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Zoning (Subscribe) Terms, definitions, and concepts related to zoning, zoning laws and ordinances, and zoning enforcement.

Land Terms

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100-year water supply updated

Requirement of Arizona's Departments of Water Resources (ADWR) and Real Estate (ADRE) that developers (subdividers) demonstrate that an assured or adequate water supply will be physically, legally, and continuously available for the next 100 years in new subdivisions. If the subdivision is located within one of ADWR's Active Management Areas (AMA), a public report will not be issued and lots may not be sold until an assured 100-year water supply is demonstrated. Outside of AMA's, developers are required to ask ADWR for an assessment of the availability of water. In these areas, lots may still be sold even if ADWR deems the water supply inadequate, as long as this information is disclosed to prospective buyers.

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Acre popular

8 out of 10 stars (9 votes)

Area measurement (square measure) used primarily in the United States. One (1) acre is equal to 43,560 square feet, 4,046.86 square meters, or 0.4047 hectares.

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Acre equivalents or conversions popular

10 out of 10 stars (1 vote)

One (1) acre equals 43,560 square feet. One (1) acre equals ten (10) square chains. One (1) acre equals 160 square rods, poles, or perches. One (1) acre equals 4,840 square yards. One (1) acre equals 4,046.856 square meters. One (1) acre equals 0.4047 hectares. One (1) acre equals 0.0016 square miles or sections. One (1) acre equals 0.004 square kilometers. One (1) acre equals 0.0000434 townships. One (1) acre equals 1.183676 arpents. One (1) acre equals 4.0 roods.

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Active Management Area (AMA)

Administered by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), the state's Active Management Areas (AMA's) were established to provide long-term management and conservation of limited groundwater supplies. The five (5) AMA's - Prescott, Phoenix, Pinal, Tucson, and Santa Cruz - cover the majority of Arizona's agricultural land and urban population centers that exist where groundwater supplies are extremely limited. Rules governing water use and land development in AMA's are generally more stringent and focused on conservation of water resources in than elsewhere in the state. Applications for new development and subdivisions are managed by ADWR's Office of Assured and Adequate Water Supply under the Assured Water Supply Program.

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Adequate Water Supply Program (Arizona) updated

This program operates outside Active Management Areas (AMA's) in the state of Arizona to address water availability in new subdivisions. Developers or subdividers are required to request a water supply assessment for the next 100 years from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). If the 100-year water supply is deemed inadequate, lots may be sold only if the developer clearly discloses this fact to potential buyers.

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Aesthetic zoning

1. Zoning ordinances that specify certain types of architecture to encourage pleasing or beautiful building appearances. 2. Zoning ordinances that regulate uniformity of architecture, so that new construction is similar to and in scale with existing structures.

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Agricultural protection zoning popular

Zoning policies intended to protect farmland and farming activities from incompatible nonfarm uses, such as residential and commercial development. Agricultural protection zoning, aslo referred to as agricultural zoning, can specify many factors, such as preferred land use, minimum size of farm or the number of nonfarm or residential dwellings allowed. Agricultural zoning is usually based on historic land use, soil properties, and location and allows activities such as orchards, farms, ranching, or timber production.

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Agricultural zoning popular

Zoning policies intended to protect farmland and farming activities from incompatible nonfarm uses, such as residential and commercial development. Agricultural zoning, aslo referred to as agricultural protection zoning, can specify many factors, such as preferred land use, minimum size of farm or the number of nonfarm or residential dwellings allowed. Agricultural zoning is usually based on historic land use, soil properties, and location and allows activities such as orchards, farms, ranching, or timber production.

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Allodial system

Title to real property that is free of encumbrances and obligations, including taxation. It denotes absolute or supreme ownership. Strictly defined, allodial title is not subject to county, state, or federal codes, ordinances, or zoning regulations ("police power"), nor can it be taken through legal or regulatory means ("inalienable"). In practical use, title in the United States is often said to be allodial (as opposed to feudal), even though it does not meet all of the qualifications listed above.

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Allodial title updated popular

Title to real property that is free of encumberances and obligations, including taxation. It denotes absolute or supreme ownership. Strictly defined, allodial title is not subject to county, state, or federal codes, ordinances, or zoning regulations ("police power"), nor can it be taken through legal or regulatory means ("inalienable"). In practical use, title in the United States is often said to be allodial (as opposed to feudal), even though it does not meet all of the qualifications listed above.

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Allodium popular

1. Real property owned under allodial title - completely, independently, without rent, mortgage, encumberances, taxation or any other obligation to another.
2. Freehold estate; land which is the absolute, inalienable property of the owner.
3. Real estate held in absolute independence, without being subject to any rent, service, or acknowledgment to a superior.

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Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR)

The Department of Water Resources is Arizona's state water management agency. Created during enactment of the Groundwater Management Code (1980), the department is charged with securing long-term water supplies for communities within the State of Arizona. Principal duties of ADWR include implementation of the Groundwater Management Code, registration of all surface and groundwater rights, ensuring the safety of non-federal dams, assisting with local management of floodplains, and representing Arizona in interstate water discussions.

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Assured Water Supply Program (Arizona)

Program of Arizona Department of Water Resources Office of Assured and Adequate Water Supply. This program operates within designated Active Management Areas (AMA) to ensure the availability of water for new subdivisions for the next 100 years. A public report from the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) that allows subdivision lots to be sold will only be issued if the 100-year water supply has been demonstrated to be legally, physically, and continually available.

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Buffer zone

An area of land, usually open space, intended to mitigate land use effects and serve as a physical separation, transition, or screen between adjacent zoning districts. The most common examples include parks, greenways, or retention ponds between residential, commercial, or industrial zoning districts.

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Bulk zoning

Zoning ordinances meant to regulate density and discourage overcrowding by restricting building heights or new construction, increasing setbacks, and mandating certain percentages of open space.

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Closed-range jurisdiction

An area where livestock owners are required to fence their animals in. Also known as fence-in jurisdiction.

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Commercial zoning

A zoning classification that allows non-manufacturing and retail business-related activities, such as stores, offices, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and other services (laundromats, dry cleaners, machine and appliance repair, etc.)

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Commissioner's Public Report (CPR)

The disclosure document issued by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) which allows a developer or subdivider to sell lots within a platted, recorded subdivision. Also known less formally as the public report, this document is issued only after the extensive subdivision application has been approved and the subdivision has been physically inspected. A demonstration of a 100-year water supply may also be required.

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Comprehensive plan

10 out of 10 stars (1 vote)

A thorough and intensive master plan to guide the long-term physical development of a particular area based on identified objectives, strategies, and timelines for implementation. Includes plans for land use, housing, community facilities and utlities, transportation of goods and people, and energy use and conservation. Zoning ordinances and policies are developed for different areas or zoning districts based on the master plan.

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Condemnation

A judicial or administrative proceeding to exercise the power of eminent domain, which is the power of the government to take private property for public use.

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Conditional zoning

Zoning regulations allowing land uses and activities not covered under other zoning classifications. Examples include detention centers and prisons, government buildings, sewer treatment facilities, cemetaries, churches, and landfills. Conditional zoning is often allowed through special-use permits, also known as conditional-use permits.

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Conditional-use permit

1. Permission from zoning authorities to deviate from existing zoning regulations. 2. Government authorization allowing land use that is currently not permitted within a specified zoning district, usually for the health and welfare of the community, such as a hospital in a residential zone.

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Conservation easement

1. An easement designed to preserve and protect open space or important natural areas.
2. A legal agreement between a landowner and either a land trust or government entity that restricts land use and development on a parcel of real property so as to preserve and protect its conservation and natural resource values.

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Deed

A written instrument by which a property owner (grantor) transfers to a grantee ownership of and title to real property.

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Density

1. A term, frequently used in connection with zoning requirements, which means the maximum number of building units per acre or the number of occupants or families per unit of land area (acre, square mile, etc.). 2. The ratio of developed or improved area to total land area.

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