Property Maintenance in Scottsdale, AZ

If you live in Scottsdale or are thinking about moving there, property maintenance are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Scottsdale has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of property maintenance, and some of them might surprise you.

Property Blight

Scottsdale code inspectors can designate rental housing as slum property under Sec. 18-100 after an inspection finds structurally unsound conditions, missing sanitation, or hazardous wiring, giving the owner 30 days to correct the violation before the designation is recorded against the land. Sec. 18-102 lets the city separately declare any structure an imminent hazard unfit for human habitation and order it vacated.

Key details: Correction window: 30 days from notice, Sec. 18-100(b)(3). Appeal deadline: 10 days from notice, Sec. 18-104(b). Appeal fee: $25, waivable for hardship, Sec. 18-104(f). Recording office: Maricopa County Recorder, Sec. 18-100(d). Enforcing agency: Code inspectors, city attorney, police, Sec. 18-15.

Failing to timely appeal a slum property designation is deemed an admission that the property is slum property under Sec. 18-100(c). Owners who ignore a notice face abatement by the city, with costs plus a 5 percent surcharge assessed and recorded as a lien on the land under Secs. 18-73 through 18-75, enforceable through foreclosure in Maricopa County Superior Court. Under Sec. 18-18, a public nuisance violation, or a second violation of any chapter section within two years, is a class one misdemeanor, and each day of continued violation is a separate offense under Sec. 18-13.

This is one of the stricter rules in Scottsdale's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Scottsdale requires owners of vacant lots used for off-road driving or parking to stop it: Sec. 18-9.2 makes the owner responsible for taking measures, such as a fence, ditch and berm, or posts at four-foot intervals, to prevent future use of the lot by motor vehicles, motorcycles, dune buggies, jeeps or similar engine-powered recreational vehicles once that use has occurred.

Key details: Trigger: Prior motor vehicle use/parking on lot, Sec. 18-9.2. Accepted barriers: Fence, ditch/berm, or 4-ft posts, Sec. 18-9.2. Permit required: Barriers must conform to required permits, Sec. 18-9.2. Vacant lot definition: May contain structures, not buildings, Sec. 18-2(40). Correction notice window: At least 30 days, Sec. 18-70(b)(3).

Failing to secure a vacant lot after it has been used for off-road vehicle traffic exposes the owner to a notice to abate under Sec. 18-70, with at least 30 days to install a fence, berm or posts before the city can act and bill the cost as a lien under Secs. 18-73 and 18-74. A civil citation starts at $250 for a first violation on residential-zoned land under Sec. 18-65(a), and a criminal charge under Sec. 18-66 carries a minimum $500 fine.

The Bottom Line

Scottsdale's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Scottsdale is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Scottsdale's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.