Tempe, AZ Local Ordinances Guide

Tempe is a mid-sized city in Maricopa County, Arizona, with about 181000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 149 ordinances across 43 categories that affect daily life in Tempe.

Animal Ordinances

Pet Limits: Tempe enforces AZ §13-2910 animal cruelty for hoarding. Tempe City Code Ch.

Also covered: Dog Leash Laws (moderate), Cat Rules (moderate), Bird Protection (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Tempe for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Vending Zones: Tempe bans mobile food vending from vehicles on arterial streets and inside the downtown core bounded by Farmer, College, University and Tempe Town Lake, and bars sales in public parks or on city property except through a City-run bid process, per Sec. 24-29 of the City Code..

Also covered: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (restrictive), Food Truck Permits (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Tempe for details.

Fire Regulations

Outdoor Burning: Tempe bans all outdoor fires, including fire pits and other open burning, from May 1 through September 30 each year under general code § 13A-27(a). Outside that window, no outdoor fire may burn during a high pollution advisory or a county-declared restricted burn period, and the only way around the ban is a state-authorized exception or permit under A.R.S.

Also covered: Smoke Detectors (moderate), Fireworks (strict). See the full fire regulations guide for Tempe for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rental Restrictions: A third ADU on a Tempe lot of an acre or more is allowed only if one of the three units is deed-restricted to renters earning up to 80 percent of area median income. The owner must record the restriction before permits issue and file an annual compliance report or face civil sanctions or forfeiture..

Also covered: Tiny Homes (moderate), ADU Rules (moderate), Shed & Carport Rules (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Tempe for details.

Noise Ordinances

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound: Tempe requires a temporary permit from the Special Events Task Force before anyone runs a loudspeaker or sound-amplifying device in a residential zone on public property. Permits are barred outright between 10:00 p.m.

Also covered: Aircraft Noise (permissive), Leaf Blower Rules (moderate), Vehicle Noise (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Tempe for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Repeat Violator Strikes: Tempe can suspend a short-term rental license for up to twelve months once an owner racks up three verified violations in a year, or immediately after one serious incident like a felony or a sex offender housed on site. Section 16A-220 sets the suspension triggers, and Section 16A-221 layers escalating civil fines of up to $3,500 per violation on top..

Also covered: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (moderate), Host Platform Liability (moderate), Night Caps (permissive). See the full short-term rentals guide for Tempe for details.

Environmental Rules

Stormwater Management: Tempe bans discharging anything but storm water into the public storm drain system under Chapter 12, Article VI of the general code. Section 12-115 sets the purpose: cutting pollutants from spills, dumping, and improper storage to meet the City's federal Clean Water Act and state AZPDES storm water permits, with the Public Works Director enforcing prohibitions, inspections, and civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation per day..

Also covered: Flood Zones (restrictive), Flood Elevation Requirements (moderate), Erosion Control (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Tempe for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rental Registration: Owners of residential rental property in Tempe must file contact and ownership information with the Maricopa County Assessor under City Code Sec. 21-25 and update it within ten days of any change.

Also covered: Repairs & Habitability (moderate). See the full rental property rules guide for Tempe for details.

Public Conduct

Public Marijuana Use: Tempe bans smoking or consuming marijuana anywhere on city-owned property, in any open space such as parks, sidewalks and rights-of-way, or in any public place under the Smoke Free Arizona Act definition. City Code Chapter 22A applies "to the fullest extent allowable by law," also covering sale, cultivation, manufacture and storage of marijuana on municipal property..

Also covered: Loitering Rules (moderate), Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (moderate), Public Alcohol Use (restrictive). See the full public conduct guide for Tempe for details.

Parking Rules

Curb Color Rules: Painting a curb, sidewalk or any street surface anywhere in Tempe is flatly illegal unless the City Council itself designated that specific painting purpose. Section 19-121(b) also bars anyone but the City from marking a street as parking-restricted in any manner, so a resident's own red-curb paint job is a straight code violation..

Also covered: Loading Zones (moderate), Abandoned Vehicles (moderate), RV & Boat Parking (restrictive). See the full parking rules guide for Tempe for details.

Building Safety

Anti-Mansionization: Tempe requires a discretionary Use Permit before any existing single-story, single-family home can add, expand or rebuild a second story. Zoning and Development Code Section 3-420 puts second-story additions, including detached structures like play structures, through public Use Permit review..

Also covered: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (moderate), Building Inspections (moderate), Plumbing Permits (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Tempe for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Tempe hotels pay two stacked privilege taxes on room charges: the standard 1.8% business activity tax under Section 16-444, plus an additional 5% transient lodging tax under Section 16-447 charged only on stays by transients. Together they push the local hotel tax rate to 6.8% of room revenue..

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Encampment Sanitation: Camping on any public property in Tempe, including parks, sidewalks, rights-of-way and mountain preserves, is unlawful under Section 23-91 unless the area is specifically authorized for camping or the camper holds a permit. The article expressly states it is not meant to criminalize homelessness itself, only the conduct of camping..

Also covered: Sit-Lie Rules (restrictive). See the full homelessness & encampment rules guide for Tempe for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Tempe City Code Sec. 22-8 bars minors under 16 from public places between 10 p.m.

Also covered: Park Curfew (moderate). See the full curfew laws guide for Tempe for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Going door-to-door in Tempe to sell goods or services requires a solicitor's or door-to-door seller's permit under Section 24-71, backed by a Tempe Police fingerprint check, and anyone unable to meet the door-to-door seller's bonding rules must qualify as a solicitor instead. Fees are set annually by City Council..

Outdoor Cooking

Smoker Rules: Tempe's Fire Code bans operating charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices on balconies or within 10 feet of any structure, under Fire Code Section 308.5 of City Code Chapter 14. The rule targets multi-family buildings; one- and two-family dwellings are fully exempt, so a house with a yard can run a charcoal smoker against the exterior wall.

Also covered: BBQ & Propane Rules (moderate). See the full outdoor cooking guide for Tempe for details.

Historic Preservation

Historic-Cultural Monuments: Tempe designates individually significant buildings, sites and entire neighborhoods as landmarks, historic properties or historic districts under Chapter 14A, using criteria tied to age, historical association and visual character. Once designated, alteration, new construction or demolition all require Historic Preservation Commission review before a City permit issues..

Local Taxes & Fees

Business Tax Classification: Tempe taxes local businesses under a privilege (sales) tax system in Chapter 16 that sorts gross income into specific classifications, from advertising and amusements to retail sales and hotels, each carrying its own rate. Most classifications run 1.8%, and every dollar of gross income is presumed taxable unless the business proves otherwise..

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Dumping garbage or solid waste on any Tempe street, alley, or private lot is a City Code violation, not just a mess. Section 28-57 bans depositing garbage or solid waste on streets, alleys, or premises outside the chapter's collection methods, and Section 28-51 bars hazardous waste, septic contents, and uncontained items left more than ten days before pickup.

Also covered: Recycling Rules (moderate), Bin Placement Rules (moderate), Dumpster Rules (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Tempe for details.

Sign Regulations

Freeway-Facing Signs: Tempe only allows a freeway-facing freestanding sign, Sign Type E, on parcels within 300 feet of freeway right-of-way and at least 500 feet from any single-family use, and only under a City Council development agreement that sets its size and design..

Also covered: Digital Billboards (restrictive), Window Signs (limited), Political Signs (permissive). See the full sign regulations guide for Tempe for details.

Tree Protection

Parkway Planting: Anyone planting or landscaping in a Tempe public right-of-way or park must follow the City's standard planting specifications adopted by Council resolution, and trees planted in the right-of-way (parkways) must come from the Arizona Department of Water Resources' Low Water Using Plant List. A Public Works Director permit is required before planting, moving, or removing any tree or shrub there..

Also covered: Heritage & Protected Trees (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Tempe for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Auto Repair on Residential Property: Tempe's home occupation rule flatly excludes motor vehicle repair from the businesses a resident may run out of a house. Zoning and Development Code Section 3-412(B)(7) names 'motor vehicle repairing' among the handful of uses a home occupation can never include, so a driveway or garage repair shop is a zoning violation regardless of licensing..

Also covered: Towing Companies (restrictive), Tobacco Retail License (restrictive), Massage Establishments (restrictive). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Tempe for details.

Special Events & Permits

Parade Permits: Tempe requires a Police Chief-issued permit before anyone can hold a parade or motorcade on a public street, sidewalk, or alley, and bars issuing one for a purely commercial, for-profit advertising event. City Code Section 19-43 sets a 30-day advance application deadline and lets the Chief deny or revoke a permit over traffic disruption or public safety..

Also covered: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (moderate), Street Fair Rules (restrictive), Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (limited). See the full special events & permits guide for Tempe for details.

Mobility & Curb Rules

Shared E-Scooter Rules: Tempe classifies electric standup and miniature scooters as 'non-human powered vehicles,' a category barred outright from City parking structures, City parks except designated paths, and City preserves. Section 19-214(i) also requires written permission before riding one across private property, on top of the general bike-lane traffic rules in Article XVI..

Also covered: E-Bike Classes (moderate), Bike Lane Rules (moderate). See the full mobility & curb rules guide for Tempe for details.

Landscaping Rules

Water Restrictions: Tempe bans wasting water on landscaped property under General Code Section 33-121, and Section 33-122 spells out the irrigation failures that count as waste: broken spray or bubbler heads, leaking drip lines, and unmaintained automatic timers. There is no assigned watering-day schedule; instead Public Works cites and escalates against any sprinkler, drip or misting system that lets water run off the property or into the street..

Also covered: Weed Ordinances (moderate), Tree Trimming (moderate), Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Tempe for details.

Data Centers & Crypto Mining

Data Center Zoning & Siting: Tempe confines data centers to the MU-Ed, General Industrial and Heavy Industrial zoning districts, and only with an approved use permit under the Zoning and Development Code. Buildings must sit at least 500 feet from any residential use, and generators must be fully enclosed to control noise reaching neighboring properties..

Also covered: Data Center Noise Limits (moderate), Crypto Mining Rules (restrictive). See the full data centers & crypto mining guide for Tempe for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Structure Height Limits: Tempe caps single-family and agricultural building height at 30 feet across the AG, R1-15, R1-10, R1-8, R1-7, R1-6 and R1-5 districts, rising to 35 feet in R1-4, under Table 4-202A of Section 4-202. A use permit can add another 10% on top of the table figure, and Section 4-205(A) lists specific exceptions to the flat cap..

Also covered: Lot Coverage Limits (moderate), Setback Rules (moderate). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Tempe for details.

Home Business

Customer Traffic Restrictions: Home occupations in Tempe may host only one client or customer vehicle on the property at a time, and clients can visit only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Also covered: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (moderate), Signage Rules (limited), Home Daycare (moderate). See the full home business guide for Tempe for details.

Invasive Plant Rules

Prohibited Species: Tempe bans planting several tree species in its public rights-of-way outright. Section 29-46 outlaws most eucalyptus and elm varieties, ficus nitida, willow, cottonwood, and poplar, plus any new planting or replacement of pollen-producing olive or mulberry trees, regardless of how much water they use..

Right to Farm

Agricultural Zoning Protection: Tempe's AG district permits farming, livestock and apiaries by right or use permit under fixed density formulas: one horse or cow per 6,000 square feet of net lot area, up to 24 animals total, and bee hives set back 200 feet from any neighboring dwelling..

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Tempe's Zoning and Development Code channels commercial marijuana uses into a short list of zoning districts. A medical marijuana dispensary or marijuana establishment without a cultivation component may locate only in the CSS, CC, PCC-1, PCC-2, RCC or LID districts, while a dispensary paired with cultivation, plus stand-alone cultivation or infusion facilities, is confined to the GID and HID industrial districts under Section 3-426(B)..

Also covered: Buffer Zones (moderate), Home Cultivation (moderate). See the full cannabis regulations guide for Tempe for details.

Fence Regulations

Fence Permit Requirements: Tempe caps front-yard walls and fences at 4 feet (6 feet with a use permit) and rear/side yard walls at 10 feet, 8 feet for single-family lots. Any fence or wall over 7 feet triggers a mandatory building permit under the Zoning and Development Code..

Also covered: Retaining Walls (moderate), Height Limits (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Tempe for details.

Rental Inspections

Inspection Programs: Tempe's Community Development Director inspects rental housing units under City Code Sec. 21-24 to check compliance with the Rental Housing Code's sanitary, electrical and safety standards.

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Tempe makes it a nuisance violation to let insects or rodents, bees, wasps, mice, rats or roaches, build up on any property in numbers that threaten public health or safety. City Code § 21-3(b)(20) covers every parcel citywide, and rental housing carries an extra duty under § 21-38(n) to stay free of infestation and its telltale signs..

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Tempe's building official can order any structurally unsafe, unsanitary or fire-hazard building repaired or demolished under City Code Sec. 8-116.

Also covered: Vacant Lot Maintenance (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Tempe for details.

Outdoor Lighting

Dark Sky Rules: Tempe's Zoning and Development Code caps on-site lighting at 40 foot-candles and classifies fixtures by cutoff type: full-cutoff fixtures can use any output up to that cap, while non-cutoff fixtures are limited to 1,700 or 600 lumens depending on lens material..

Also covered: Light Trespass & Shielding (moderate), Billboard Lighting (moderate). See the full outdoor lighting guide for Tempe for details.

Noise from Specific Sources

Bar & Nightclub Noise: Tempe has no bar-specific decibel table; bar and nightclub noise is judged under the general "unnecessary noise" nuisance standard in the noise chapter, weighing 14 listed factors including proximity to residential sleeping areas and the time of night..

Also covered: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (permissive). See the full noise from specific sources guide for Tempe for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Encroachment Permits: Tempe requires a City Engineer permit or license before anyone builds, places, or maintains anything in a public right-of-way. Section 29-19 splits temporary encroachments like awnings and signs, which need an encroachment permit, from permanent ones like buildings or wireless facilities, which need a license, and working without either adds an investigation fee..

Also covered: Sidewalk Repair (moderate), Obstruction Rules (moderate). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Tempe for details.

Water Use Rules

Leak Reporting Duty: Tempe's General Code makes it illegal to let a water leak run once you should reasonably have discovered it. Section 33-123 prohibits permitting the excess use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or malfunctioning plumbing for any period after the escape should reasonably have been found and fixed, and the City enforces it through the same notice-and-surcharge ladder used for irrigation waste..

Also covered: Turf Replacement Rebates (moderate). See the full water use rules guide for Tempe for details.

Filming & Production

Location Permits: Tempe requires a film permit from the Community Services Film Office before shooting commercial photo, video or motion-picture content on City-owned buildings, parks, streets or rights-of-way, unless the crew uses only a hand-held camera or tripod without claiming exclusive use of the property..

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency, Duration & Permits: Tempe caps garage sales at five days per six-month period per property and restricts hours to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing & Safety Requirements: Tempe enforces strict pool barrier requirements aligned with Arizona state law (ARS 36-1681). All pools, hot tubs, and spas with water over 18 inches deep must be enclosed by a barrier at least 5 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates.

Also covered: Pool Permits (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Tempe for details.

Drone Rules

Commercial Drones: Commercial drone operations in Tempe are primarily regulated by the FAA under Part 107 rules. Operators need a Remote Pilot Certificate.

What to Do With This Information

Think of this as a map of the regulatory landscape in Tempe. For any rule that directly affects a decision you are making, click through to the full ordinance page for penalty details and exceptions, and confirm with the city if the stakes are high.