RU (Rural) Zoning Districts are established to achieve the following purposes:

1. To preserve the character of areas designated as “Rural” in the Cochise County Comprehensive Plan.
2. To encourage those types of non-residential and non-agricultural activities which serve local needs or provide a service and are compatible with rural living.
3. To preserve the agricultural character of those portions of the County capable of resource production.
4. To provide space for people, minimize traffic congestion, and preserve the existing rural environment of unincorporated areas of the County situated outside of existing communities.
5. To provide recreational support services that are compatible with rural living.
6. To protect the quality of the natural environment as it relates to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the people in Cochise County; and
7. To allow consideration of some more intense non-residential uses as Special Uses that are inappropriate in more densely populated urban/suburban areas that may under some circumstances be appropriate in rural areas if designed to be sensitive to the general character of rural districts and natural environment and harmonious and in scale with existing development near the proposed site and in conformance with this Section.
   

The RU (Rural) Zoning Districts shall be further divided into the following density districts, which are so designated on the Official Zoning District Map and subject to the regulations herein:

1. RU-36
2. RU-18
3. RU-10
4. RU-4
5. RU-2
   

The following uses shall be permitted in all RU Zoning Districts, provided that they conform to the applicable site development standards for such uses set forth below and meet any other requirements for such uses found in these Zoning Regulations, such as off-site road and drainage improvements. (Also see Section 2.15.060, Other Permitted Uses.)

1. Agricultural-Processing with a 300-foot minimum setback.
2. Anemometers, with temporary use permit, not to exceed three years.
3. Churches or places of religious worship.
4. Civic, Social, Fraternal, or Business Associations approved as part of a subdivision review process for subdivision and guests only.
5. Communications Towers at a maximum height of 30 feet, subject to site development standards in Article 2.51.
6. Community Gardens.
7. Custom Butchering/Meat Curing/Processing with a 100-foot minimum setback.
8. Day Care Facilities.
9. Emergency Vehicle Stations not otherwise exempted by Article 2.57.
10. Farmers Markets.
11. Grocery Stores (not including gasoline sales) and Agriculture-Related Retail Sales where the sales area does not exceed 2,500 square feet of total area, including any outdoor storage.
12. Mobile Home or Manufactured Home Parks subject to the maximum densities in Section 2.15.040(1). The standards set forth in Article 2.51 shall not apply.
13. Recreational Facilities, Indoor and/or Outdoor, approved as part of a subdivision review process for subdivision and guests only.
14. Residential Care Homes.
15. Riding Stables, Commercial, on a minimum site of 10 acres.
16. Single- and Multiple-Household Dwellings.
17. Utility Installations not otherwise exempted by Article 2.57, other than Electrical Generation Plants, Regional Sewage Treatment Plants, Solid Waste Landfills, or Incinerators.
18. Veterinary Clinics and/or Animal Hospitals (enclosed building).

All uses permitted in RU Zoning Districts shall conform to the following minimum site development standards in addition to the provisions of Article 2.51:

1. Minimum Site Area and Maximum Density.
   
   

   DISTRICT	MINIMUM SITE AREA	MAXIMUM DENSITY
   RU-36	36-acres	One dwelling per 36 acres
   RU-18	18-acres	One dwelling per 18 acres
   RU-10	10-acres	One dwelling per 10 acres
   RU-4	4-acres	One dwelling per 4 acres
   RU-2	2-acres	One dwelling per 2 acres

2. Maximum Height.
   
   

   Principal structure	30 feet above grade
   Accessory structure	30 feet above grade
   Wall or fence	8 feet above grade

3. Setbacks, Principal and Accessory Structures/Uses. The minimum setback shall be measured from the closest point on the property line or the edge of the road travel way to the structure/use, whichever is closer. The minimum required setbacks for permitted uses are:

   DISTRICT	SETBACK*
   RU-36	20-feet
   RU-18	20-feet
   RU-10	20-feet
   RU-4	20-feet
   RU-2	20-feet

   * The minimum required setbacks for accessory structures no larger than 200-square feet is 10 feet.
4. Maximum Site Coverage. 25-percent.
5. Distance Between Structures. Except as otherwise provided in these Zoning Regulations, the minimum distance between principal structures shall be 15 feet, 10 feet for multiple-household structures. Nothing herein shall prevent the permanent attachment of structures.
6. Screening. In Category A, B, and C Growth Areas, whenever a non-residential use abuts a residential Zoning District or is separated therefrom by an alley, the developed area of the non-residential site shall be screened with a 6-foot-high solid screen (see Article 2.03 for definition). Non-residential outdoor storage shall be screened regardless of abutting Zoning District. The County Zoning Inspector may defer the screening if the abutting residentially zoned property is not yet developed with a residential use. In Category D (Rural) Areas, whenever a non-residential use abuts an area designated as Rural Residential (RR), the developed area of the non-residential site shall be screened with a 6-foot-high solid screen; otherwise, screening is not required.
7. Alternative Conservation Subdivision Option. Pursuant to the Cochise County Subdivision Regulations, the Residential Conservation Subdivision option, providing a wider latitude of design, more economical use of land, and density bonuses, is available for the development of residential subdivisions.

Accessory uses are permitted in RU Zoning Districts, provided they are customarily incidental to an established permitted principal use. Accessory structures may exceed the size of the principal structure unless otherwise stated, provided that all other site development standards are met. For residential uses, the following additional accessory uses and buildings shall be permitted:

1. Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are allowed as follows:
   1. No permit is required for the storage of no more than two RVs on a parcel.
   2. Temporary occupancy of one RV in conjunction with permitted principal use for up to six months in a calendar year with a required Temporary Use Permit; stays of 15 consecutive days or less do not require a permit.
   3. Temporary occupancy of RVs in conjunction with the construction of a residential or non-residential permitted principal use. Such occupancy shall be limited to the length of the building permit with a required Temporary Use Permit, subject to procedures in Article 2.48.
   4. Recreational vehicles accessory to a principal permitted use may not be rented out.
2. Rooms in the principal dwelling for roomers, not exceeding two such persons per dwelling unit (no permit is required).
3. Accessory Dwelling Unit(s), subject to the definition in Article 2.03 and the procedures in Article 2.48.
4. Family Cemetery on a minimum parcel of one acre, subject to procedures in Article 2.51 (informational permit is required).
5. Home Occupations.
6. Manufactured and Mobile Homes used as storage units in Zoning Districts with minimum lot sizes of four acres or larger, provided that the kitchen and bathrooms are removed, and electricity is the only utility provided.
7. Wind Energy Systems, subject to site development standards in Article 2.51.
8. Solar Energy Systems, subject to site development standards in Article 2.51.
9. Agritourism, subject to the maximum densities in Section 2.15.040(1) for guest lodging and Article 2.48.220 for all other requirements.

The following rural uses will be allowed without the establishment of permitted principal use:

1. Solid fences or walls seven feet in height or less. Setbacks do not apply; no permit is required unless greater than three feet in height on a corner lot (informational permit required).
2. Well houses, in a fixed location. Required minimum setbacks shall be 50 feet from the property lines; no permit is required if 200-square feet or less. A permit is required for electrical and/or if located in a floodplain.
3. In Category A and B only, one out-building, in a fixed location, corrals, and pens. Multiple structures are allowed in Category C and D.
   

The following land uses require a Special Use Authorization from the Planning Commission in the RU Zoning Districts, subject to the procedures and review criteria set forth in Article 2.48. If granted, each land use will also require a Non-Residential Use permit.

1. Agricultural-Processing with less than a 300-foot minimum setback.
2. Airports, Airstrips, Helipads, and/or Heliports.
3. Animal Husbandry Services.
4. Cemeteries.
5. Civic, Social, Fraternal, and/or Business Associations.
6. Communications Towers exceeding 30 feet in height, subject to site development standards in Article 2.51.
7. Contract Construction Services.
8. Convenience Stores.
9. Cultural, Historic, and/or Nature Exhibits.
10. Custom Butchering/Meat Curing/Processing with less than a 100-foot minimum setback.
11. Day Care Establishments.
12. Educational Services.
13. Fairgrounds and/or Outdoor Amusement Parks.
14. Feed Lots, Stockyards, and/or Livestock Auction Barns on a site not less than 20 acres.
15. Funeral and/or Crematory Services.
16. Gasoline/Service Stations.
17. Golf Courses subject to the site development standards in Article 2.51.
18. Grocery Stores (not including gasoline sales) and Agriculture-Related Retail Sales where the sales area exceeds 2,500 square feet of total area, including any outdoor storage.
19. Group Quarters.
20. Guest Lodging.
21. Health Clinics.
22. Hospitals.
23. Impound Storage Yards.
24. Manufacturing, Wholesaling, Warehousing, Distribution, and/or Storage of Agriculture-Related Products.
25. Manufacturing, Wholesaling, Warehousing, Distribution, and/or Storage of Products, activity area not to exceed 5,000 square feet.
26. Marijuana Cultivation Facility in RU-4 and greater only.
27. Marijuana Establishment Cultivation Facility in RU-4 and greater only.
28. Marijuana Establishment in RU-4 and greater only.
29. Marijuana Infusion Facility in RU-4 and greater only.
30. Marijuana Testing Facility in RU-4 and greater only.
31. Mini-Warehouses.
32. Motion Picture Production Sites/Studios.
33. Offender Rehabilitation Facilities.
34. Outdoor Firearms, Skeet, Archery, or Trap Shooting Ranges.
35. Personal and Professional Services.
36. Plant Nurseries, commercial
37. Recreational Facilities, Indoor and/or Outdoor.
38. Recreational Vehicle Parks designed to ensure that the park fits into the rural landscape, such as clustering RV sites, maintaining perimeter open space, and enhancing existing vegetation using drought-tolerant vegetation.
39. Recycling Centers.
40. Recycling/Solid Waste Transfer Facilities.
41. Repair Services, Large Engines.
42. Repair Services, Light
43. Repair Services, Small Engines.
44. Research and/or Testing Laboratories.
45. Residential Care Institutions.
46. Restaurants, Bars, Taverns, Nightclubs, and/or Off-Site Winery Tasting Rooms.
47. Retail Sales/Rentals.
48. Riding Stables, Commercial, on a site less than 10 acres.
49. Slaughterhouses/Meat Packing Plants.
50. Solar Energy Power Plants, subject to site development standards in Article 2.51.
51. Transient Camps, Migrant Labor Camps.
52. Veterinary Clinics and/or Animal Hospitals (if outdoor area included).
53. Welfare and/or Charitable Services.
54. Wholesaling, Warehousing, Distribution, and/or Storage of Propane.
55. Wind Energy Power Plants in Category D Areas only, subject to site development standards in Article 2.51.
56. Zoos and/or other Animal Exhibits or Sanctuaries.