Can Grandchildren Visit Sun City AZ? Guest Rules

Yes, grandchildren can visit Sun City AZ. The rules are about how long a younger person stays, not whether they can come. In Sun City and Sun City Grand, the CC&Rs cap stays for anyone under 19 at 90 days in a year, and each rec center has its own guest and age rules.

Why the Sun Cities limit long stays

Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand are age-restricted (55+) communities, and the rules are in the CC&Rs. Housing for older persons has to keep its occupancy in line with federal and Arizona fair housing law, so the documents control who lives in the home. Visits are a different matter. Grandkids come for spring break, Thanksgiving and summer weeks all the time.

The three communities have separate governing documents and separate recreation providers. A rule in one does not carry over to the others, so I always pull the documents for the exact address.

Sun City: the SCHOA CC&Rs

The Sun City Home Owners Association CC&Rs page says at least one occupant of each home must be 55 or older. It also says no one under 19 may occupy or reside in a home for more than 90 days in any 12-month period. The association can grant variances, but only within limits that protect the community's status as housing for older persons.

In plain terms: a grandchild can stay for a few weeks at a time, several times a year, as long as the total stays under the 90-day line. Keep a simple calendar if visits run long.

Using the pools, golf and clubs is handled separately by the Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC). RCSC has a written policy for cardholder guests and host punch cards. Check the current version on suncityaz.org or ask at a rec center before the visit, since guest procedures and age rules for each facility can change.

Sun City West: residency rule and guest wristbands

The Sun City West CC&Rs say each home must have at least one occupant 55 or older, and no one under 19 may reside in a home. The CC&R FAQ pages I reviewed do not give a set number of days for visiting grandchildren. If a long stay is in the plans, send a question to the CC&R department through the Recreation Centers of Sun City West (RCSCW) site and get the answer in writing.

RCSCW's guest and children policy sets out these points:

• A member with a valid Recreation Card signs guests in, and the guest fee is charged to the member
• Guest passes can be bought for the day of use plus one or two more days, with wristbands that show the day
• Wristbands are different for guests 19 and older and guests 18 and younger; children under 6 do not get one
• Guests and children under 16 must be with a responsible adult at all times
• Children are not allowed in the fitness centers, spas or hot tub areas, and they follow posted family swim times

Golf and bowling have their own rules for younger players, so check with the starter or the lanes first.

Sun City Grand: 90 overnight days in 365

Sun City Grand in Surprise has its own CC&Rs, posted on the association's governing documents page at livegrandaz.com. Section 2.3 says the community is meant mainly for people 55 and older, allows some homes to be occupied by people 45 to 54, and requires at least 85 percent of occupied homes to have someone 55 or older. It also says no one under 19 may stay overnight in a home for more than 90 days in any 365-day period. The association's own buyer page puts it simply: no children under 19 live in The Grand, and visitors are welcome.

The Grand's Rules and Regulations cover amenity use for guests:

• A guest is a nonresident with a resident who holds a valid Activity Card, and guest receipts are good for one day
• Guests under 16 must always be with the Activity Cardholder or an adult guest
• No one under 16 may use the fitness equipment or walking track
• Guests must be at least 16 for any hot tub or sauna
• No one under 16 is allowed in the Adobe activities pool; children use the Adobe lagoon pool during posted children's hours
• Anyone occupying a home for more than 30 days is no longer treated as a guest for amenity use

Other 55+ communities around Phoenix

Communities like PebbleCreek, Trilogy at Vistancia, Sun Lakes and Leisure World each write their own guest and occupancy language. Day limits, guest passes and pool ages vary, so check the CC&Rs and the amenity rules for the community you are looking at. Maricopa County's zoning ordinance also has a Senior Citizen Overlay district, which can matter in some unincorporated areas. I check the documents for each address instead of guessing.

Casitas and guest suites do not change the count

A detached casita or guest suite makes visits more comfortable. It does not start a separate clock. The day limits apply to the home, so a grandchild in the casita counts the same as one in the spare bedroom. If you are shopping for a home with room for family, see my page on homes with a casita, and ask me for floor plans.

Tips for hosting family

• Keep the guest section of your HOA and rec center rules with your home papers
• Track long visits on a calendar against the 90-day limits
• Ask about guest parking and gate or check-in steps before family arrives
• Sign guests in on the first day and keep any wristbands or receipts with you
• Do not rely on what a neighbor or seller says always worked; the documents control

Planning outings for visiting grandkids? See things to do with grandkids in Phoenix this winter.

Common questions

Can grandchildren visit Sun City AZ?
Yes. The SCHOA CC&Rs limit anyone under 19 to 90 days of occupancy in any 12-month period, so normal visits fit easily.

How long can grandkids stay in Sun City Grand?
The CC&Rs say no one under 19 may stay overnight more than 90 days in any 365-day period.

Can grandchildren use the pools?
Usually, as guests signed in by a resident, during the hours set for younger swimmers. Spas, hot tubs and fitness rooms have age limits, so check the rec center rules first.

Is Sun City Grand part of Sun City?
No. Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand are separate communities with separate CC&Rs and rec centers. My Sun City comparison covers the differences.

Can a grandchild live with me full time?
Not in these three communities. Each one bars residents under 19. For legal questions about your situation, talk with an Arizona attorney.