Opinion ID: 1226850
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Relationship of the Arizona Statutes to Local Ordinance

Text: In most jurisdictions, county and city governments do not have inherent power to enact zoning ordinances. That power is derived from enabling acts passed by state legislatures. The authority to deal with a nonconforming use is thus broadened or narrowed by the enabling act. See generally ANDERSON, supra § 6.03. In Arizona, the provisions of A.R.S. §§ 11-801 through 11-832 grant counties authority to adopt planning and zoning regulations, affirmatively requiring each county zoning commission to formulate and adopt a comprehensive long-term plan for development of the area within its jurisdiction. A.R.S. § 11-821(A). The county plan must provide for zoning and must show the zoning districts designated as appropriate for various classes of residential, business and industrial uses. § 11-821(B). Coconino County's zoning ordinance was developed pursuant to the power granted by A.R.S. § 11-801 et seq. See Ordinance No. 81-1 (adopted by Coconino County Board of Supervisors, Aug. 3, 1981). In general, a zoning ordinance will be upheld if it is a reasonable exercise of the power to zone for the purposes of public health, safety, and welfare. Cardon Oil Co. v. City of Phoenix, 122 Ariz. 102, 593 P.2d 656 (1979). The ordinance must, however, operate within the statutory grant of authority to zone. An ordinance is invalid if it conflicts with the state statute delegating the local authority power to act. See City of Scottsdale v. Scottsdale Assoc. Merchants, Inc., 120 Ariz. 4, 5, 583 P.2d 891, 892 (1978). In this case, therefore, the dispositive question is whether § 17.3(B) of the Ordinance, barring expansion of a nonconforming use onto a site which it did not occupy at the time it became a non-conforming use, conflicts with A.R.S. § 11-830, the statute governing nonconforming uses. In determining the answer to this question, we start from the premise that statutes and ordinances that are in apparent conflict must be construed, if possible, to give full force and effect to each. Fendler v. Texaco Oil Co., 17 Ariz. App. 565, 570, 499 P.2d 179, 184 (1972) (courts will avoid finding a city ordinance in conflict with a state statute if a reasonable interpretation of the ordinance will avoid such a conflict).