Code Enforcement - City of Tempe

What types of violations does this office deal with?

The Code Compliance section responds to violations of the Nuisance & Property Enhancement Code, including rental housing complaints. We also enforce zoning ordinance violations in residential and commercial areas. Examples of the types of violations that we enforce are: tall grass & weeds, junk cars, deteriorated landscaping, deteriorated roofs or chipped and peeling paint, swimming pools that have deteriorated or stagnant water, unsecured swimming pool gates, interior violations of the rental housing ordinance, illegal signage and dead and missing landscaping from commercial sites.

What we don't have authority to enforce:

Violations that occur on the street or in the public right of way (such as cars parked on sidewalks), or concerns about the behavior of residents (such as loud parties), may be reported to the Tempe Police Department's non-emergency number, 480-350-8311.

How may I file a complaint? Complaints may be filed using any of the following methods:

In person:
Community Development / Orchid House
21 E. 6th Street, Suite 208, Tempe, AZ
Office hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday.

Telephone:
Our telephone number is (480) 350-8372. Anyone wishing to speak with a staff person may call this number between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, Monday - Friday. If the telephone line is already in use, you may leave your complaint information on the answering machine. Complaints may also be recorded at this same telephone number twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Online:
Complaints may be filed online twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by clicking Online complaint form.

Are complainants required to identify themselves?

Complainants do not have to identify themselves; although if they would like an inspector to contact them regarding the status of the investigation, their name and daytime telephone number are necessary. Please note: contact information is subject to Public Records disclosure.

The one type of violation where the complainants must identify themselves is barking dog complaints. By ordinance, a complaint may not be initiated unless at least three written statements from witnesses are received. A petition for barking dog complaints is available by clicking on Barking Dog Petition.

What is the enforcement process?

Our goal is to obtain voluntary compliance from citizens whenever possible. The City is divided into geographic areas with a Code Inspector assigned to each one. Each inspector is responsible for violations occurring within their assigned area. Generally, the enforcement of codes occurs on both a reactive (complaint from a community source) and a proactive (initiated by the inspector) basis. There are however, a number of violations that are only enforced after a complaint is received. These include interior violations of the Rental Housing Code and Nuisance Code violations occurring in enclosed rear yards. Our goal is to encourage both owners and tenants to voluntarily eliminate any violations that may exist so that Tempe remains a city we can be proud to live in.

When a code violation is reported, we open a complaint and work towards resolving the violation through a process of education, inspection, and notices. Continued violations are followed by progressive enforcement. Each code has its own set of enforcement procedures, however the process generally follows this sequence:

Complaint received or violation observed by an inspector
Inspection conducted
Notice sent to violator allowing time for corrections
Re-inspection conducted
Additional time granted to allow for correction if warranted
Civil Citations issued if violation is not corrected
Criminal prosecution filed if not corrected after citation
Abatement (violation removed by City contractor) and lien.

What is the definition of a family and how many unrelated persons can reside in a R-1 Zone?

A R-1 zone prohibits more than three unrelated individuals living together in a single family home. Definition of a family: 1.) One or more persons related by the 3rd degree of consanguinity, adoption, marriage or as domestic partners, and not more than two additional persons living together in a dwelling unit.
2.) Not more than three persons who are not related by the 3rd degree of consanguinity, adoption, marriage, or as domestic partners, living together in a dwelling unit.

Loud parties or disorderly conduct:

If concerns arise about the behavior of the individuals living in a home, such as frequent loud parties or disorderly conduct please contact the Tempe Police Department's non-emergency number at 480-350-8311 (call 911 for emergency responses).

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