Bolthole Index

Pinal County, Arizona

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Town of Florence, Arizona

Town of Florence, Arizona routes building applications through its Community Development Department; the town’s standard-plan application says work cannot begin until plan review is complete and a building permit is issued.1 Florence sets its own zoning in Pinal County.2 Private sewage systems are generally prohibited, subject to chapter exceptions; an eligible septic system also requires Pinal County approval.34

At a glance

Building applications
Town Community Development; standard-plan work waits for building permit issuance1
Zoning
Town zoning districts apply inside Florence limits2
Septic
Town generally prohibits private sewage systems; eligible systems need county approval34
Water connection
Required where property fronts a street with a Town water main5
Rural lot size
RA-10 district: 10-acre minimum lot area6
Manufactured homes
Permitted in MHS; conditional or prohibited in other listed residential districts7

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Florence Community Development Department, Building Safety Division

Town building applications, plan review and inspection questions

520-868-7575

[email protected]

224 W. 20th Street / P.O. Box 2670, Florence, AZ 85132

Online permits →

Zoning

Town of Florence Community Development Department

Town zoning, development standards and floodplain application questions

520-868-7575

Septic permits

Pinal County Aquifer Protection Division

County on-site wastewater approval for eligible systems inside Florence

520-509-3555

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Florence means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Town of Florence have zoning, and what are the lot sizes and setbacks?

Florence divides land inside town limits into zoning districts, so identify the parcel’s district before choosing a house design or making an offer.2 In Florence’s RA-10 Rural Agricultural district, the minimum lot area is 10 acres, with minimum width and depth of 200 feet.6 RA-10 requires 50-foot front, interior-side, street-side and rear setbacks, and limits building height to 30 feet.89 These dimensions are RA-10 standards, not a townwide minimum; ask Town Community Development to confirm the district and development standards for the specific parcel.610

Do you need a building permit in Town of Florence, and who issues it?

Florence’s Community Development Department, Building Safety Division is the contact for town building applications.1 The town’s standard-plan application states that no work may commence until plan review is complete and a building permit is issued.1 We could not confirm the complete current building-permit exemption list; ask Building Safety about the exact structure or alteration before starting work.1 Building permit fees follow the current Town fee schedule, and the standard-plan packet says approved building permits and plans are posted on the portal after approval and payment of all fees.1 Ask the same division for the inspection schedule applicable to the project.1

How do septic permits work inside Town of Florence?

Florence generally prohibits constructing or maintaining private sewage-disposal facilities, including septic tanks, privies and cesspools, except as provided in its sewer chapter.3 Before budgeting for septic, ask Town Community Development which chapter exception, if any, applies to the parcel.310 Pinal County remains the on-site wastewater permitting authority for an eligible system inside Florence; incorporated-area applications must include written approval from the agency or district responsible for wastewater disposal.4 County approval also requires a final construction inspection and approval to discharge before the system is covered or operated.4 County septic approval therefore does not replace the town’s sewage restrictions.43

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Town of Florence?

We could not confirm permission to occupy an RV or tiny home on an ordinary private lot in Florence; ask Town Community Development about the proposed use and zoning district before buying for that purpose.10 Florence’s manufactured-home table permits manufactured homes in MHS, makes them conditional in RA-10, RA-4, R1-R and R1-18, and prohibits them in RRES, R1-6, R-2 and MFR.7 A conditional use permit is required where the table lists a conditional use.7 Florence’s accessory-building rule restricts dwelling use to domestic servants employed on the premises and requires main-building construction to have commenced before accessory construction.11 Ask planning how the current rule applies to a proposed small dwelling.10

Building a home in Town of Florence: what are the steps in order?

First, ask Town Community Development to confirm the parcel’s zoning district and whether the proposed dwelling use fits that district.210 Next, resolve water and sewage: Florence requires water connection where property fronts a street containing a Town main, and generally prohibits private sewage systems subject to chapter exceptions.53 Then prepare the building application: the standard-plan packet requires application and building plans in a single PDF, with supporting documents uploaded individually.1 Use the residential permitting portal linked by Building Safety and ask for the project-specific submission requirements.1 Wait for completed plan review and building permit issuance before starting the permitted work.1

What should you check before buying land in Town of Florence?

Confirm legal access as well as zoning: Florence requires every individually owned or recorded parcel to reach a dedicated street directly or through a duly recorded access easement.12 Ask Town Community Development about floodplain requirements for the proposed building site; the department publishes Florence floodplain management materials.10 Get a written answer on sewer eligibility before treating county septic permitting as a route to an off-grid home.34 For a parcel outside Florence limits, consult the Pinal County guide: county building-permit requirements and county zoning apply to unincorporated land.1314

Watch-outs

  • Florence’s general prohibition on private sewage systems makes town approval a prerequisite to pursuing an eligible septic system with Pinal County.34
  • We could not confirm current private-lot RV occupancy, tiny-home standards or minimum dwelling size in Florence; ask Town Community Development before committing to those plans.10

Sources

  1. Town of Florence Community Development Department, Building Safety Division (florenceaz.gov)
  2. § 150.045 Districts (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  3. § 51.060 Private Sewerage Systems; Construction and Maintenance Within Town Prohibited Generally (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  4. Pinal County Environmental Health Code Final 1.1.22, quoted and re-checked
  5. § 50.070 Connection to Water Mains Required (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 150.048 Rural Agricultural (RA-10) (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  7. § 150.047 District Use Regulations Tables (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  8. § 150.048 Rural Agricultural (RA-10) (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 150.048 Rural Agricultural (RA-10) (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Florence Community Development Department (florenceaz.gov)
  11. § 150.174 Accessory Buildings (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  12. § 150.176 Access (Town of Florence), quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Safety, quoted and re-checked
  14. Frequently Asked Questions | Pinal County, AZ, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Florence

Town of Florence’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Florence town limits; Florence's municipal Development Code divides the municipality into zoning districts.

    “the municipality is hereby divided into the following zones:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Florence town limits.

    • The code lists residential, employment/commercial, overlay and mixed-use districts.
    “Residential districts. (1) Rural Agricultural (RA-10); (2) Rural Agricultural (RA-4); (3) Single-Family Ranchette (R1-R); (4) Rural Residential Equestrian Subdivision (RRES); (5) Single-Family Residential (R1-18); (6) Single-Family Residential (R1-6);”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured-home occupancy in Florence residential zoning districts shown in the district use table.

    • The district use table marks manufactured homes as conditional in RA-10, RA-4, R1-R and R1-18; not permitted in RRES, R1-6, R-2 and MFR; and permitted in MHS.
    • A conditional use permit is required where the table marks the use conditional.
    “Manufactured home | C | C | C | N | C | N | N | N | P”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory buildings and potential accessory dwelling use inside Florence town limits.

    • Accessory buildings may not be used for dwelling purposes except by domestic servants employed on the premises.
    • Construction of the main building must have actually commenced before an accessory building is constructed.
    “no accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes other than by domestic servants employed on the premises.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Private sewage disposal facilities inside Florence town limits, except as provided in Chapter 51.

    • The prohibition expressly includes privies, privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools and other sewage-disposal facilities.
    • The section contains an exception phrase: Except as provided in this chapter.
    “Except as provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain within the municipality any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Property inside Florence town limits located on a street where a Town water main is laid.

    • Connection is required when a water main is laid in the street.
    • Services extend at right angles from the main to the curblines.
    • Installation must follow the Town's standard detail.
    • The number, location, manner of construction and size of service connections require Director approval.
    “Where property is located upon a street in which a water main is laid, the property shall be connected with the water system.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Individually owned or recorded parcels inside Florence town limits.

    • Access may be direct or through a duly recorded access easement.
    • The rule requires access to a dedicated street.
    “All individually owned or recorded parcels shall have access to a dedicated street, either directly or by means of a duly recorded access easement.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Florence

Town of Florence does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    RA-10 Rural Agricultural district inside Florence town limits.

    minimum lot area: 10 acres · minimum lot width: 200 feet · minimum lot depth: 200 feet

    “N/A | 10 acres | 200 feet | 200 feet | 30 feet”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    RA-10 Rural Agricultural district inside Florence town limits.

    front setback: 50 feet · interior side setback: 50 feet · street side setback: 50 feet · rear setback: 50 feet

    “Front | Interior Side | Street Side | Rear 50 feet | 50 feet | 50 feet | 50 feet”
  • Building heightSpecified

    RA-10 Rural Agricultural district inside Florence town limits.

    maximum height: 30 feet

    “Minimum Site Area | Minimum Lot Area | Minimum Lot Width | Minimum Lot Depth | Maximum Height N/A | 10 acres | 200 feet | 200 feet | 30 feet”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Florence or Pinal County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permit requirement for construction inside Florence town limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Florence town limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Florence town limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Florence town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Florence town limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Florence publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Pinal County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Pinal County: county rules, score and offices