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Rio Rancho City Zoning Code

154.05 E-1

ESTATE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. Revised 6/25

(A) Purpose. This district permits a very low density of population in which the principal land use is single-family dwellings.

(B) Permissive uses.

(1) One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

(a) Except for the requirement that dwelling units face or create a presence on the address street;

(2) Accessory buildings or structures as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A), including stable facilities for the housing and maintenance of horses but not to include structures for other types of domestic livestock or fowl; such stable facilities greater than 600 square feet may be exempt from using the same construction materials and having the same facade as the primary structure, but still shall be similar in color;

(3) Accessory living space; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

(4) Horses are allowed by the following criteria:

(a) The minimum lot size required for the first horse is one acre;

(b) Thereafter, each additional horse shall require one-half acre per horse in addition to the minimum one acre;

(c) Horses must be corralled in such a manner as to keep horses a minimum of 10 feet away from any property line;

(5) Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and greenhouses;

(6) Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

(7) Home occupations;

(8) Construction trailers; as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

(9) Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

(10) Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

(11) Second kitchen. A second kitchen is permitted and may be located within the primary residence or accessory dwelling unit, but not both;

(12) Model home or sales office;

(13) Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

(14) Public utilities;

(15) Churches, other places of worship, and incidental facilities;

(16) Amateur radio antenna;

(17) Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116;

(18) Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

(19) Short-term rental unit, as defined and regulated in Chapter 123.

(C) Conditional uses (requiring use permit).

(1) Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more.

(2) Hobby breeders and animal foster care providers as per conditions listed under the R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

(3) Commercial (for profit) boarding of horses as per relevant requirements listed under Chapter 116.

(4) Transfer of horse stable rights (TSR) permit, in accordance with Section 154.78(A), to allow neighboring properties the ability to transfer horse stabling rights (TSRs) between properties, provided:

(a) Properties transferring horse stabling rights must be abutting one another or within 1,000 feet of each other as measured in a straight line between property lines, providing if the properties are not abutting each other the applicant must also submit a letter of no objection for the transfer from the receiving properties abutting neighbors;

(b) The receiving property must have a minimum of 15,000 square feet of property area for each horse, above the initial one-acre minimum;

(c) The property sending the horse rights must have a platted or described acreage in excess of one and one-half acres (65,340 square feet);

(d) The property sending or granting the horse stabling rights severs all rights to horse stabling on their property for the length of the agreement with the receiving property;

(e) The property owner sending or granting the horse rights may end or cancel the transfer of horse stabling rights agreement with a minimum one-year notice to the receiving horse rights property owner, and a copy of such notice delivered to the City Development Services Director or designee;

(f) The receiving property owner can only receive horse ownership rights from one donating property;

(g) A receiving property cannot also be a sending property; and

(h) For purposes of implementing this subsection (C)(4), a “horse” is defined as any domesticated, equine mammal, including mules and burros.

(Ord. 18-20; Am. Ord. 19-17; Am. Ord. 21-15; Am. Ord. 24-24)