Prescott Valley, AZ Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Section 10-01-180 of the Prescott Valley Town Code, Urban Camping, was enacted by Ordinance No. 2024-946 on November 14, 2024. Subsection A bars setting up, using or maintaining any temporary structure, tent, bag, vehicle, camper or other thing for camping, lodging, sleeping, cooking, starting or maintaining a fire for any purpose, or establishing a temporary place of rest, on any public property within the Town limits. Subsection B repeats the same ban for private property. Subsection C separately makes it unlawful to sleep in or upon any public building, alley, sidewalk, public way, designated trail head, or other public place or facility.

Subsection D reaches owners: it is unlawful for any owner of private property, or any manager, renter, lessee or agent, to knowingly permit any person to violate the section.

The enforcement trigger is in subsection E. No person is arrested unless the person continues the conduct after a warning from any police officer, Town code compliance officer, or the property owner, manager, renter, lessee or agent, or unless the property is conspicuously posted with a warning of subsection (A), (B) or (C) that designates the violation as a misdemeanor.

The exceptions are ordinary and permitted uses of improved residential lots under Chapter 13 Zoning; normal activities or designated uses of Town parks; camping events run by the Town Community Services Department; and parking a vehicle, camper or recreational vehicle for less than 24 hours with express consent, unless the property is posted or an authorized agent asks for removal. Under subsection J, parking such a vehicle for more than 24 hours when not upon one's own real property is prima facie evidence of intent to violate the section. The section as printed sets no cleanup or property-storage steps.