30434 N 59th Street, Cave Creek
(602) 483-4665
DeLex Realty
Cave Creek calls itself the place "where the Wild West lives," and for horse owners that's more than a slogan. The town has acreage zoning that allows horses, miles of multi-use trails right from many backyards, and two big riding areas close by: Cave Creek Regional Park and Spur Cross Ranch. If you want room for horses about 33 miles from downtown Phoenix, this is one of the best places in the Valley to look.
See Cave Creek horse properties below Call Terry: 602-483-4665
Inside the Town of Cave Creek, horses go with the Desert Rural (DR) zones: DR-43, DR-70, DR-89 and DR-190, named for their minimum lot sizes in square feet (DR-190 is about 4.4 acres). Barns, corrals and horse shades are limited to the DR zones. The smaller R-35 and R-18 residential zones don't allow horses.
The town's notice to property buyers puts it simply: owning at least two contiguous acres in a DR zone gives you the right to keep horses and other livestock. The code also limits how many ranch animals you can keep per acre, and it requires corral fences to sit back at least 12 feet from property lines. Before you buy, I confirm the zoning on the exact parcel with the town, because the rules depend on the zone, not just on how much land there is.
Next door, Desert Hills and New River are unincorporated Maricopa County, so the county's zoning applies there instead. The county's Rural-190 zone, for example, lists corrals for keeping horses as a permitted use. Many buyers looking for horse property around Cave Creek end up comparing homes on both sides of the town line.
Horse property is different from buying a regular house. These are the things I check with every buyer:
I help buyers sort out which properties actually fit their horses: the zoning, the layout, room for a barn or arena, trail access, and water. Some homes in the Cave Creek area also have FHA or VA loans a buyer may be able to take over. See assumable homes in Arizona.
Horse buyers shop for features: arena size, stalls, turnout, trail access and water. I make sure your listing spells those out so the right buyers find it. Read how to price your Arizona home to sell, or call me for a pricing plan.
How much land do I need for horses in Cave Creek?
The town's guidance is at least two contiguous acres in a Desert Rural (DR) zone. Always confirm the zoning and animal limits for the specific parcel with the town.
Can I ride from my property to the trails?
Often, yes. Cave Creek's town trails connect to Cave Creek Regional Park, Spur Cross Ranch and the Tonto National Forest, and many lots back up to them.
Are horse properties in Cave Creek on wells?
Some are. Properties outside the Cave Creek Water Company's service area use wells, so we review the well, any shared-well agreement and the ADWR paperwork.
Is Desert Hills or New River part of Cave Creek?
No. They're unincorporated Maricopa County, so county zoning and services apply there.
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Zoning, animal limits and trail details come from the Town of Cave Creek, Maricopa County and state agencies, and they can change. Confirm the rules for any specific parcel before you buy.
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