Maricopa County, AZ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Ordinance P-36, the county's Right-of-Way Ordinance, governs any occupation, use, or work performed by someone other than the county within a Maricopa County right-of-way, a category that covers streets and their sidewalk frontage. Article XII, titled Violations, makes it unlawful for any person, corporation, partnership, LLC, association, utility, or political subdivision to occupy, use, or perform work of any kind in a county right-of-way without first obtaining a Permit. The moment MCDOT discovers a possible violation, the Director issues a Cease Work Order requiring the activity to stop immediately, and the responsible party must then obtain whatever permits are needed to cure the violation.

S. 05(A)(2), capped at the maximum fine allowed for a class 2 misdemeanor, and every day the violation continues counts as a separate violation, so an unpermitted sidewalk encroachment left in place for a week can multiply the exposure sevenfold. Anyone cited can request a hearing before a county-appointed hearing officer; the Director must personally serve notice at least five days before that hearing, or serve it through an alternative method at least thirty days ahead if personal service isn't possible. At the hearing, the Director presents evidence of the violation, the alleged violator gets a chance to respond, and the hearing officer then decides whether a violation occurred and what penalty to impose.

A person who disagrees with the hearing officer's decision can seek judicial review under Title 12, Chapter 7, Article 6 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. S. 4.