Neighborhood Standards

Every neighborhood works better when residents understand the basic standards that apply to their homes, vehicles, trash, landscaping, and shared surroundings.

In Phoenix, many of these expectations are not simply matters of courtesy—they are established by city ordinance and apply throughout the city. They set a basic minimum for property maintenance, sanitation, parking, accessibility, and neighborhood preservation.

Most of the rules are straightforward and easy to follow once you know what they are. Our goal is to make them easier to understand, explain why they matter, and connect residents with the right City resources when questions or problems arise.

Following these standards helps keep Shaw Butte clean, safe, accessible, and welcoming—and prevents small maintenance issues from becoming larger problems for neighbors and the community.

Why These Standards Matter

City standards establish a reasonable baseline for maintaining properties and shared spaces. They help address conditions that can create safety hazards, obstruct sidewalks and streets, attract pests, create excessive dust or debris, or negatively affect neighboring properties.

We recognize that people may sometimes be unfamiliar with a rule, fall behind on maintenance, or need help correcting a problem. Whenever possible, education and voluntary compliance are the best outcomes.

But these standards apply to everyone. When a violation continues or creates an ongoing problem for the surrounding community, appropriate City enforcement is both reasonable and necessary.

The goal is not perfection. It is a basic, consistent level of care and responsibility that allows everyone to enjoy a clean, safe, and well-maintained neighborhood.

Property Maintenance & “Blight”

The City of Phoenix uses the term blight for property conditions that are significantly neglected, deteriorated, unsafe, or improperly maintained.

This does not mean every imperfect yard or unfinished weekend project is a code violation. City standards focus on conditions such as excessive weeds, accumulated junk or debris, deteriorated fencing, inoperable vehicles, unsafe structures, and other problems that can affect neighboring properties or the surrounding community.

Routine upkeep goes a long way. Keeping vegetation managed, removing accumulated debris, properly storing materials, and addressing deteriorating property conditions helps prevent minor issues from becoming code violations.

Trash & Recycle

Weekly trash & recycle is collected Thursday mornings.

  • Bins must be placed curbside by 5:30 AM on your collection day and removed from the curb by 5:30 AM the following day. Please keep sidewalks clear—trash and recycling bins should never block pedestrian access.

  • Keep at least 15 feet of clearance around your containers from vehicles, mailboxes, light poles, and other obstructions.

Bulk Trash

  • Bulk trash is collected by appointment only. Call 602-262-6251 or visit shawbuttephx.org/bulktrash to schedule your pickup.

  • Bulk trash may be set out no more than 7 days before your scheduled collection date. Setting items out earlier is not permitted and can contribute to neighborhood clutter, illegal dumping, and scavenging.

  • Keep bulk trash off sidewalks and out of the street. Items should be placed at the edge of your property where they are accessible for collection without blocking pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

Neighborhood Parking

  • Keep sidewalks clear. Vehicles must not block or extend onto sidewalks. Park fully in the street or in an approved parking area.

  • Do not park in or block a crosswalk. Crosswalks must remain clear and accessible to pedestrians.

  • Park at least 15 feet from fire hydrants and at least 30 feet from stop signs and street corners.

  • Inoperable or unregistered vehicles may not be parked on City streets. On private property, they must be stored where they are not visible from beyond the property boundaries. Vehicles with expired registration are considered unregistered.

Our mission is to build community through positive action and civic pride. The Shaw Butte Neighborhood Alliance works primarily to inspire and encourage residents to voluntarily uphold the high standards of our neighborhood. We believe this cooperative spirit is essential.

However, to safeguard the quality of life we all share, we must also be prepared to protect our investment. Therefore, we fully support the appropriate and necessary enforcement of city ordinances as a vital measure for maintaining a clean, safe, and secure environment for every resident.

If you have any questions about City Ordinances or other topics, you can use the information on the Contact page to get in touch with us or to find contact information for city departments.

Common Blight Violations

  • VEGETATION

    Property owners are responsible for keeping their properties, and the adjacent rights of way, free of dead or dried vegetation (weeds, tall grass, tumbleweeds, shrubs, trees, palm fronds, etc).

    All dead or dried vegetation must be removed and disposed of properly.

    Property owners are also responsible for assuring that grass and weeds on their property and in the adjacent rights of way do not exceed six inches in height.

  • INOPERABLE VEHICLES

    Inoperable vehicles must not be visible from beyond the bounds of the property.

    An inoperable vehicle is one that is not equipped with all parts that are required to legally and safely operate on public streets and/or cannot be driven under its own power.

    Car covers, tarps, bamboo, shades and other similar types of materials are not acceptable screening.

    Inoperable vehicles must not be visible from beyond the bounds of the property.

  • JUNK, LITTER, & DEBRIS

    Property owners are responsible for keeping their property free of junk, litter and debris.

    This includes tires, junk, furniture, building and landscaping material; litter such as discarded paper, cardboard, plastics, etc.; debris such as tree trimmings and fallen tree limbs; or any other discarded items.

  • GRAFFITI

    Graffiti must immediately be removed from all sidewalks, walls, fences, signs and other structures or surfaces visible from beyond the property line. This is the responsibility of the property owner.

    Free paint and graffiti removal supplies are available. Assistance is available for those unable to physically remove graffiti themselves. Remember, graffiti is a crime. Call 911 if you witness graffiti in progress.

  • FENCES IN DISREPAIR

    Fencing and screening walls must be structurally sound and made from the same materials. They also must be maintained so that they are free from deterioration and blight. Fences in residential zones cannot be higher than 40 inches in the required front yard and 6 feet in the required rear yard.

  • OUTSIDE STORAGE

    Outside storage on residentially zoned properties that can be seen from beyond the property line is not all owed. Generally, any equipment, building or landscaping materials, parts/auto parts, appliances or any scrap items may not be visible. Boats, campers and other similar personal items maybe stored in a limited area of the rear yard of residentially zoned properties. There are specific regulations that apply to outdoor storage and use on properties zoned for other than residential use.

  • NON-DUSTPROOF PARKING

    Designated parking and maneuvering areas must be dust-proofed according to specifications. Parking or maneuvering vehicles anywhere other than these designated areas may be a violation. No more than 45 percent of the required front yard of a single family or duplex residential property may be used for parking or maneuvering.

  • VACANT & ACCESSIBLE STRUCTURES

    Property owners are responsible for maintaining structures and grounds of a property. All vacant structures must be kept secure, so they cannot be opened from the outside. A property owner may be required to board up a structure to City specifications if it becomes vacant and is not secure. Accessory structures on the property, such as storage sheds and garages, also must be secured to City specifications. Boarding up a structure is a one-time, temporary securement option. Rehabilitation or demolition of a structure may be required under certain conditions.

  • ABANDONDED SHOPPING CARTS

    The City of Phoenix Shopping Cart Retrieval Program strives to remove empty, abandoned shopping carts found off premises city wide, from public right of way, sidewalks and city streets within 2 business days of the complaint.

    To report an empty and abandoned shopping cart, not on private property, you may call 602-534-4444, or email shopping.carts.nsd@phoenix.gov, or go online at myPHX311.

    To report a filled shopping cart, submit a report through PHX C.A.R.E.S. 

  • NON-DELINEATED PARKING

    If more than a specific amount of the front yard area is surfaced with a dust-proof material, the parking and maneuvering area must be marked with a permanent border.

Visit NSD Code Enforcement