Maricopa County, AZ Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Planning & Development Abatement Officer
- Notice period
- At least 30 days to comply
- Appeal window
- 10 days to Board of Supervisors
- Penalty
- Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor
- Cost recovery
- Recorded lien under A.R.S. § 11-268
Summary
Maricopa County's Abatement Ordinance P-11 requires owners to clear rubbish, weeds, debris, and dilapidated buildings from unincorporated property, with the county removing violations and assessing costs as a lien if owners don't comply.
Allows for rubbish, trash, weeds, filth, debris or dilapidated buildings which constitute a hazard to public health and safety to remain upon property of which they are the owner or occupant, or to remain upon sidewalks, streets and alleys contiguous to the property which they are the owner or occupant
Full Breakdown
The County's Abatement Officer (the Planning and Development Director) investigates complaints about rubbish, trash, weeds, filth, debris, or dilapidated buildings on unincorporated property. A dilapidated building is one so damaged its stability is substantially less than a new building, is likely to burn or collapse, is infested by pests, or has sat vacant and unsecured more than 48 hours on multiple occasions in a year. Owners get written notice with at least 30 days to comply and 10 days to appeal to the Board of Supervisors. If they don't fix it, the County can issue an Order of Abatement, remove the violation itself, and record the removal cost as a lien against the property under A.R.S. § 11-268.
Violations & Fines
Failing to correct the violation by the compliance deadline lets the county's Abatement Officer enter the property, remove the debris or building, and bill the owner as a recorded lien.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "dilapidated building" under Maricopa County's abatement ordinance?
Does this ordinance apply inside Phoenix, Mesa, or other cities in Maricopa County?
What happens if I don't pay the assessed cleanup cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona property maintenance overview
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