A Scottsdale excavation job can touch city, county and state rules. This page summarizes what each publishes.
City: grading and drainage
The city's Grading & Drainage Checklist covers what an engineered plan shows: basin volumes required and provided, a 3-foot maximum water depth, 4:1 maximum side slopes, a 100-year water surface elevation calculation, FEMA information, and Arizona-registered engineer certification of as-builts and drainage basins. It points to the Design Standards and Policies Manual and project conditions for what a specific project needs. See grading and drainage.
City: native plants
The Native Plant Ordinance applies citywide. Protected plants need a native plant permit to remove, relocate or destroy, issued only with a development project. Single-family projects submit a native plant inventory and site plan with building plan review. See desert lot clearing.
City: ESL overlay
About 134 square miles north and east of the CAP canal fall under the Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay, with Natural Area Open Space, wash, boulder and peak protections. See ESL desert lots.
City: pools
Scottsdale's barrier guidance cites its adoption of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and describes 60-inch fences and 54-inch latches. Inspection Services: 480-312-2500. See pool excavation.
County: dust
Maricopa County requires a dust control permit for disturbing 0.10 acre (4,356 square feet) or more, and Rule 310 applies to every dust-generating operation. The city's checklist lists the county dust permit among the permits to obtain.
State
- Arizona 811: required before digging. See Arizona 811.
- Native plant notice: notice to the Arizona Department of Agriculture before clearing protected plants, with exemptions.
- Contractor licensing: R-2, A-5 or CR-2 for excavating and grading; R-15, C-15 or CR-15 for blasting.
Not legal advice. Drawn from public documents as of the date below; the city, county and state have the last word.
Sources
- City of Scottsdale: Grading & Drainage Checklist (revised April 6, 2005)
- City of Scottsdale: Native Plant program (City Code Chapter 46, Article V)
- City of Scottsdale: Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Overlay
- City of Scottsdale: Pool barrier requirements (short-term rental guidance)
- Maricopa County Air Quality: Dust Sources, Control, and Training
- Arizona Revised Statutes 40-360.22: Excavations; determining location of underground facilities
- Arizona Revised Statutes 3-904: Destruction of protected native plants by private landowners (via FindLaw)
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors: License Classifications
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Rules, prices and contacts change, so check the source before relying on it.
Questions and answers
Do I need a grading permit in Scottsdale?
Grading and drainage plans are reviewed against the city's checklist and Design Standards and Policies Manual. Ask your city project coordinator what your specific project needs.
Does Scottsdale require a dust permit for excavation?
The dust permit comes from Maricopa County, which requires one at 0.10 acre (4,356 square feet) of disturbance. The city's grading checklist lists it among permits to obtain.
Get it quoted
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