Scottsdale's Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) overlay covers about 134 square miles of desert and mountain land north and east of the Central Arizona Project canal. If your lot is in it, the overlay shapes where the excavator can and can't go.
Natural Area Open Space
A share of every ESL property is set aside permanently as Natural Area Open Space (NAOS). The share depends on the landform and the slope:
| Land slope | Lower desert | Upper desert | Hillside |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2% | 20% | 25% | 50% |
| Over 2 to 5% | 25% | 25% | 50% |
| Over 5 to 10% | 30% | 35% | 50% |
| Over 10 to 15% | 30% | 45% | 50% |
| Over 15 to 25% | 30% | 45% | 65% |
| Over 25% | 30% | 45% | 80% |
The minimums after allowed reductions are 15 percent in lower desert, 20 percent in upper desert and 40 percent on hillside land. A single NAOS area must be at least 4,000 square feet and 30 feet across, or 20 feet next to a street. Lots under 22,000 square feet can't hold NAOS themselves; it goes into tracts instead.
Building envelopes
The city's guide says grading and construction should stay inside clearly identified building envelopes so NAOS isn't damaged, and asks owners to avoid unnecessary exposed cuts and fills. Building height in single-family districts is limited to 24 feet measured from natural grade, so how deep a pad is cut can matter.
Washes, boulders and peaks
- Washes should be left natural wherever feasible, and no building goes in the 100-year floodplain of a major (750 cfs or more) or minor (50 to 750 cfs) watercourse.
- Development generally should not intrude on or damage boulder features or major boulders.
- Development should stay away from and below protected peaks and ridges.
Walls and plants
The guide discourages subdivision perimeter walls, asks for rear and side walls on larger lots to be set back for wildlife and stormwater, and doesn't allow walls across watercourses. Non-native plants are limited to areas enclosed by a solid wall, and non-native plants that could grow taller than 20 feet aren't allowed.
What it means for an excavation quote
- Get the approved site plan with the building envelope before anyone prices the dig.
- Expect equipment access to be limited to the disturbance area.
- Plan native plant salvage before grading. See desert lot clearing.
The ESL guide we used dates from June 2004, with the ordinance amended since. Questions about your lot go to Planning and Development Services at 480-312-7800.
Sources
- City of Scottsdale: Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Overlay
- City of Scottsdale: Citizen's Guide to the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance (June 2004)
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Rules, prices and contacts change, so check the source before relying on it.
Questions and answers
How much of my Scottsdale lot has to stay natural?
In the ESL overlay, required Natural Area Open Space ranges from 20% to 80% depending on landform and slope, with minimums after reductions of 15% (lower desert), 20% (upper desert) and 40% (hillside).
Where is Scottsdale's ESL overlay?
It covers about 134 square miles of desert and mountain land north and east of the Central Arizona Project canal.
Get it quoted
Call or use the form. A local excavation contractor gets back to you, and asking for a quote costs nothing.
Reached voicemail? Leave your name, number, the address and a line about the job.