Florence, AZ Horse Property: A Buyer's Guide

The short answer: Florence, AZ horse property gives you room to ride in one of the oldest towns in Arizona, with a historic downtown and a hometown pace. Before you buy, confirm the zoning and animal rules for that exact parcel, find out where the water and sewer come from, check road access and drainage, and walk the land with someone who knows horses. Do that homework and Florence can be a wonderful place to keep horses.

If you have been driving south from the East Valley and wondering what life looks like past the rooftops, Florence deserves a look. It has history, open land, and a small-town feel that a lot of horse people are searching for. Here is how to shop for horse property there the smart way.

Florence has deep roots. The Town of Florence says it was founded in 1866 and is the sixth-oldest non-Native American settlement in Arizona, and it is the county seat of Pinal County. Its historic downtown carries a National Historic District designation, and the town works to balance preserving the past with preparing for the future.

That mix is part of the appeal. You can keep your horses on the edge of town and still have a real Main Street with character close by.

Florence sits on three major roads. The town names Highway 287, Highway 79 and Hunt Highway as the transportation corridors running through Florence. For horse owners, that matters for hauling to shows, getting hay delivered and reaching your vet or farrier.

When you look at a property, drive the route you would actually haul. Check the turns, the shoulder, and how a truck and trailer handle the driveway and gate. A road that works for a car does not always work for a gooseneck.

Ask the Town of Florence Community Development department, which handles planning and zoning, what the zoning allows for your exact parcel. Some properties near Florence are inside town limits and some are in unincorporated Pinal County, and the rules can differ. A county answer is not a town answer, so confirm which one applies before you fall in love.

Questions to bring:

• Is the parcel inside the Town of Florence or in unincorporated Pinal County?
• What does the zoning allow for horses and other livestock on this lot?
• Are there setback rules for barns, stalls and manure areas?
• Is there an HOA or deed restriction that limits animals?
• Were the existing barn, shade and arena permitted?

Our guide to what actually makes it horse property and the barn, arena and outbuilding permits guide walk through the details.

Water is the first thing I check on any horse property. The Town of Florence says it provides water and sewer services as a full-service municipality, but that does not mean every parcel near Florence is on town water. Some properties may use a private well, a shared well or a septic system.

Ask for the source in writing, then check it:

• Town water and sewer, a private well, or a shared well?
• If it is a well, what are the well records and the most recent water test?
• If it is septic, when was the system last inspected and pumped?

Read our well water guide for Arizona horse property and our septic systems guide before you write an offer.

Walk every fence line and stand where the water goes when it rains. Look at:

• Drainage and washes. Watch where runoff flows and ask whether any part of the property sits in a flood zone. Our flood zones and washes guide explains how to check.
• Footing. Is the arena or turnout footing safe for your horses?
• Shade and shelter. Horses need protection from the summer sun.
• Fencing. Is it horse safe, and is it on the true property line?
• Room to work. Is there space to turn a trailer, store hay and add a pen later?

Florence is a full-service town. It provides police, fire, library, senior center, parks, planning, water and sewer services. Families will find three public schools within the town boundaries, two K-8 schools and one high school, plus an American Leadership Academy K-6 charter school, according to the town. The main campus of Central Arizona College is close by.

Around town you will find Jason Lopez Memorial Park with ball fields, a skate park and picnic areas, Padilla Park with a splash pad and amphitheater, and the Florence Aquatic Center, which opened in July 2015. Little League Park is home to Central Bark Park, which the town says was the first dog park in Pinal County when it opened in 2007. Good news for anyone with horses and dogs.

• Assuming zoning. Always confirm town or county rules for the parcel.
• Skipping the water check. Know the source and test it.
• Ignoring the haul route. Drive it with a trailer in mind.
• Not visiting in summer. Visit in July or August before you commit, not December.
• Buying without a horse person. An agent who rides sees what others miss.

I am Kim Williamson, REALTOR®, with REAL Broker. I have lived in Arizona 36 years, sold real estate for 24 years, closed 1,000+ transactions, and I am an 8x WPRA World Champion barrel racer. I have personally owned and designed three horse properties, so when I walk a place in Florence I am looking at it the way you will live on it: the gate, the footing, the shade, the water and the haul out to the highway. I love towns with history, and Florence has plenty. If you want horses and a hometown feel in the Metro Plex of Arizona, let's go take a look together.

Is Florence, AZ a good place for horse property? It can be. Florence offers open land, a historic downtown and access to Highway 287, Highway 79 and Hunt Highway. Confirm zoning and water for each parcel.

Is Florence the county seat of Pinal County? Yes. The Town of Florence says it is the county seat of Pinal County.

Does every Florence property have town water? Not necessarily. The town provides water and sewer services, but some nearby properties use wells or septic. Ask for the source in writing.

Who do I ask about zoning for horses in Florence? Start with the Town of Florence Community Development department. If the parcel is in unincorporated Pinal County, ask the county.

When was Florence founded? The Town of Florence says it was founded in 1866.

• Town of Florence: Town History
• Town of Florence: Parks and Facilities
• Town of Florence: Historic District
• Arizona horse property buyer checklist

Do your own due diligence. General information only. Confirm zoning, water and permits with the town or county for the specific parcel.

Ready to find horse property in Florence or anywhere in the Metro Plex of Arizona? Call or text Kim Williamson, REALTOR®, REAL Broker, at 480-206-1500, or start at www.ArizonaHorsePropertyForSale.com.