Navajo County, AZ Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Unsightly/unsanitary/hazardous accumulations banned
- Business exception
- Sanitary, necessary accumulations allowed
- Remedy
- Remove, enclose, or screen with fencing
- Who decides
- County/Deputy Zoning Inspector discretion
Summary
Unsightly, unsanitary or hazardous accumulations on unincorporated Navajo County property are zoning violations under Section 2104; hazardous or unsightly material must be removed, enclosed, or screened with fencing so it is no longer visible to neighbors.
Section 2104 – Other Violations; Unsightly, Unsanitary, or Hazardous Accumulations and Conditions In addition to violations of other Articles of this Ordinance, unsightly, unsanitary, or hazardous accumulations and conditions are prohibited and are considered violations of this Ordinance. Unsightly but sanitary and non-hazardous accumulations and conditions are permitted in association with other businesses where such accumulations or conditions are necessary to the business (such as recycling facilities or construction sites). Unsightly and hazardous accumulations shall be removed, enclosed in a permanent structure, or screened with conventional fencing materials in such a manner that they are no longer visible to neighbors or passers-by. Unsightly, unsanitary, or hazardous accumulations and conditions shall be determined at the discretion of the County Zoning Inspector and Deputy Zoning Inspectors.
Full Breakdown
Section 2104, Other Violations; Unsightly, Unsanitary, or Hazardous Accumulations and Conditions, treats blighted conditions as a distinct violation on top of any other Article of the Zoning Ordinance a property might also be breaching. The rule prohibits unsightly, unsanitary, or hazardous accumulations and conditions outright. It carves out a narrow business exception: accumulations that are unsightly but sanitary and non-hazardous are permitted where they are necessary to a business use, the ordinance names recycling facilities and construction sites as examples. Anything that crosses into unsightly-and-hazardous territory must be removed, enclosed in a permanent structure, or screened with conventional fencing materials so it is no longer visible to neighbors or passers-by.
§ 11-815. § 11-268 for the more severe case of dilapidated buildings and hazardous conditions on a lot, but Section 2104 is the everyday zoning tool used for accumulated junk, debris piles, and similar blight short of that formal process.
Violations & Fines
A property found in violation of Section 2104 is treated like any other zoning breach: a Code Enforcement Officer investigates, often on a citizen complaint that can be anonymous under Section 2103, and the Director works toward voluntary compliance before referring the case under Section 2105. Unresolved cases go to the Navajo County Zoning Hearing Officer under Section 2106, which can assess civil penalties under A.R.S. §§ 11-815 and 11-866, and Section 2107 bars issuance of any county permit for the parcel until the blighted condition is cured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for junk piled up in my yard in unincorporated Navajo County?
Is there an exception for a home business with visible equipment or materials?
Who decides if my property's condition counts as a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Navajo County
Compare Navajo County to another location·View the Arizona property maintenance overview
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