Scottsdale, AZ Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- 1st offense fine (attendee/host)
- $250 minimum
- 1st offense fine (owner)
- $750 minimum
- 4th+ offense (owner)
- $2,500 minimum
- Nighttime noise threshold
- 68 dB(A) / 70 dB(C), 10p-9a
- Habitual offender window
- 4 violations in 24 months
- Enforcement
- Scottsdale Police, city attorney
Summary
Scottsdale fines any responsible person who permits a nuisance party or unlawful gathering starting at $250 for a first offense, rising to $2,000 for a fourth. Property owners who intentionally allow one face steeper fines starting at $750, and noise over 68 dB(A) at night is presumed excessive.
It shall be unlawful for a responsible person to permit either a nuisance party or unlawful gathering. A violation of this section is a civil offense and shall be punished with a minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for a first offense, a minimum fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a second offense, a minimum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for a third offense or a minimum fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a fourth or subsequent offenses within a year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 18-124 makes it unlawful for a responsible person, meaning any attendee, host, tenant, or organizer, to permit a nuisance party or unlawful gathering, defined by Sec. 18-122 as an assembly that substantially disturbs the quiet enjoyment of property through excessive noise, traffic obstruction, public drunkenness, service of alcohol to minors, fights, or litter, or where liquor reaches a minor or illegal drugs are present. Sec. 18-125 separately targets an owner who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits either violation, carrying its own escalating fine schedule.
Sec. 3 decibel, with ambient level verified and noted. Sec. , audible past the property line, is excessive. Sec. 18-126 lets a judge or hearing officer mitigate, suspend, or reduce fines if the owner installs noise mitigation software or security cameras, attends a best-practices course on operating a short-term or long-term rental, or posts conduct rules. Sec. 18-127 escalates repeat conduct: a responsible person found liable four or more times within 24 months becomes a habitual offender guilty of a class one misdemeanor, with fictitious-person fines of $10,000 to $20,000 plus a mandatory $2,500 fine for an individual. Sec. 18-128 authorizes the city manager, a Scottsdale police officer, or the city attorney to issue civil complaints and notices of violation.
Violations & Fines
First-offense civil fines run $250 for a responsible person (Sec. 18-124) and $750 for an owner (Sec. 18-125), climbing to $2,000 and $2,500 respectively by the fourth offense within a year. A habitual offender under Sec. 18-127, someone found liable four or more times in 24 months, is charged with a class one misdemeanor carrying an additional mandatory $2,500 fine, or $10,000 to $20,000 if the responsible party is a fictitious entity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a party be at night in Scottsdale before it counts as a nuisance?
Can a homeowner reduce a nuisance party fine in Scottsdale?
What happens after four nuisance party citations in Scottsdale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scottsdale
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