Abandoned Shopping Cart Retrieval Program

Q: What is the purpose of this ordinance?
To reduce blight, nuisance, and public safety hazards caused by off-site shopping carts by ensuring carts are returned to stores and retailers take effective preventive measures to prevent off-site carts.

Q: Who does this ordinance apply to?
All stores in the city of Phoenix that provide shopping carts for customer use.

Q: What is a “shopping cart” under this ordinance?
A basket that is mounted on wheels or a similar device that is generally used in a store by a customer for the purpose of transporting merchandise of any kind that does not meet the requirements of A.R.S. § 44- 1799.32(B).

Q: What are stores required to do?

• Submit annual certifications including store information, representative information, and shopping cart management efforts.
• Implement a Shopping Cart Management Plan, if required. Measures may include:
  • Maintaining a shopping cart retrieval contract;
  • Equipping carts with restrictive devices;
  • Other effective measures of the stores’ choosing.
• Pay retrieval fees if the City of Phoenix (City) returns carts to a store.

Q: Where do I go to certify my store?
Visit the Shopping Cart Certification Portal

Q: Where can I find information about my Certificate of Occupancy?
Please contact Planning and Development Department’s Commercial Building Division at (602) 534-6502, or by email at pdd.commercial.building@phoenix.gov. 

Q: What is a Shopping Cart Management Plan?
A written plan explaining how a store will prevent off-site carts, including how they intend on retrieving off-site carts. There are three levels:

• Initial Plan: Weekly retrieval + 1 prevention measure.
• Enhanced Plan: Twice-weekly retrieval + additional measures.
• Mandatory Plan: Daily retrieval + restrictive devices + GPS + security measures.

Q: What triggers the need for a plan?

• Stores over 50,000 square feet may opt to implement a plan as an alternative to equipping all carts with locking wheels.
• If 10 or more carts are returned to a store during an evaluation period, a plan will be required for that store even if previously not required. 
• Repeated unsuccessful evaluation periods (10 or more carts returned by the City) will require plans to be enhanced. 

Q: What are the fees for returned carts by the City of Phoenix?

• $25 per cart (if store has a retrieval contract).
• $50 per cart (if store does not have a retrieval contract).

Q: What happens to unclaimed or unidentifiable carts?

• Held for at least 30 days at the City’s Impound Lot.
  • Then disposed of through auction, recycling, landfill or destruction.
• If a cart remains unclaimed for at least 10 days, the City will send a notice to the cart’s owner, if known, or, if the owner is not known, post a notice on the City’s website describing how and when the cart will be disposed of.
• If the cart remains unclaimed for at least 20 days after the notice was sent, the City may sell the cart at public auction. The City will dispose of any carts that do not sell.
• Valueless carts may be disposed of immediately.

Q: What are the penalties for non-compliance?

• Minimum of $500 for the first violation.
• Minimum of $750 for the second (within 36 months).
• Minimum of $1,000 for third or subsequent violations (within 36 months).
• Each day of non-compliance may be charged as a separate violation. 

Q: Can stores appeal decisions or fees?
Yes, appeals can be made to:

• The Director, or her or his delegee.

Q: Where can stores go to look at their completed certification?
Visit the Store Certification Portal.

Q: Where can I find the Shopping Cart Ordinance?
Phoenix City Code Chapter 39, Article 10

Q: When do stores have to come into compliance?
Existing stores must comply by January 15, 2026. New stores must comply before opening to the general public.

Q: Who can I contact with questions, or to get more information?
Please contact Neighborhood Services Department staff at (602) 495-0807, or by email at shopping.carts.nsd@phoenix.gov.