Hillside & NAOS Rules In Silverleaf: Design Must-Knows

Thinking about a pool, addition, or new privacy wall in Silverleaf? The hillside setting and protected desert open space make the views special, but they also shape what you can build and where. If you plan well, you can enhance your home without risking costly delays or resale issues. This guide translates Silverleaf’s hillside and NAOS rules into practical design constraints, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Let’s dive in.

Who regulates your project

Before you sketch ideas, know who sets the rules. In Silverleaf, more than one authority can apply at the same time, and you need approvals from each.

• Silverleaf/DC Ranch Design Review Board (DRB): Most exterior work requires DRB approval, including additions, pools, visible grading, walls, view fencing, and landscape changes. The DRB looks at siting, materials, colors, wall styles, view preservation, and landscape palettes.
• City of Scottsdale or Maricopa County: Confirm your exact jurisdiction. Local building, grading, drainage, and environmental codes apply either way. Both implement NAOS policies that protect native desert and hillside areas.
• State and utilities: Pool discharge, water use, and exterior mechanicals must meet state and utility standards. If your site affects a drainageway or floodplain, expect additional reviews.

Skipping any one of these can stall your project. DRB approvals are recorded in your project file and matter for HOA enforcement and future resale.

NAOS basics that shape design

NAOS (Natural Area/Open Space) preserves native vegetation, natural drainage, and hillside character. On individual lots, it often shows up as mapped preservation areas or buffers.

What that means for your plans:

• No permanent structures in NAOS. Buildings, pools, permanent paving, most solid walls, and ramps are typically not allowed inside mapped NAOS.
• Encroachments are limited and controlled. Minimal, temporary disturbance may be allowed only with prior approval and mitigation, which can include revegetation and monitoring.
• Grading and drainage must stay natural. Altering drainage across NAOS is generally prohibited. If any change is necessary, you will need engineered solutions that prevent erosion downstream.
• Revegetation is a real obligation. If NAOS is disturbed, you may be required to replant native species and prove establishment over time. Fees or conservation conditions can apply.
• Adjacent NAOS still matters. Even if your lot does not contain NAOS, work near an adjacent NAOS area can limit fencing, terraces, and views if it would impact the protected area.

The practical takeaway: your true buildable area is the portion outside NAOS and within your established envelopes. Verify the recorded NAOS map for your lot before you design a pool, patio, driveway, or addition.

Hillside grading and retaining

Hillside sites require a light touch. Expect more engineering and more review where slopes are visible from public areas or neighboring lots.

• Permits and engineered plans: Any grading beyond minor landscaping typically requires a grading permit and civil engineering plans. Stepped foundations and terraced designs are often preferred to reduce visible cuts.
• Limit cuts and fills: Large slope cuts are discouraged. Use lower, terraced retaining walls and native rock to blend with the terrain.
• Erosion and drainage: You will need measures like sediment control, swales, and energy dissipators to protect NAOS and prevent runoff impacts. Maintenance obligations can be recorded with the property.
• Retaining walls: Lower walls may clear simple review. Taller walls usually require structural engineering, permits, and extra design scrutiny for visual impact.

Plan for higher costs on sloped lots due to engineering, retaining structures, and specialized drainage. Also plan for limited staging and access during construction, which can add time and logistics.

Pools and water features

Pools can be built in Silverleaf, but placement and detailing are constrained by NAOS, slopes, and drainage.

• Location: Place pools within your established building envelope and away from natural drainage paths. Pools are generally not allowed inside NAOS or on slopes that require major alteration.
• Setbacks and equipment: Pool shells, decks, and mechanicals must respect setbacks from NAOS, property lines, and slopes. Expect rules for equipment screening and noise.
• Water management: Backwash, filter discharge, and emergency overflow cannot drain into NAOS or natural washes. Engineered drainage and overflow plans are commonly required.
• Safety and style: Pools must meet municipal safety barrier codes. In Silverleaf, barrier style is reviewed for visual consistency with the community.
• Water use: In the desert, features that increase evaporation face extra scrutiny. Designs that conserve water and reduce splash-out typically review faster.

If your lot is steep, a pool may still be possible with engineered solutions. Budget extra time and cost for the design, approvals, and construction.

View fencing and walls

Silverleaf aims to preserve long views and the desert character. That shapes how you gain privacy without blocking sightlines.

• View preservation vs privacy: Tall, solid perimeter walls are often restricted where views matter. Transparent or open-style fencing can provide definition with minimal view impact.
• Heights and stepping: Codes and DRB guidelines cap wall heights. On slopes, walls often must step with grade and be softened by landscape.
• Materials and finishes: Expect native stone, earth-tone plaster, and textured finishes that blend with the desert. Reflective surfaces and bright colors are usually prohibited.
• Design for softness: Combine lower walls with layered plantings to achieve privacy in a way that aligns with community standards.

If a solid wall is your first choice, prepare options. You may be asked to lower it, segment it, or incorporate openings and landscape screening.

Approval process and timeline

A clear process reduces risk and saves money. Here is how most projects move from idea to approval.

Step 1: Pre-application and feasibility

• Confirm jurisdiction: City of Scottsdale or Maricopa County.
• Pull the recorded plat, NAOS map, and CC&Rs for your lot.
• Meet with the DRB for a pre-submittal review to spot conflicts before you invest in full plans.

Step 2: Surveys and technical reports

Most hillside or NAOS-adjacent work will need:

• A current boundary and topographic survey showing NAOS limits, spot grades, vegetation, and structures.
• Civil grading and drainage plans by a licensed civil engineer.
• Structural plans for retaining walls, pools, and major additions.
• A landscape plan using a native palette, with mitigation and revegetation details if NAOS is disturbed.
• Photo simulations or visual impact studies for hillside areas.
• A vegetation protection or removal plan; sometimes an arborist report for significant native plants.

Step 3: Submittals and reviews

• Submit to the DRB in phases: concept, then detailed plans. Allow several weeks to months based on complexity and meeting schedules.
• Apply for city or county permits in parallel: grading, building, structural, and utility approvals often require multiple review cycles.
• Prepare for inspections and final sign-offs, including as-built verification and vegetation establishment reports if mitigation occurred.

Typical timelines

• Minor projects like small fencing or limited landscape: weeks to 2–3 months.
• Major projects like pools with significant grading or large additions: 3–9+ months from design through permits. Hillside work and NAOS mitigation can add time.

Smart moves to protect resale

Silverleaf buyers value views, native character, and clean compliance. Design with these in mind and you will help your future resale.

• Honor NAOS and the hillside. Projects that avoid visible scarring and keep natural vistas tend to sell more easily.
• Respect the palette. Context-appropriate materials and colors fit the neighborhood and photograph well for marketing.
• Document everything. Buyers and their advisors will look for DRB approvals, permits, and as-built records. Clean files reassure them and support value.
• Know long-term obligations. Mitigation or revegetation agreements can transfer with title. Provide clarity on any monitoring or maintenance duties.

Avoid these common pitfalls

• Building first, asking later. Unapproved grading, walls, or fences can trigger removal or expensive fixes.
• Underestimating hillside costs. Engineered foundations, retaining structures, erosion control, and access logistics add up.
• Ignoring offsite constraints. Adjacent NAOS and natural drainage can still limit what you do on your lot.

Resale documentation checklist

Keep a neat, complete file. At closing, this can make a real difference.

• DRB approvals and conditions
• Final building and grading permits with inspection sign-offs
• As-built grading and drainage plans
• Revegetation or landscape establishment reports if mitigation occurred
• Warranty and maintenance information for retaining walls, pool equipment, and erosion control measures

FAQs

What is NAOS in Silverleaf and why does it matter?

• Answer: NAOS preserves native desert, drainage, and hillside character. It limits permanent structures and grading within mapped areas and can reduce your buildable footprint.

Can I place a pool on my Silverleaf hillside lot?

• Answer: Possibly. Pools must stay out of NAOS and natural drainage, meet setbacks, and may require engineered solutions on slopes, which adds cost and review time.

Are solid privacy walls allowed in Silverleaf?

• Answer: Solid, tall walls are often restricted to preserve views. Expect caps on height, stepped designs on slopes, and a preference for open-style fencing with landscape screening.

Who approves my Silverleaf project and in what order?

• Answer: You submit to the Silverleaf/DC Ranch DRB and also obtain permits from the City of Scottsdale or Maricopa County. Many owners do DRB concept review first, then run permits in parallel.

What documents will buyers expect if I sell later?

• Answer: DRB approvals, final permits and inspections, as-built grading and drainage plans, and any revegetation or mitigation reports tied to NAOS.

Ready to plan a compliant project or evaluate how changes could impact value? Connect with Unknown Company to Request a Luxury Home Valuation and a tailored strategy for your Silverleaf property.