Neighborhood Standards & City Contacts
Maintaining a pleasant, safe, and attractive neighborhood means all residents doing their part to adhere to the standards set by city ordinances.
Standards & Guidelines
This section is a friendly reminder/quick reference for enforceable city ordinances and policies. Following these guidelines is the best way to be a courteous neighbor, and to avoid warnings or citations from the City of Phoenix.
Following these guidelines is also part of a proven strategy for reducing crime and preventing criminal activity by communicating that members of our community care about basic upkeep and the condition of our surroundings.
Blight
Our vibrant, warm weather encourages us to enjoy the outdoors, but it also demands year-round attention to our yards. Consistent maintenance—from routine mowing to managing weeds and overgrowth—is not just a private matter; it is a shared responsibility that directly impacts the value and appearance of our entire neighborhood.
Neglecting these basics accelerates blight. We encourage every resident to become familiar with the specific city codes and ordinances published by the Neighborhood Services Department—including the most common blight violations listed at the bottom of this page—and commit to consistent upkeep.
Trash & recycle
Weekly curbside collection for both trash and recycle is on Thursday mornings.
Bins must be placed curbside no later than 5:30AM on the day of pick up, and removed from the curb by 5:30AM on the day after service. Remember: don’t block sidewalks with your bins!
Make sure there are no obstructions within 15 feet of your containers (automobiles, mailboxes, light poles, etc.).
Bulk trash is collected by appointment only—visit http://www.shawbuttephx.org/bulktrash to be redirected to the City of Phoenix bulk trash scheduling page.
Parking in our neighborhood
Vehicles must not obstruct sidewalks—park on the street, not on the curb or sidewalk.
Vehicles must not be parked in or obstructing crosswalks.
Park at least 15 feet from fire hydrants or, and 30 feet from stop signs/street corners.
Inoperable or unregistered vehicles cannot be parked on city streets, and may not be parked on private property where they are visible from beyond the property boundaries. Expired registrations are considered “unregistered”.
Public space usage & community concerns
Our community holds deep empathy for all neighbors experiencing housing instability or other forms of vulnerability. At the same time, we must uphold the principle that shared public spaces—our sidewalks, parks, and town centers—must remain clean, accessible, and safe for everyone.
While we seek compassionate solutions, the reality is that overbearing or dominating public encampments and assemblies severely limit the rights of all residents to use these spaces, creating security concerns and hindering the overall quality of community life.
Residents are encouraged to promptly report suspected drug or alcohol use in public spaces to law enforcement. Phoenix Police Officers are trained and equipped to offer services like housing support to individuals prior to taking enforcement action for camping or loitering.
Encampments or public camping should be reported to PHX C.A.R.E.S., part of the City of Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions, using the contact information on this page. Care teams will be dispatched to offer services and to assist individuals in finding appropriate shelter.
Violations of the City of Phoenix Parks & Recreation Code of Conduct should be reported to the Code of Conduct Hotline to ensure our parks remain accessible and safe for everyone.
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.
Common Blight Violations
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
The City of Phoenix has the Graffiti Busters team who clean up reported graffiti throughout the city. Use the myPHX311 app to contact the Graffiti Busters team and report graffiti or email blight@phoenix.gov or graffiti.busters.nsd@phoenix.gov.
Private properties must sign permission forms, which allow the Graffiti Busters team to color match and cover/paint over graffiti on private properties. The permission forms can be found on the Graffiti Free Phoenix webpage of the NSD website.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Stray shopping carts pose safety issues for pedestrians and motorists as well as contribute to blight. The Shopping Cart Retrieval Program works with retail and grocery companies to ensure they are accountable for shopping carts located outside of their commercial property boundaries. The City of Phoenix charges retail owners a cart retrieval fee for every cart reported abandoned and collected by city contractors.
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.
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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.