Scottsdale, AZ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- No encroachment without written city OK
- Sidewalk status
- Part of right-of-way (§ 47-47(f)(4))
- Unpermitted plant height limit
- 18 inches above curb
- Structures barred outright
- Walls, fences, sculptures
- High-risk encroachment fine
- $1,500 minimum per day
- Other chapter violation fine
- $400 minimum per day
Summary
Scottsdale bars placing or maintaining anything in the public right-of-way, which by code includes the sidewalk, without written city authorization. Only a short list of low-profile improvements is exempt; everything else needs a permit, and unauthorized encroachments draw daily civil fines and city-ordered removal at the owner's expense.
Except as authorized in writing by the city, no person shall:(1)Place or maintain any encroachment in the right-of-way.(2)Place or maintain any tree, hedge, shrub or other plant, or any structure or other encroachment, on property adjacent to the right-of-way, which interferes with public uses of the right-of-way.(3)Use the right-of-way, or areas below, adjacent to or above the right-of-way, in a manner that interferes with the public uses of the right-of-way.(4)Damage the right-of-way or public improvements in the right-of-way.
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
Scottsdale Code § 47-46(b) prohibits, absent written city authorization, placing or maintaining any encroachment in the right-of-way; placing trees, hedges, shrubs, structures or other encroachments on adjacent property that interfere with public use of the right-of-way; using the right-of-way in a way that interferes with its public uses; or damaging the right-of-way or public improvements in it. Section 47-47(f)(4) confirms 'the sidewalk' is treated as part of the right-of-way the adjacent property owner must keep clear and maintained, alongside the adjacent alley and any multi-use path or trail.
Subsection 47-46(c) carves out a narrow list of private improvements landowners may place without a permit behind the curb: groundcovers or vines under 18 inches tall, rocks under 6 inches, bricks, pavers or gravel under 18 inches tall, irrigation conduit 2 inches or smaller, and a mailbox on a breakaway post no larger than 4 by 4 inches outside the clear zone. Subsection (e)(6) is categorical about permanent structures: no wall, fence or sculpture may be placed or maintained in any right-of-way except the permitted mailbox.
The Right-of-Way Supervisor administers permits to work in the right-of-way (PWR) and permits for private improvements in the right-of-way (PIR) under §§ 47-40, 47-50 and 47-51.
Violations & Fines
Under § 47-102, encroachments creating an imminent risk of injury or death within the right-of-way draw a minimum fine of $1,500 per day; unauthorized paving, construction or drainage changes draw $1,000 per day; and other prohibited acts under the chapter, including an unauthorized encroachment under § 47-46, draw a minimum $400 per day. Section 47-104 lets the city stop work, order removal or restoration at the responsible person's expense, declare the encroachment a nuisance, and revoke any related permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a wall or fence up to the sidewalk in Scottsdale?
What can I put near the street in Scottsdale without a permit?
What's the fine for an unauthorized right-of-way encroachment in Scottsdale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scottsdale
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Obstruction Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle obstruction rules.