4.3
State of Arizona Legislation and Programs
Relating to Military Compatibility
Arizona Revised Statutes
The Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) are the statutory laws in the state of Arizona. The ARS
went into effect on January 9, 1956 and has been updated as needed since then. There
are 49 titles in the ARS. Statutes begin as bills submitted to the Legislature. Once the
Legislature completes their process and approves a bill, it is sent to the Governor’s Office
for his or her signature. The bill becomes law 90 days from the date it is signed, unless it
includes an emergency clause. In this case, it immediately becomes law.
Arizona is very proactive in protecting its military installations, and throughout the years,
it has enacted several legislative initiatives related to planning and development within
and around military operational areas. The following is an overview of the key pieces of
the Arizona Revised Statutes that guide community development and coordination with
Arizona’s military installations. Not all statutes are relevant to the Pinal County JLUS
Project Area or the AZARNG, but they are included to provide an overview of the
measures that the State of Arizona has taken to protect its military assets. The following
summaries are meant to provide information on the legislative tools currently
implemented not an exhaustive description of each statute.
ARS §9-461.06 – Relating to Adoption and Amendment of General
Plans
A municipality preparing a new general plan or a major amendment to a general plan is
required to consult with, advise, and provide the opportunity for official comment by
various local and regional entities. A military airport must be included in this process if
the new general plan or a major amendment to the general plan includes land within the
vicinity of a military airport or ancillary military facility for review and comment. The
general plan or major amendment to the general plan shall be transmitted to the military
airport and / or the attorney general for review and further comment at least 60 days
before announcing a public hearing on the plan. Once the general plan is approved,
adopted, or re‐adopted, the municipality shall send the approved general plan to the
attorney general within three business days. If the attorney general does not find the
adopted general plan or amendments acceptable, the attorney general has 25 days to
notify the municipality of the noncompliance, in which case the municipality shall
reconsider any approval, adoption, or re‐adoption of, or major amendment to the
general plan that impacts property in the high noise or accident potential zone.
According to ARS definitions of a military airport and ancillary military facility, AZARNG
sites are not included as part of this legislation.
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Planning & Compatibility Tools