zoning; use permits; votes; requirements

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Zoning Rules for Wind and Solar Projects

This bill changes zoning rules in smaller counties, requiring all voting members of a county commission to be present and unanimously approve permits for wind or solar projects.

What This Bill Does

• Adds new section 11-820.05 to Arizona Revised Statutes about zoning rules for wind and solar projects.
• Requires that all voting members of the county commission must be present when voting on permits for wind or solar projects.
• Requires a unanimous vote by all voting members of the county commission for approval of wind or solar project permits.

Who It Names or Affects

• Counties with populations under 500,000 people
• County commissions in those counties
• Companies applying for wind and solar projects

Terms To Know

conditional use permit

A special permission needed to build something that is not allowed by default in a certain area.

special use permit

Similar to a conditional use permit, it allows specific types of construction or activities that are usually restricted.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only applies to counties with populations under 500,000.
• It does not specify what happens if the county commission has a vacancy when voting on wind or solar projects.

Official Summary Text

HB2337 - zoning; use permits; votes; requirements

Current Bill Text

HB2337 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
zoning; use permits; votes; requirements

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2337

Introduced by

Representatives
Heap: Marshall

AN
ACT

amending title 11, chapter 6, article 2,
arizona revised statutes, by adding section 11-820.05; relating to county
zoning.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 11, chapter 6, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 11-820.05, to read:

START_STATUTE
11-820.05.

Zoning; wind and solar projects; use permits; voting;
applicability

A. Notwithstanding any other law, in
a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons, an
approval by the commission of an application for a conditional use permit,
special use permit or other zoning change or variance for a PROPOSED wind
project or solar project is not valid unless both of the following occur:

1. All members of the commission who
are entitled to vote are present for the vote.

2. The vote for an approval of an
application is unanimous among all of the commission members.

B. If there is a vacancy on the
commission, the commission may not vote on an application until the vacancy has
been filled.

C. If a commission member is absent,
the commission may not vote on an application until the full commission is
present to vote.
END_STATUTE