Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bisbee, Arizona

Bisbee’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Bisbee city limits

  • Code edition and adoption ordinance not identified in the zoning code text; the code says permits follow the current international building code and other building regulations adopted by city council.

  “3.6.1 when required building permits will be issued by the building inspector in accordance with the current international building code and other building regulations adopted by city council.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction inside Bisbee city limits

  • Inspections are made by the building inspector or a duly appointed assistant to ensure compliance with adopted land use and building codes.
  • Inspection schedule and sequence were not located.

  “2.2.2 inspection inspections shall be made by the building inspector or by a duly appointed assistant for the purpose of obtaining compliance with the land use and building codes adopted by the city of bisbee.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Bisbee city limits (only ADU use is tied to a certificate of occupancy in the code text found)

  • An accessory dwelling unit may be used or rented only after the building department issues a certificate of occupancy.
  • General certificate of occupancy requirements for other construction were not located.

  “b. requirements: after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the building department an accessory dwelling unit may be used for family and guest living quarters or rented.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Bisbee city limits; the City of Bisbee Zoning Code (1998, as updated) administers zoning there.

  • Zoning districts are R-1, R-2, R-3, RM, C-1 to C-4, CM-1, CM-2, M-1 to M-3, PAD and the HP historic preservation overlay.
  • Use permission depends on district; see the district-specific claims.

  “a zoning system has been devised to meet the needs of bisbee”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Bisbee city limits

  • Districts listed: R-1, R-2, R-3, RM (residential); C-1 to C-4 and CM-1, CM-2 (commercial/mixed); M-1 to M-3 (manufacturing); PAD (planned area); HP overlay.
  • The zoning district map is referenced in the code but was not opened in this research.

  “the city is hereby divided into the following districts: 4.1.1 specific plan zones”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Newly created building sites from splitting an existing lot inside the historic preservation overlay district of Bisbee

  • Applies only to sites created by split within the historic district; adjustments between owners with no net increase in lots are exempt from this minimum.

  minimum newly created split lot size (historic district): >= 4000 sq ft (legal description adjustments without net increase in lots)

  “2. the minimum lot size for any lawfully authorized and newly created building site, resulting from a split of another existing lot or parcel, within the district shall be not less than four thousand (4000) square feet.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential zones in Bisbee city limits; R-1 is the main single-family district

  • R-1 40%, R-2 45%, R-3 50%, RM 70% of total lot area for new residential construction.
  • Applies to all new residential construction in the R zones.

  maximum lot coverage, R-1: <= 40 percent of lot area

  “maximum lot coverage (percent of total lot area) r-1 40% r-2 45% r-3 50% rm 70%”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Long-term RV or travel-trailer occupancy inside Bisbee city limits

  • Vehicles and trailers may not be used as residential dwellings or for permanent occupancy in any zoning district, except in an alternative lodging park by special use permit.
  • Guest use on an occupied residential lot: no more than 30 days per year and 30 days per continuous period at that location; no fees; no more than two vehicles at one time; generator use limited to daylight hours; sanitation must be self-contained or use existing facilities on the property.
  • Use longer than 72 hours or spanning four days needs a permit from the zoning administrator or code enforcement officer.
  • Temporary occupancy by owner, contractor or worker while constructing a building is allowed only with a building permit issued and while reasonable construction progress continues.

  guest RV occupancy limit: <= 30 days per year (per residential location) · maximum RVs on one residential location: <= 2 vehicles

  “a. except as allowed in an alternative lodging park through a special use permit, buses, motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers and travel trailers, as those terms are defined in this code and the arizona revised statutes, shall not be used as residential dwellings or for permanent occupancy in any zoning district.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary camping facilities inside Bisbee city limits

  • Temporary camping is allowed only as part of an alternative lodging park granted by special use permit, case by case, in any zoning district.
  • Minimum parcel size for an alternative lodging park is one-half acre, maximum 5 acres; planning commission sets unit density; detailed site plan required.

  alternative lodging park minimum parcel size: >= 0.5 acres · alternative lodging park maximum parcel size: <= 5 acres

  “alternative lodging park shall mean a temporary or permanent use that allows a variety of housing options including manufactured and mobile homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, tiny homes and temporary camping facilities that may be granted by special use permit on a case by case basis in any zoning district.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes as dwellings inside Bisbee city limits, mainly in the RM zone

  • Manufactured homes are the principal use only in the RM (manufactured home residential) zone; R zones exclude manufactured and mobile homes.
  • Mobile homes are not allowed as a new use anywhere in the city except as expressly authorized; mobile homes legally established on or before March 1, 2006 may remain.
  • Manufactured home parks are allowed only in RM zone areas and need a special use permit before construction.

  “mobile homes shall not be allowed as a new use on any site within the city of bisbee, except as expressly authorized in this article.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed

  Accessory dwelling units on residential lots inside Bisbee city limits

  • Only one ADU per lot.
  • Detached ADU limited to 600 square feet; an ADU within an existing primary residence limited to 40% of gross floor area.
  • Rental minimum period is 30 days.
  • ADU use requires a certificate of occupancy from the building department.
  • Parking and zoning standards of the applicable district apply.

  detached ADU maximum floor area: <= 600 sq ft · ADU within primary residence maximum share of gross floor area: <= 40 percent · minimum rental period: >= 30 days

  “1. accessory dwelling units are allowed in all residential zoning categories, but only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot.”

• Subdividing landLimited

  Developed areas of the historic preservation overlay district in Bisbee

  • Future divisions resulting in new lots in developed areas are not approved under this historic-district rule.
  • Split lots elsewhere must meet the 4,000 sq ft minimum in the historic district; general subdivision regulations were not located.

  “no future divisions of tracts, lots, or parcels resulting in lots in developed areas will be approved.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bisbee or Cochise County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permitting inside Bisbee city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Bisbee city limits
• Who permits septic — Onsite septic systems inside Bisbee city limits
• Septic permit — Septic permits for homes inside Bisbee city limits
• Septic inspection — Septic inspections for homes inside Bisbee city limits

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.