Council approves having Town Attorney report to them... begins search now
Wednesday, the The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. (O)25-08, changing the Town Code so that the Town Attorney will now be appointed by and report directly to the Town Council rather than the Town Manager. The Council also directed the Human Resources Director and Town Manager to return at the next meeting with a proposed hiring process and job description. They instructed them to model their work after the process used to hire the Town Magistrate. This action formally begins the search for Oro Valley’s next Town Attorney. (See our article that discusses this change.)
Council clarifies: Small backyard structures do not require building permits
At its October 1 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. (O)25-06, making small corrections to the Town’s recently approved 2024 building and property maintenance codes. The ordinance deals with building permits under the International Residential Code (IRC). Normally, the code sets a threshold for when a permit is required to build small detached accessory structures, with the size referring to the floor area of the building (such as storage sheds, playhouses, or similar non-habitable structures). Without this correction, the rule would have dropped to 120 square feet, meaning even a 10x12 shed would require a permit. The ordinance keeps the Oro Valley threshold at 200 square feet, so residents don’t need a permit for small backyard sheds or similar structures under that size.
Registration is now open for the Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf Opening Tourney on Friday, November 7. Don’t miss this community tradition—reserve your spot today! Click here to register.
New businesses open in Oro Valley
Several new businesses have recently opened their doors in town, adding variety to the local economy. Heather’s Luminous Esthetics and Queenie Natural & Wellness are now operating at 7315 N. Oracle Rd., while Faye Artisan has opened at 2404 E. Tangerine Rd. In addition, Vantage West Credit Union has added a branch on La Canada Drive, and Premier Title Agency has a new location on Oracle Road. Noble Hops has come under new ownership, and Trader Joe’s has completed a commercial addition at its Oracle Road store. (Source)
Town staff works to remove invasive weeds to restore Vistoso’s desert ecosystem
According to Council Member Josh Nicolson, speaking at the past Wednesday's Town of Oro Valley Town Council meeting, Volunteers and Town staff recently focused on curbing the spread of Russian thistle at Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve—a critical effort for ecosystem health. Russian thistle is an aggressive, drought-tolerant invasive plant that can outcompete native species by quickly hogging water, nutrients, and space. It produces hundreds of thousands of seeds, spreads easily as a tumbleweed, and can dominate disturbed soil areas if left unchecked. By removing it before seed set, the preserve helps reduce the invasive seed bank and gives native plants a better chance to establish. This removal supports the preserve’s restoration vision, helping to maintain biodiversity, improve habitat quality, and prevent soil degradation across Vistoso Trails.
Council "forced to approve" state dictated construction hour changes for earlier allowed start times
The Also Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council adopted Ordinance No. (O)25-07 to bring the Town Code into compliance with Arizona’s new state law on construction hours (SB 1182). The changes expand summer work hours, allowing general construction as early as 5 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on Saturdays, with concrete work permitted an hour earlier. Several council members voiced concerns about the impact of 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. start times on nearby residents and noted frustration that the state has stripped away local control. Despite this reluctance, the Council acknowledged it had no choice but to approve the amendments, since state law preempts stricter local standards
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