Luxury Homes on Large Lots for Sale in Scottsdale, AZ

Most Scottsdale luxury homes on an acre or more sit in the north part of the city, above the CAP canal, where the Environmentally Sensitive Lands rules and large-lot zoning keep homes spread out. Expect custom and semi-custom homes on desert lots with protected natural open space, often near Pinnacle Peak, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve or the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive.

I'm Terry Day with DeLex Realty. This page covers homes priced at $1 million and up on lots of at least one acre (43,560 square feet) inside Scottsdale city limits. Buying land with a luxury home on it is different from buying a home in a subdivision, so I've gathered what I checked in the City of Scottsdale zoning and planning pages, Maricopa County rules and community sources, written in my own words.

See $1M+ Scottsdale homes on 1+ acre Call Terry: 602-483-4665

Where the big lots are in Scottsdale

South and central Scottsdale are mostly built out on smaller lots, so the luxury acreage is concentrated in the north. The City's Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay covers about 134 square miles of desert and mountain land north and east of the CAP canal, and that is where you find most of the one-acre-plus homesites.

A few areas stand out in the City's own planning documents:

• Desert Foothills. The Desert Foothills Character Area Plan covers about 8 square miles from Jomax Road north to Dixileta Drive, between the west city limit and 96th Street. Part of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive runs through it, and the plan notes the equestrian lifestyle in the area.
• The Foothills Overlay. Roughly the same stretch, Jomax to Dixileta and 56th Street to 96th Street, with about 1,115 property owners on lots of roughly 1 to 5 acres. It has its own rules on walls and exterior colors (more below).
• Dynamite Foothills. This character area runs from 112th Street to the east city limit, between Deer Valley Road and Lone Mountain Road. The City's plan describes lots of mostly 2 to 3 acres there and calls that pattern appropriate for the area.
• Pinnacle Peak and the private clubs. Several private golf communities sit around Pinnacle Peak and farther north, including Desert Highlands (Jack Nicklaus course opened in 1984, on Happy Valley Road below Pinnacle Peak), Estancia (a gated community of about 600 acres at the base of the peak), Mirabel (one Tom Fazio course) and Desert Mountain (gated, about 8,300 acres with seven golf courses). Lot sizes vary inside each one, so check the plat for the home you like.

Large-lot zoning in plain words

Scottsdale's single-family districts are named for their minimum lot area. R1-43 needs about 43,000 square feet (just under an acre), R1-70 about 70,000, R1-130 about 130,000 and R1-190 about 190,000 square feet, which is a little over 4.3 acres. The City's R1-190 standards sheet also lists a 300-foot minimum lot width. Because the search behind this page uses a full 43,560 square feet, some R1-43 homes just under an acre won't show; ask me if that range interests you.

In the ESL area, the overlay rules win where they differ from the base zoning. On hillsides the overlay also limits density by slope, from one home per 5 acres on gentler ground down to one per 40 acres on the steepest land.

NAOS: the desert you buy but don't clear

This is the part of a north Scottsdale lot that surprises buyers the most. Under ESL, a share of each property is set aside as Natural Area Open Space, recorded as an easement and kept as undisturbed desert. The required share depends on the landform. Lower desert lots start at about 20 to 30 percent, upper desert about 25 to 45 percent and hillside lots about 50 to 80 percent, with lower floors allowed in some cases.

What that means for you: the acre you see may not all be usable yard. Owners can't remove live native plants from NAOS, and changes to it need City approval. The Fire Department does allow clearing of flash fuels such as dead grass. Before you write an offer, ask for the recorded NAOS easement and a site plan so you know where a pool, casita, sport court or garage addition could go.

Building envelopes, height and walls

Grading and construction on ESL lots have to stay inside a defined building envelope, and single-family homes in ESL are limited to 24 feet measured from natural grade. Scottsdale also has a Native Plant Ordinance for protecting or moving major native plants during work.

In the Foothills Overlay, walls need a permit, must sit back 15 feet from side and rear lot lines, can't enclose NAOS and can't cross larger washes. Exterior paint has to stay at a light reflectance value of 35 percent or lower, which keeps homes blending into the desert. If you plan to add on, these rules matter as much as the HOA's.

Horses, trails and space

The City says it doesn't cap the number of horses or farm animals kept for personal use on a single-family lot with an approved home; commercial stables need a conditional use permit. HOA rules and county health rules can still limit animals, so many gated luxury communities won't allow horses even on big lots. The Desert Foothills area is the part of the city whose plan talks about equestrian living, and the City publishes a bike, pedestrian and equestrian trail map.

For hiking, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve is about 47 square miles today, with trailheads such as Tom's Thumb on 128th Street and Brown's Ranch on Alma School Parkway close to many of these homes.

Things to check before you buy

• Water and sewer. Many north Scottsdale homes have City water and sewer, but some large lots use a septic system. For a septic home, Maricopa County requires an inspection within six months before the sale and a Notice of Transfer within 15 days after.
• Inside the city or not. Rio Verde Foothills, to the east, is unincorporated county land, not Scottsdale. It made news in 2023 when the City stopped letting haulers take Scottsdale water there; hauling resumed in October 2023 through a standpipe district deal. A Scottsdale mailing address doesn't always mean City services, so check the address.
• Wildfire space. The Scottsdale Fire Department asks owners to trim live vegetation within 15 feet of the home and remove dead plants out to 30 feet, and offers free wildland fire assessments.
• Airport disclosure. Parts of the city fall under Scottsdale Airport traffic pattern and noise maps that sellers disclose under state law. Ask for the disclosure on any home you like.
• Washes. Many big lots have washes crossing them. Changes to a wash, or a wall across one, follow City drainage rules, so look at the survey and flood zone for the specific lot.
• Club and HOA rules. Golf communities often have separate club memberships and design review boards. Read the CC&Rs and design guidelines before planning any changes.

Selling a Scottsdale home on acreage

Large-lot luxury homes don't price like tract homes, because lot size, usable area, views, NAOS and privacy all vary from one home to the next. I start with recent sales on similar lots, then adjust for what a buyer can actually do with the land. My guide on how to price your Arizona home to sell walks through the basics.

Questions buyers ask

Where are most Scottsdale luxury homes on an acre or more?

Most are in north Scottsdale, north and east of the CAP canal, in the Desert Foothills, Pinnacle Peak and Dynamite Foothills areas. That is where the City's large-lot zoning and Environmentally Sensitive Lands rules apply.

Can I use my whole lot?

Usually not. Most ESL lots carry a recorded Natural Area Open Space easement covering a set share of the land, and native plants there can't be removed. Ask for the site plan and NAOS easement before you make an offer.

Can I keep horses on a large Scottsdale lot?

The City allows horses for personal use on single-family lots with an approved home, without a set number, but HOA rules often say no. Check the CC&Rs for the specific home before you plan on horses.

Do these homes have city water and sewer?

Many do, but some large lots have septic systems, and areas just outside the city, such as Rio Verde Foothills, have different water arrangements. Confirm water and sewer for each address.

More Scottsdale pages

For acre homes at any price, see my Scottsdale homes on 1+ acre. For all luxury listings, see Scottsdale luxury homes and gated communities in Scottsdale. Community guides: Desert Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, DC Ranch and Windgate Ranch. Nearby towns: Cave Creek, Carefree, Rio Verde and Paradise Valley. Or read my Scottsdale guide, browse DeLex listings in Scottsdale and all Scottsdale listings.

Details come from City of Scottsdale zoning and planning pages, Maricopa County, the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, community sources and MLS listing data, and can change. Verify zoning, NAOS easements, HOA and club rules, water, sewer and flood zone for a specific home before you buy.