Scottsdale, AZ Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Vector defined as
- Rodents, flies, mosquitoes
- Bagging standard
- No odor escape, no vector entry
- Enforcing authorities
- City, county vector control, state DHS
- Container removal for noncompliance
- Authorized under § 24-55
- First violation fine
- Up to $500
Summary
Scottsdale enforces vector control, meaning rodents, flies and mosquitoes capable of spreading disease, in coordination with county and state rules, and requires every solid-waste user to bag materials so odors and pests can't escape. Noncompliant containers can be pulled from a property.
(a)The city has the authority to develop, administer, and enforce rules and procedures to control vectors in accordance with county and state vector control rules and regulations.(b)All users shall be responsible for properly bagging materials consistent with section 24-13(d).
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
Section 24-54(a) gives the city authority to develop, administer and enforce rules and procedures controlling vectors in accordance with county and state vector control rules and regulations, and § 24-54(b) ties every user's obligations directly to the bagging standard in § 24-13(d). 'Vector' is defined at § 24-2 as rodents, flies and mosquitoes capable of transmitting disease to humans, so the rule targets pest-borne disease risk specifically, not general nuisance odor. The referenced bagging standard requires that food waste, putrescible waste, filth or dead animals be properly bagged, meaning securely tied so odors cannot escape, flies or other vectors cannot pass through, and dust or particles cannot release into the environment (§ 24-13(d)(1)).
Collection frequency itself is also linked to vector concerns: § 24-14(a) sets commercial refuse pickup at no less than weekly for containers eight cubic yards or smaller and twice weekly for restaurants, in accordance with state health department regulations, unless the county vector control division approves a variance permit. Vector-related noncompliance, such as improperly bagged waste attracting rodents, gives the city grounds to remove city-owned containers from the property under § 24-55, in addition to any citation.
Violations & Fines
A vector control or bagging violation under § 24-54 is punishable under the chapter's general civil fine schedule: up to $500 for a first offense and up to $700 for a second within two years (§ 24-52(c)), with a repeat violation of any chapter 24 provision within one year chargeable as a class one misdemeanor (§ 24-52(d)). The city can also remove city-owned refuse or recycling containers from a noncompliant address under § 24-55, on top of any citation issued under § 24-56.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a vector under Scottsdale's code?
Do I have to bag my trash to prevent rodents in Scottsdale?
Can Scottsdale take away my trash cart for attracting rodents?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scottsdale
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle rodent control.