The City of Phoenix has signed a new ordinance into law that directly impacts retailers with shopping carts. Added by Ordinance No. G-7419 and codified in November 2025, the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance took effect January 15, 2026 and establishes new certification and compliance requirements for shopping cart management.
Here’s what retailers need to know.
What the Law Says
Under Chapter 39, Article X, Sections 39-56 through 39-70, all retailers with shopping carts must comply with new city requirements designed to address off-site cart removal and public blight.
Key provisions include:
- Annual certification is required for all retailers with shopping carts, beginning January 15, 2026. A 30-day grace period has been provided, through February 15.
- If ten carts are collected off-site within a 60-day period, or if a store is found non-compliant, certification may be revoked, and fines may be imposed.
- The city requires shopping cart management plans, which may include the use of restrictive devices such as locking wheel mechanisms like Gatekeeper Systems’ CartControl® technology.
- Failure to comply with certification requirements may result in daily fines ranging from $500 to $1,000.
In addition, the City of Phoenix has the authority to collect, possess, transport, sell, destroy, or otherwise dispose of shopping carts found off-site, with unidentifiable carts subject to disposal.
Why This Matters to Retailers
Compliance with the ordinance is mandatory for retailers operating in Phoenix. Beyond fines and certification risks, unmanaged carts can create additional challenges:
- Local fines of up to $50 per cart may be assessed.
- Public cart blight can negatively impact brand reputation.
- Cities are financially incentivized to recover costs and issue fines related to cart retrieval and disposal
Retailers that fail to address off-premises cart movement may face increased enforcement and ongoing penalties.
Ensuring Compliance as a Purchek® Customer
For existing Purchek® customers, compliance is within reach. Your SmartWheel® equipped cart fleet is prepared for the CartControl® system, once some additional equipment is installed to protect the parking lot.
If You are an Existing CartControl® Customer
Schedule a routine service for your system and your cart fleet to ensure your system is in compliance with the new ordinance, to avoid additional fees.
We Have the Solution for Your Store
Scheduling a compliance assessment can help ensure locations are properly certified and aligned with the City of Phoenix’s requirements.
Gatekeeper Systems provides solutions designed to support continuous protection and compliance under the new ordinance.
