The Town of Cave Creek (Arizona) is located in
northern Maricopa County and is bounded by Maricopa
County to the north, Phoenix to the west and south,
Carefree to the east and Scottsdale to the southeast.
The Town encompasses approximately 31 square miles.

My two primary duties are to serve the Cave Creek
Municipal Court and investigate violations of the
Town Zoning Ordinance. At the court, I help with the
collection of monies, serving of warrants, transporting
prisoners and security in the courtroom. When investigating
zoning complaints I deal with issues involving dogs,
vehicles, neighbor disputes, signs, fences and nuisances.

The following are topics/issues that I deal with quite frequently.

Dogs:
Should not bark between 10 PM and 7 AM. They should be
confined on your property and when off your property, they
should be on a leash. The Town code says that a leash
is not needed if your dog is under voice control. But what
is the definition of voice control and if I'm called to
investigate some misbehavior by your dog then it's obviously
that your dog is not under voice control. I have seen people
go to jail and I have seen people sued because of their dog's
behavior. For your safety and the safety of your dog, be
a responsible dog owner.

RV'S:
motor homes, campers, fifth wheels, boats or anything else
that moves and can be lived in. These vehicles must be
stored either in the side or rear yards and must be covered.
The most common covers are a garage or carport. Not included
is a cover similar to the one that fits over a car. These
vehicles can be parked in the front yard for 3 days, while
loading or unloading. No more than one of each is allowed.

Junk cars:
Whether a car is junk or not is in the eyes of the beholder.
For my purposes, I'm interested in whether it's running or
not and if it's currently registered. Junk cars are allowed
if they are screened from view. For instance, in the backyard
behind a fence or in a garage. Otherwise junk cars are not
allowed in Cave Creek.

Native habitat corridor:
The area within 12 feet of your property line cannot be
disturbed. Your 12 feet and your neighbors 12 feet create
a 24-foot corridor. The word "cannot" does not mean you
can plant native trees, clear brush, add decorative fences
or install sprinklers. Think of this 12 feet as sacred
ground that cannot be disturbed period. When your property
line is in the middle of a road, the 12 feet is from the edge
of the right of way. The sizes of the right of ways vary and
are measured from the center of the road. Example: The right
of way is 35 feet on your road. Measure 47 feet (35 + 12)
from the center of the road and that's the point at which
the native habitat ends.

Signs:
The ordinance on signs is very detailed and quite lengthy.
Anytime you are thinking of posting a sign you should consult
with the Town Staff.

Construction:
If you're building a fence, wall, storage shed or anything
else, get a permit. If you think nobody will notice your
little construction project, you are wrong. Somebody will
see it and for whatever reason they will call me. In the
long run, it's much easier to get the permit before the
project is started.

Jurisdiction:
Zip Code boundaries, City boundaries and school boundaries
are not the same. Just because your address reads Cave Creek,
does not necessarily mean you live in the Town of Cave Creek.
As the Town Marshal, I can only handle code violation complaints
in the Town of Cave Creek.

Lighting:
For residential lighting, the primary concern is to direct
light down. Incandescent lights of 100 watts or less do not
need to be shielded. Any type of other bulb of 50 watts or
less does not need to be shielded. All other residential
lights need to be shielded. The shielding is used to direct
the light towards the ground. Mercury vapor and halogen quartz
are not allowed. The light regulations for businesses are
more detailed and the owners/managers should consult with
the Town Staff.