Queen Creek removes limit on farm animals allowed on 1-acre lot

By Janet Perez
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In keeping with its farming roots, Queen Creek has revised an ordinance that limited the number of agricultural animals that could be kept on a 1 acre or larger property.

During its April 15 meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council amended the ordinance to remove the limit on the number of farm animals allowed on larger properties and to focus instead on how the animals are cared for and managed.

Not only has the limit been removed, but swine can now be kept as well.

The ordinance that was approved was the result of a motion made by Vice Mayor Bryan McClure.

Under the ordinance revisions first proposed by town staff, residents could only add an additional animal, or unit, for every 3,000 square feet over 1 acre. That would mean a 50,000-square-foot lot would see the number of permitted farm animals increase from four to six. For a 2-acre lot, the number of animals allowed would go from five to 18.

Staff also recommended that swine would only be permitted for educational purposes, such as part of a school or agricultural club project. An educational exemption also could be granted for those who exceeded the number of animals allowed.

Staff was seeking to bring the ordinance back to pre-2019 language that allowed an additional animal for every 3,000 square feet over 1 acre. In 2019, the amount of extra square footage needed for more animals was changed to 30,000, making it the most restrictive in the neighboring southeast Valley.

In the end, McClure’s version of the ordinance entirely removes the limit on animals on 1-acre properties, allows for keeping swine without the education component and nullifies the need for any educational exemptions at all.

• Requiring shade for animals at all times either provided by a structure or natural shade such as trees.
• Focusing on full containment and management of waste to prevent runoff and nuisances, rather than a fixed 50-foot setback from property lines.
• Permitting grazing in front yards with permanent stables remaining in side or rear yards.
• Establishing a 25-foot setback for swine enclosures to mitigate potential odor and noise.

Enforcement of the code will be triggered by nuisance complaints or concerns about animal welfare.

“Our code team, by-and-large, is reactive and so they do not necessarily drive around neighborhoods counting animals, looking for swine or anything like that as it relates to this (ordinance),” said Erik Swanson, the town’s planning administrator.

Council Member Dawn Oliphant pointed out the number of properties this revised amendment would apply to is just 1,200 out of approximately 28,000 in the entire town.

“It applies to a small percentage of our community, which is what makes our community unique and amazing,” Oliphant said.

McClure’s motion was unanimously approved by the council.

The vote came after a number of residents — and even some considering becoming residents — spoke out about the need to remove the animal limit, allow swine and no longer require educational exemptions.

“I have previously owned four pigs, four calves and four horses on … just over an acre, and they’ve all thrived,” said resident Tiffany Baden. “It’s not about how many animals you have, but how you keep them. I never had a single complaint when I had all those animals. I encourage you to listen to your residents as this is our way of life, and to remember the history of this town, its agricultural heritage and why it was established.”

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Janet Perez
News Editor | Queen Creek & San Tan Valley

jperez@iniusa.org

Meet Janet
Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State  University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.

Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.

Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science. 

Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.  

Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.