Every day, the Town of Queen Creek receives requests for information and services from residents and potential home buyers in unincorporated areas within Pinal and Maricopa counties that it does not have the jurisdiction to provide. The Town of Queen Creek wants to help potential new residents and businesses make informed choices.
The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes for efficient mail delivery, and the Queen Creek ZIP code boundaries do not always match the Town of Queen Creek’s incorporated municipal boundaries. Areas outside of the incorporated Town of Queen Creek limits are often referred to as “Queen Creek” since the “Queen Creek” name is used in property mailing addresses assigned by the post office. For example, homes in the 85212, 85240 and 85243 ZIP codes have mailing address including “Queen Creek, AZ” although these ZIP codes are not within the Town of Queen Creek incorporated municipal boundary limits.
The Town of Queen Creek is in the process of petitioning the U.S. Postal Service to use the “Queen Creek” name only for those addresses actually located within the Town’s municipal boundaries. In the meantime, the current addressing system causes significant confusion among current and potential residents in unincorporated county areas. They often expect to receive Town of Queen Creek municipal services such as water, sewer, library, police and fire protection that they are not entitled to.
Residents in the unincorporated areas that have included "Queen Creek" in their mailing addresses recently voted to name the area "San Tan Valley." San Tan Valley comprises a large area south of the incorporated area (meaning inside the town limits) of Queen Creek, Arizona.
The Town of Queen Creek has authority to provide services only within its incorporated boundaries. In the municipality of Queen Creek, these services are paid for by residents through property taxes, development fees paid with each building permit issued for a new home, as well as building permit fees for such things as swimming pools and home additions. Local sales taxes and construction sales taxes also help pay for services to residents.
Outside the Town limits, county governments provide some services, water is provided by a private company, police protection is provided by the appropriate county sheriff, and fire protection is by subscription with a private provider.
The Town of Queen Creek is glad to help verify property addresses. Please call 480-358-3000 for assistance or click on the link to the ZIP code map above. For additional information, please contact the U.S. Postal Service at 480-987-8870.
Question to the Town
Question: How can anyone who drives around this area believe that Queen Creek is still a small town with rural character? Seems to me that the development along the Hunt Highway is out of control and would make a Californian quiver. And the commute along Ironwood to US 60 is all traffic. None of that is “rural” anymore.
Answer: None of the areas you ask about are located in the Town of Queen Creek. It is very confusing for people, but having a Queen Creek zip code is not the same as living inside the Town limits. The US Postal services sets up zip codes for efficient mail delivery, but the Queen Creek zip code boundaries (85242) do not match the Town of Queen Creek boundaries.
The Town has authority to regulate development only within the Town boundaries. Outside the Town limits, the County government decides all land use and zoning issues, and the County government provides local services. Nearly all of the development occurring in Pinal County is outside the Town limits. The rate of residential growth outside the Town is about twice as fast as inside the Town limits.
Inside the Town limits, the land use and zoning is guided by the Town’s voter-approved General Plan which shows half of the geographic area of the Town as low density. Even once the Town is entirely built out, the overall density for the Town of Queen Creek will be only about 1.6 homes per acre. Most communities have 4 or more homes per acre. In addition, the Town of Queen Creek requires more open space, more trails, more parks, and preservation of the natural desert washes. The standards and design requirements for development inside the Town are distinctly different than those of other jurisdictions. For more information, look at the General Plan or view the Town Boundaries map.