Temporary Use Permits are discretionary authorizations for certain uses of limited duration that do not permanently alter the character or physical condition of the site.
Uses requiring Temporary Use Permits are listed in the use tables in Article 2 and Article 6 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance (MZO).
Temporary Uses subject to the approval of Temporary Use Permits include:
- Temporary Outdoor Entertainment: Examples include concerts, carnivals, circuses, haunted houses, corn mazes, and similar entertainment activities.
- Temporary Outdoor Sales: Examples include farmers' markets, flea markets, art fairs, swap meets, pop-up markets, Christmas tree lots, pumpkin lots, firework stands, and parking lot sales.
- Note: Temporary Outdoor Sales exclude garage and yard sales held at a private residence, sales not held at a stationary location, and mobile food vending.
Temporary Uses must comply with the applicable standards in Section 11-31-30 of the MZO, and are reviewed and acted upon in accordance with Section 11-70-4 of the MZO.
Special Events License Requirements
Uses requiring a Temporary Use Permit also require a Special Event License in accordance with Title 5 of the Mesa City Code. These are separate approvals, and obtaining a Temporary Use Permit does not satisfy any applicable Special Event License requirements.
Visit Mesa’s Special Event License webpage to learn more about Special Event Licensure.
The main steps in the process are:
1
Application Submittal
Prepare and submit all necessary documents for formal submittal online.
2
Staff Review
Receive review comments and revise and resubmit documents online.
3
Entitlement
Receive approval or denial of the application.
Requests for Temporary Use Permits are submitted via Administrative Review applications and must be submitted electronically via Mesa’s DIMES portal.
Complete applications and fees are due each Monday by the end of the business day. The applicant is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all information submitted to the City. Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted.
Applications for Temporary Use Permits must be submitted 45 days prior to the proposed start date.
Required Documents :
- Application - submitted through the DIMES portal. Each occurrence of a Temporary Use requires a separate completed application.
- Letter of Authorization – granting permission from the property owner for the proposed Temporary Use on the specified dates and during the identified hours of operation.
- Project Narrative – including the location, hours of operation, and the proposed start and end dates. The narrative shall also describe the scope and nature of the Temporary Use, any proposed signage, and the type of equipment or materials to be displayed, stored, or sold. If applicable, the narrative shall identify any request for outdoor music, live entertainment, speakers, or amplified sound.
- Site Plan – depicting the location of all temporary and permanent structures and features, including carts, tents, signs, displayed or stored materials, parking areas, fencing, and any similar obstructions. The site plan shall illustrate traffic circulation and parking associated with the Temporary Use and identify any permanent parking spaces that will be used or temporarily occupied.
Staff will review the Temporary Use Permit for compliance with all applicable standards, codes, specifications, and requirements and provide written comments within 16 working days of the application’s acceptance. Those written comments, provided in a comment letter, will identify requirements that must be resolved before the Temporary Use Permit is considered for approval.
The applicant will revise pertinent documents to address review comments and provide a written comment response letter stating how each review comment was addressed.
If any comments are not addressed, this process is repeated until all requirements are met.
Temporary Use Permit requests are not required to go through the public hearing process.
Once all applicable standards, codes, specifications, and requirements have been met, the Planning Director will review and sign a Temporary Use Permit approval document.
The approval document, along with the final plans, will be uploaded to the case file in the DIMES portal.