Yavapai County, AZ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- Yavapai County Ordinance No. 2020-5
- Permit required from
- County Engineer, before any right-of-way work
- Unpermitted work penalty
- double the standard permit fee
- Criminal penalty
- class 1 misdemeanor (Section H)
- Excavation permit term
- valid 30 days from issuance
- Emergency work grace period
- 24 hours to notify County Engineer
- Effective date
- January 15, 2021
Summary
Yavapai County requires a written permit from the County Engineer before anyone places an obstruction, sign, landscaping, driveway, culvert or excavation inside a publicly maintained road right-of-way. Ordinance No. 2020-5 lets the County Engineer set the permit fee, revoke a permit at his sole discretion, and charge double fees to anyone who starts work first. Emergency utility repairs get a 24-hour grace period.
No encroachment within a publicly maintained road is allowed without a written permit from the County Engineer, except by authorized County employees, contractors acting under a County contract, and new subdivision improvements for which Yavapai County holds financial assurances. No permittee shall violate the terms and conditions of a permit without written authorization from the County Engineer. ... Any permit issued pursuant to this ordinance may be revoked at any time at the sole discretion of the County Engineer if the County Engineer determines revocation is necessary to protect the public safety, allow for right of way maintenance, or to allow for road construction and expansion. ... The County Engineer is authorized and directed to charge a permit fee in an amount authorized by the Board of Supervisors. ... Emergency encroachments, including excavation for public utility repairs necessary to protect the public safety, are allowed without a permit provided the County Engineer is notified by phone within 24 hours of the emergency, a permit is applied for the next business day.
Full Breakdown
Ordinance No. 2020-5, adopted December 16, 2020 and effective January 15, 2021, governs every publicly maintained road and right-of-way in unincorporated Yavapai County. 2 to include obstructions, signs, landscaping, mailbox structures, light fixtures, new driveways, drainage work and excavation, unless the County Engineer issues a written permit first; the only exemptions are County employees, County contractors, and financially-assured subdivision improvements already under County bond. 5). 2). 7). 2); the County can also repair abandoned or substandard work itself and bill the responsible party. The County Engineer may grant variances if public safety and welfare stay protected (Section E). This ordinance repealed Ordinance 2001-1.
Violations & Fines
Violating this ordinance is a class 1 misdemeanor under Section H, Yavapai County's most serious misdemeanor tier under Arizona law. Working without a permit does not excuse the requirement: the County Engineer still requires an application and doubles the standard permit fee under Section F.2. Where an unpermitted obstruction creates an immediate public hazard, the County may remove it and bill the responsible party for the cost, per Section B.8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a driveway culvert in the county right-of-way?
What happens if I start work in the right-of-way before getting a permit?
Can the County revoke an encroachment permit after it's issued?
Is emergency utility repair work exempt from the permit requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yavapai County
Compare Yavapai County to another location·View the Arizona sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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