Phoenix City Code §39-7 requires all vacant land to be maintained free from hazards, garbage, debris, and blight. Lots subject to repeated dumping must be secured with permanent fencing, ditches, berms, or posts at 4-foot intervals. The Vacant Property Registry (approved December 2023) requires owners to register qualifying vacant properties online.
Phoenix mandates that vacant lot owners maintain their property to prevent blight and safety hazards. Requirements include regular mowing and weed control (grass must not exceed height limits, typically 8 to 12 inches), removal of trash and debris, securing abandoned structures, and preventing illegal dumping. Vacant lots near occupied properties must not harbor vermin or create fire hazards. Some jurisdictions require vacant property registration with annual fees. The municipality may mow and abate conditions on non-compliant lots and charge costs to the property owner.
Written notice with compliance deadline. Municipal mowing/cleanup at owner expense ($200 to $500+ per occurrence). Liens placed on property for unpaid abatement costs.
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix follows the 2018 Phoenix Building Construction Code Chapter 9 (IBC/IRC) and Ordinance G-5898 (effective April 18, 2014). Smoke alarms are required in...
Phoenix, AZ
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Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, lighting hours, and blower noise are governed by HOA CC&Rs. PCC Secti...
Phoenix, AZ
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Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix requires building permits for outdoor kitchens with gas lines, plumbing, electrical wiring, or structural roofs. Trade permits filed through Planning...
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix has no specific ordinance regulating residential smokers or pellet grills. ADEQ Rule R18-2-219 prohibits visible emissions exceeding 20 percent opaci...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Maricopa County.
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Phoenix's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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