Arizona HB 2716: tribal economic development; study committee

Bill Text

HB2716 - 572R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: vacant; abandoned property; inspection; maintenance

 State of Arizona

 House of Representatives

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 HB 2716

 Introduced by 

 Representatives 
 Villegas: Abeytia, Austin, Cavero, De Los Santos, Garcia, Gutierrez, Liguori, 
 Luna-N�jera, M�rquez, Mathis, Sandoval, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton

AN 
ACT

amending title 9, chapter 4, article 8, 
arizona revised statutes, by adding section 9-500.54; relating to 
municipal authority.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 9, chapter 4, article 8, Arizona 
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 9-500.54, to read:

START_STATUTE9-500.54. Vacant; abandoned property; inspection; maintenance; fees; 
applicability; definition

A. The governing body of a city or 
town may adopt, implement and enforce an ordinance that establishes 
registration, inspection and maintenance requirements for residential and 
commercial buildings that are vacant or abandoned for more than one hundred 
fifty days.

B. An ordinance established pursuant 
to subsection A of this section must include all of the following:

1. A requirement that the vacant or 
abandoned building be registered. The registration shall include the 
name, residence or business address, telephone number and email addresses of 
each owner of the vacant or abandoned building. A vacant or abandoned 
building owner who is residing outside of this state shall provide with the 
registration the name and address of a person who resides in this state, who is 
authorized to accept service of process and notices on behalf of the owner and 
who is designated as a responsible local party or agent for the purposes of 
notification in the event of an emergency.

2. Property standards for vacant or 
abandoned buildings that require the owner to do all of the following:

(a) Secure the 
property. 

(b) Ensure that 
all buildings are structurally sound.

(c) Maintain 
utility connections that are required for fire protection and security 
protection.

(d) Maintain 
all structures, fences and yards pursuant to applicable city or town codes.

(e) Maintain 
the building and property in a sanitary, safe and secure manner.

3. A requirement that a vacant or 
abandoned building be inspected. When carrying out inspections, the city or 
town shall comply with the requirements of section 9-833. The city or 
town may require the vacant or abandoned building owner to make a request for 
inspection. The city or town inspector shall determine if the vacant or 
abandoned building is any of the following:

(a) Secure from 
trespassers.

(b) Safe for 
entry by firefighters and police officers.

(c) A hazard to 
the public or an impediment to efforts to rehabilitate or maintain surrounding 
properties. 

4. A Notice provision for 
registration, inspection and maintenance requirements and assessment of fees or 
other penalties. �The city or town shall provide notice in writing by certified 
mail to the last known address of the owner of the vacant or abandoned building 
or to the address to which the property tax bill for the property on which the 
vacant or abandoned building is located was last mailed. �The notice must 
include the legal description of the property, the fee owed to the city or town 
pursuant to this section and any penalty that may be assessed if the owner does 
not comply WITH the requirements of this section.

5. A requirement for the owner of a 
vacant or abandoned building to provide proof of an insurance policy that shows 
sufficient liability coverage for the building.

6. An appeal process for the owner of 
a vacant or abandoned building to challenge any determination made pursuant to 
an ordinance adopted pursuant to this section. The owner may appeal 
the final decision by the city or town to the superior court of the county in 
which the property is located within thirty days after the decision is entered.

C. The city or town may charge the 
owner of a vacant or abandoned building fees for registration and inspection of 
the vacant or abandoned building, and all of the owners of the vacant or 
abandoned building shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of any 
fees that are imposed pursuant to this subsection. An ordinance adopted 
pursuant to subsection A of this section shall provide procedures for 
administering and enforcing the fees for registration and inspections and 
paying and collecting the fees. The city or town shall separately account 
for fees collected pursuant to this section, which shall be used as follows:

1. To improve and maintain public 
safety in and around vacant or abandoned buildings and properties.

2. To administer the vacant or 
abandoned building registration, inspection and maintenance requirements 
established pursuant to this section.

3. To repair, close or demolish a 
vacant or abandoned building as