Scottsdale, AZ Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Scottsdale imposes no general restrictions on lawn ornaments, garden statues, religious displays, or seasonal yard decorations on private property at the municipal level. Items must remain within the property line and not encroach into the public sidewalk or right-of-way. Permanent free-standing structures and large accessory items above size and height thresholds in the Scottsdale Zoning Ordinance may require building permits through Planning & Development Services. The Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance (ESLO) in north Scottsdale imposes additional native-vegetation, view-corridor, and natural-area open-space standards that can affect placement of larger ornaments, fountains, and statuary on ESLO-covered lots. Arizona Revised Statutes Sec. 33-1808 protects the right of homeowners in HOA-governed communities to display the U.S. flag, the Arizona state flag, military service flags, and certain other flags notwithstanding most CCR restrictions, subject to reasonable size and placement standards. Scottsdale's heavy HOA penetration - most single-family lots are in CCR-governed master-planned communities - means most front-yard decoration disputes are resolved at the association level under recorded covenants, often with seasonal-window, color, size, or quantity restrictions. Items creating safety hazards or trip risks near pedestrian routes may trigger Code Enforcement action.