Recent Ordinance Changes

Phoenix Neighborhood Services expanded its proactive vacant lot inspection program ahead of wildfire season. The city will inspect all vacant lots within a half-mile of schools and parks between March and May.

Denver increased penalties for unlicensed short-term rentals from $500 to $999 per day per violation, effective February 2026. The city also launched a dedicated online portal for neighbors to report suspected unlicensed listings.

San Diego published updated Tier 2 whole-home rental license caps by community planning area. Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla are now at 100% capacity with waitlists for new applications.

Nashville expanded its dedicated noise enforcement team from 4 to 8 officers and extended monitoring coverage to include Thursday through Sunday nights in entertainment buffer zones.

NYC DEP raised the After-Hours Variance fee from $140 to $210 per application and added a requirement for noise monitoring at the nearest residential building during all after-hours construction work.

Austin City Council voted to reduce the chicken coop setback requirement from 50 feet to 25 feet from neighboring dwellings, making backyard chickens feasible on more urban lots.

Seattle updated its urban farming rules to allow up to 12 domestic fowl (up from 8) on lots over 5,000 square feet. The change also clarified that quail and pigeons count toward the total.

Portland's Noise Control Office introduced an online complaint tracking system. Residents can now file complaints, upload recordings, and track investigation status through a self-service portal.

Chicago reduced the tow threshold for oversized vehicles during winter from 7 days to 3 days on designated snow routes. The change aims to speed up snow removal operations.

LA City Council approved a pilot program allowing 8-foot side yard fences in Hillside Grading Areas where wildlife intrusion is documented. The pilot runs through December 2026.