Scottsdale, AZ Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Chapter 18 of the Scottsdale Code defines slum property at Sec. 18-2(34) as residential rental property that has deteriorated and manifests conditions dangerous to health or safety: structurally unsound surfaces, roofs, walls, doors, floors, stairs or railings; lack of potable water, adequate sanitation or waste connections; hazardous electrical systems or gas connections; lack of safe, rapid egress; or accumulation of human or animal waste, biological waste or flammable materials. Once an inspection confirms one of these conditions, Sec. 18-100 lets the city manager or designee issue a written notice of designation identifying the property by address or parcel number, describing the violation in enough detail for a reasonable person to correct it, and starting a 30-day clock to fix the problem, unless the hazard is imminent, in which case emergency abatement under Sec.

18-80 lets the city act immediately instead. The notice must list the inspector's name and phone number and the appeal procedure, and must warn the owner that state statutes allow a court-appointed temporary receiver, annual inspections and inspection fees once a property carries the designation. Sec. 18-101 sets out service methods: hand delivery, mail to the owner's last known or tax-bill address, or mail to the agent registered with the Maricopa County Assessor. If the 30 days pass without correction, the city records the designation in the Maricopa County Recorder's Office under Sec.

18-100(d); if the owner fixes the violation first, the city withdraws it. Separately, Sec. 18-102 authorizes the city to declare any structure, not only rental housing, unfit for human habitation and order it vacated whenever it presents an imminent hazard to life, health or public safety. Sec. 18-15 assigns enforcement to the city manager or designee, the city attorney, code inspectors and Scottsdale police officers.