How Scottsdale Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide

Scottsdale maintains 134 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with public conduct. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Scottsdale falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Skateboarding Rules

Scottsdale bans riding a human-powered skateboard anywhere the City has posted signs prohibiting it (Section 17-86). Motorized skateboards face a far tighter rulebook under Section 17-93: no sidewalks, no roads with four or more lanes or speeds over 25 mph, and no riders under 14.

Key details: Push skateboards: Banned only where signs are posted. Motorized skateboards on sidewalks: Banned citywide. Road threshold for motorized skateboards: 4+ lanes or 25+ mph banned. Minimum age, motorized skateboard: 14 years. Motorized skateboard hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m..

Riding a skateboard in a posted no-skateboarding area falls under the Division 1 penalty scale in Section 17-88: a $50 civil fine for a first offense, $250 for a second, and a class one misdemeanor with a minimum $1,000 fine (or a $500 civil fine at the City's option) for a third within a year. Unlawfully parking a motorized skateboard on public property after notice is a separate civil offense under Section 17-93(b), subject to the same Section 17-88 scale.

Public Marijuana Use

Scottsdale prohibits smoking or consuming marijuana anywhere in public. City Code § 25-3 makes it a class one misdemeanor to use marijuana on any city, state or school-district property, and a petty offense to smoke or consume it in a public park, sidewalk, walkway or any other public place citywide.

Key details: Citation: Scottsdale Code § 25-3. Effective date: November 30, 2020 (Ord. No. 4484). Government property violation: Class one misdemeanor. Open space/public place violation: Petty offense. Open space defined: Parks, sidewalks, walkways, pedestrian thoroughfares.

A violation of subsection A, using, storing or distributing marijuana on City, state or school property, is a class one misdemeanor. Any other violation of § 25-3, including smoking or consuming marijuana in an open space or public place, is a petty offense, which carries a fine only, with no term of imprisonment, unlike the misdemeanor track under subsection A.

Compared to other cities, Scottsdale takes a harder line on public marijuana use. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Jaywalking

Scottsdale Code Section 17-5 bars pedestrians from crossing a roadway outside a marked crosswalk within the city's central traffic district or in any business district. Crossing mid-block elsewhere in the city is not covered by this section, but the general chapter civil sanction still applies.

Key details: Where it applies: Central traffic district and business districts. Central traffic district bounds: Camelback Rd, 68th St, Miller/76th St, Thomas Rd. Maximum civil sanction: $500 (Sec. 17-2). Violation type: Civil traffic violation.

A violation of Section 17-5 is a civil traffic violation under Section 17-2(b), carrying a civil sanction of up to $500. Officers, police aides, and parking control checkers may issue the notice of violation. Failure to pay can lead to a court judgment and a request that the Arizona Department of Transportation suspend the person's driving privileges until the sanction is satisfied.

Public Urination

Scottsdale makes it a class one misdemeanor to urinate or defecate anywhere exposed to public view, unless it's in a toilet or other suitable facility. Conviction carries a mandatory minimum $150 fine, and the court can add restitution for any city clean-up costs on top of that.

Key details: Prohibited act: Urination/defecation in public view. Exception: Proper use of a toilet/facility. Offense class: Class one misdemeanor. Mandatory minimum fine: $150.00. Extra penalty: Restitution for city clean-up costs.

Violating § 19-19 is a class one misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum fine of $150 that the court cannot suspend below. Beyond the fine, the court may separately order the defendant to pay restitution to the city for any clean-up costs tied to the incident.

Loud Party Ordinance

Scottsdale fines any responsible person who permits a nuisance party or unlawful gathering starting at $250 for a first offense, rising to $2,000 for a fourth. Property owners who intentionally allow one face steeper fines starting at $750, and noise over 68 dB(A) at night is presumed excessive.

Key details: 1st offense fine (attendee/host): $250 minimum. 1st offense fine (owner): $750 minimum. 4th+ offense (owner): $2,500 minimum. Nighttime noise threshold: 68 dB(A) / 70 dB(C), 10p-9a. Habitual offender window: 4 violations in 24 months.

First-offense civil fines run $250 for a responsible person (Sec. 18-124) and $750 for an owner (Sec. 18-125), climbing to $2,000 and $2,500 respectively by the fourth offense within a year. A habitual offender under Sec. 18-127, someone found liable four or more times in 24 months, is charged with a class one misdemeanor carrying an additional mandatory $2,500 fine, or $10,000 to $20,000 if the responsible party is a fictitious entity.

Compared to other cities, Scottsdale takes a harder line on loud party ordinance. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Since July 2025, Scottsdale bars smoking on or within 50 feet of any playground on city property, covering lit tobacco products and, where the law allows, e-cigarettes. It's a petty offense carrying a mandatory minimum $100 fine, separate from the city's older indoor Smoking Pollution Control Ordinance.

Key details: Ban zone: Within 50 feet of any playground. Applies to: City-owned property. Covers: Cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco. E-cigarettes: Included, to extent law allows. Offense class: Petty offense.

A violation of § 19-15 is a petty offense carrying a mandatory minimum fine of $100. This is a distinct violation track from § 19-16's enclosed-space smoking rules, which set their own $25 (individual) or $250 (enterprise) mandatory minimums up to $300 or $1,000 maximums.

Public Alcohol Use

Scottsdale bans drinking or possessing spirituous liquor in an open container anywhere in a city park under Code Sec. 20-31(b)(3). Beer and wine in open non-glass containers are allowed only with a city beer-and-wine permit issued under Sec. 20-34, and full-strength liquor is allowed only at Solstice Park under a special-event liquor license.

Key details: Open container ban: Any spirituous liquor in city parks. Permit exception: Beer/wine, non-glass, via Sec. 20-34 permit. Full liquor exception: Solstice Park special events only. Permit duration: One day only per permit. Penalty: Class 2 misdemeanor under Sec. 20-37(b).

Under Sec. 20-37(b), a violation of the Sec. 20-31(b)(3) open-container ban is punishable as a class 2 misdemeanor under state law, enforceable by Scottsdale police and city parks staff. That is the same classification given to most other general park-rule violations listed in Sec. 20-31(b)(2) through (b)(22), such as unauthorized firearm discharge or feeding wildlife.

The Bottom Line

Scottsdale is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Scottsdale, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Scottsdale's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.