← Back to Mesa AssistantMesa

What are the open space requirements in Mesa, AZ according to Resolution RES 12463.2026?

Jurisdiction: Mesa•Code Version: July 2025

Open space requirements in the City of Mesa are categorized by zoning district, building type, and the distinction between private and common areas.

Residential Single Dwelling (RSL) Districts

In Residential Small Lot (RSL) districts, the open space requirement can be satisfied through two primary methods:

  • On-Lot Provision: A minimum of 400 square feet of open space must be provided on each lot. This may be a single area or multiple areas, provided no single space is smaller than 80 square feet [Section 11-5-3(A)5.a, p. 26]. To qualify, balconies must have a minimum depth of 6 feet, while porches or patios require 8 feet, and courtyards or lawns require 10 feet [Section 11-5-3(A)5.a.ii, p. 26].
  • Combination Option: For RSL 4.5 or 4.0 zones, requirements may be met by providing 350 square feet of private open space on-lot plus common open space at a rate of 100 square feet per lot. For RSL 3.0 or 2.5, the ratio is 280 square feet of private space and 120 square feet of common space per lot [Section 11-5-3(A)5.b, p. 26].

Residential Multiple Dwelling (RM) Districts

Open space requirements for RM districts vary by sub-designator:

  • RM-2: 200 square feet per unit.
  • RM-3 and RM-3U: 175 and 150 square feet per unit, respectively.
  • RM-4 and RM-4U: 150 and 120 square feet per unit, respectively.
  • RM-5: 120 square feet per unit [Table 11-5-5, p. 31].

In RM-4U and RM-5 districts, roof areas used for the common benefit of residents may be counted toward up to 50% of the minimum open space requirement [Table 11-5-5, p. 31]. Private open space must be provided based on unit size: 60 square feet for studios/1-bedroom units, 100 square feet for 2-bedroom units, and 120 square feet for units with 3 or more bedrooms [Section 11-5-5(A)3.a, p. 33]. Common open space must have a minimum dimension of 15 feet and be at least 50% open to the sky [Section 11-5-5(A)3.f, p. 33].

Downtown Residence (DR) Districts

  • DR-1: Requires 400 square feet per dwelling unit.
  • DR-2 and DR-3: Require 400 square feet for single-unit dwellings and 200 square feet for multiple-unit developments [Table 11-8-4, p. 74].
  • Multiple Residence Options: Developers in DR-2 and DR-3 may provide 200 square feet of private space, a 60-square-foot private balcony combined with 140 square feet of common space, or 300 square feet of total common space if no private space is provided [Section 11-8-4(B)2, p. 75].

Commercial and Employment Districts

  • Residential in Commercial Zones: Minimum outdoor living area ranges from 100 to 150 square feet per unit depending on the specific commercial district [Table 11-6-3.A, p. 47; Table 11-6-3.B, p. 49].
  • Large Commercial Development: Projects exceeding 25,000 square feet must provide public space at a rate of 5 square feet per 1,000 square feet of floor area, not to exceed 15,000 square feet [Section 11-6-3(B)1.d.i, p. 51].
  • Employment Districts: Buildings 30,000 square feet or larger must provide common open space at a rate of 1% of the gross floor area (GFA). Individual common spaces must be at least 300 square feet with a minimum dimension of 15 feet [Section 11-7-3(B)1.d, p. 64].

Form-Based Code (FBC) Transect Zones

Open space in transect zones is governed by the specific building type:

  • T3N (Neighborhood): 500 square feet minimum [Section 11-59-4(G), p. 314].
  • T4N (Neighborhood): 300 square feet minimum [Section 11-59-5(G), p. 318].
  • T4NF (Neighborhood Flex): 400 square feet minimum [Section 11-59-6(G), p. 321].
  • T4MS (Main Street): 100 square feet per unit minimum [Section 11-59-7(G), p. 325].
  • T5N (Neighborhood): 100 square feet minimum [Section 11-59-8(G), p. 330].
  • T5MSF (Main Street Flex): 100 square feet minimum [Section 11-59-9(G), p. 333].

Manufactured Home and RV Parks

  • RV Parks: 75 square feet per RV space.
  • RV Subdivisions: 150 square feet per RV lot.
  • Manufactured Home Parks: 100 square feet per space.
  • Manufactured Home Subdivisions: 150 square feet per lot [Table 11-34-3, p. 184].

Sections Cited

  • Section 11-5-3: Development Standards for the RS and RSL District (p. 26)
  • Table 11-5-5: Development Standards - RM Residential Multiple Dwelling Districts (p. 31)
  • Section 11-5-5: Development Standards for the RM District (p. 33)
  • Table 11-6-3.A: Development Standards - Commercial Districts (p. 47)
  • Table 11-6-3.B: Development Standards - Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts - with Character Designators (p. 49)
  • Section 11-6-3: Development Standards (p. 51)
  • Section 11-7-3: Development Standards (p. 64)
  • Table 11-8-4: Development Standards - DR Downtown Residence Districts (p. 74)
  • Section 11-8-4: Development Standards—Downtown Residence Districts (p. 75)
  • Table 11-34-3: Development Standards for RV and Manufactured Home Parks and Subdivisions (p. 184)
  • Section 11-59-4: Single-Unit House, Village (p. 314)
  • Section 11-59-5: Single-Unit House, Cottage (p. 318)
  • Section 11-59-6: Bungalow Court (p. 321)
  • Section 11-59-7: Duplex (p. 325)
  • Section 11-59-8: Townhouse (p. 330)
  • Section 11-59-9: Mansion Apartment (p. 333)
  • Section 11-64-3: Definitions of Specialized Terms and Phrases (p. 423)

Have a specific zoning question?

Ask our AI assistant for instant, cited answers from the Mesa code.

Open Chat Assistant