Public Conduct in Scottsdale, AZ (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Scottsdale, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Scottsdale Public Urination and Defecation Ban
Some RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 19-19
A.It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in a place exposed to public view, except by proper use of a toilet or other suitable facility provided for this purpose.B.A violation of this section is a class one misdemeanor and shall be punished by a mandatory minimum fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).C.In addition to the penalties proscribed in subsection B above, the ...
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.
Scottsdale Skateboard Riding Restrictions
Some RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances §§ 17-86, 17-93, 17-94
(a)No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, stand-up electric mini-scooter, skateboard, roller skates or any other nonself-propelled vehicle or device, except wheelchairs or an electric personal assistive mobility device, in or upon any area having posted signs expressly prohibiting said vehicles or devices....(a)No person shall ride, operate, place or par...
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.
Scottsdale Nuisance Party Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 18-124
It shall be unlawful for a responsible person to permit either a nuisance party or unlawful gathering. A violation of this section is a civil offense and shall be punished with a minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a first offense, a minimum fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a second offense, a minimum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for a third offense or ...
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.
Scottsdale Playground Smoking Ban
Some RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 19-15
(a)It shall be unlawful to smoke on or within fifty (50) feet of any playground on city property.(b)For purposes of this section, smoking means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying or possessing any lighted tobacco product, including cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco and any other lighted tobacco product. To the extent permitted by law, "smoke" shall also mean the use of an electronic cigare...
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.
Scottsdale Prohibited Pedestrian Crossings
Some RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 17-5
No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in the central traffic district or in any business district.
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.
Scottsdale Bans Public Marijuana Use
Heavy RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 25-3
A.Within the City of Scottsdale, the use, sale, cultivation, manufacture, production, storage, or distribution of marijuana or marijuana products is prohibited on property that is occupied, owned, controlled or operated by the City, this state or any of its political subdivisions, including school districts.B.Within the City of Scottsdale, it is unlawful for an individual to smoke marijuana or ...
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.
Scottsdale Park Open Container Ban
Some RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 20-31(b)(3)
No person shall consume spirituous liquor from an open container, or possess spirituous liquor in an open container, in a city park. Spirituous liquor includes alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, tequila, mescal, gin, wine, porter, ale, beer, any malt liquor or malt beverage, absinthe, a compound or mixture of any of them with any vegetable or other substance, alcohol bitters, bitters containing alc...
Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Scottsdale city rules.
Public Conduct in Maricopa County →