildings maintain a minimum width of 24 feet to accommodate vehicular movement [Table 11-32-3.A].

Outdoor Storage Regulations

In the City of Mesa, the ability to store materials or vehicles outdoors is strictly regulated based on the zoning district [Section 11-30-7]:

Commercial Districts (NC, LC, MX, DB): All storage must be within an enclosed building, except for authorized accessory outdoor displays.
General Commercial (GC) and Light Industrial (LI): Outdoor storage is prohibited in front or street-facing side yards. It is permitted in interior side or rear yards if screened from public view.
General Industrial (GI) and Heavy Industrial (HI): Permitted anywhere on the lot, provided it meets screening requirements.
Screening Standards: Where permitted, outdoor storage must be screened by a masonry wall or fence at least eight (8) feet in height. If materials are stored higher than the wall, they must be set back from the property line at a 1:1 ratio for the additional height [Section 11-30-7(C)].

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