Phoenix — Ch. 22 Art. VI Property Maintenance § 22-408
Inspection and registration of foreclosure mortgage
Operative Text
(a) Any mortgagee who holds a mortgage on real property located within the village shall perform an inspection of the property upon it being in default or defaulted by the mortgagor as evidenced by the filing of a foreclosure action. (b) Property inspected pursuant to subsection (a) above that remains in foreclosure, shall be inspected every 30 days by the mortgagee or mortgagee's designee. If an inspection shows a change in the property's occupancy status, the mortgagee shall, within ten days of that inspection, update the occupancy status of the property registration. (c) Within ten days of the date any mortgagee files a foreclosure action, the mortgagee shall register the real property with the village registry, and, at the time of registration, indicate whether the property is vacant, and if so shall designate in writing a property manager to inspect, maintain and secure the real property subject to the mortgage under foreclosure action. A separate registration is required for each property under a foreclosure action, regardless of whether the property is occupied or vacant. (d) Initial registration pursuant to this section shall contain at a minimum the name of the mortgagee, the mailing address of the mortgagee, e-mail address, telephone number and name of the property manager and said person's address, e-mail address, and telephone number. (e) At the time of initial registration each registrant shall pay a non-refundable semi-annual registration fee of $500.00 for each property. Subsequent non-refundable semi-annual registrations of registrable properties and fees in the amount of $500.00 are due within ten days of the expiration of the previous registration. Said fees shall be used to offset the costs of: (1) registration and registration enforcement, (2) code enforcement and mitigation related to defaulted properties, (3) post-closing counseling and foreclosure intervention limited to owner-occupied persons in default, which may not include cash and mortgage modification assistance, and (4) for any related purposes as may be adopted in the policy set forth in this chapter. Said fees shall be deposited to a special account in the village's department dedicated to the cost of implementation and enforcement of this division, and fulfilling the purpose and intent of this chapter. None of the funds provided for in this section shall be utilized for the legal defense of foreclosure actions. (f) If the mortgage and/or servicing on a property is sold or transferred, the new mortgagee is subject to all the terms of this chapter. Within ten days of the transfer, the new mortgagee shall register the property or update the existing registration. The previous mortgagee(s) will not be released from the responsibility of paying all previous unpaid fees, fines, and penalties accrued during that mortgagee's involvement with the registrable property. (g) If the mortgagee sells or transfers the registrable property in a non-arm's length transaction to a related entity or person, the transferee is subject to all the terms of this chapter. Within ten days of the transfer, the transferee shall register the property or update the existing registration. Any and all previous unpaid fees, fines, and penalties, regardless of who the mortgagee was at the time registration was required, including but not limited to unregistered periods during the foreclosure process, are the responsibility of the transferee and are due and payable with the updated registration. The previous mortgagee will not be released from the responsibility of paying all previous unpaid fees, fines, and penalties accrued during that mortgagee's involvement with the registrable property. (h) If the foreclosing or foreclosed property is not registered, or the registration fee is not paid within 30 days of when the registration or renewal is required pursuant to this section, a late fee equivalent to ten percent of the semi-annual registration fee shall be charged for every 30-day period, or portion thereof, the property is not registered and shall be due and payable with the registration. (i) This section shall also apply to properties that have been the subject of a foreclosure sale where title is transferred to the mortgagee as well as any properties transferred to the mortgagee under a deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other legal means. (j) Properties subject to this section shall remain subject to the Semi-Annual Registration requirement, and the inspection, security, and maintenance standards of this section as long as the property remains registrable property. (k) Failure of the mortgagee and/or property owner of record to properly register or to modify the registration to reflect a change of circumstances as required by this division is a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to enforcement by any of the enforcement means available to the village. (l) If any property is in violation of this chapter, the village may take the necessary action to ensure compliance with and/or place a lien on the property for the cost of the outstanding obligation and any additional cost incurred to the property into compliance.
Phoenix City Code § 22-408 establishes a registration and inspection regime that applies to mortgagees (lenders or loan servicers) once a foreclosure action is filed on residential or real property within the city. From that point forward, the mortgagee must register the property with the city within ten days, conduct inspections at least every 30 days, and pay a non-refundable semi-annual registration fee of $500 per property. These obligations follow the property through ownership transfers, and the city may place a lien on the property to recover unpaid fees and compliance costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 22-408, mortgagees and their servicers operating in Phoenix are generally expected to register each foreclosure-action property with the city within ten days of filing, designate a property manager in writing for any vacant property, and conduct inspections every 30 days for as long as the property remains in foreclosure. A semi-annual registration fee of $500 per property is due at initial registration and at each renewal; late fees of 10% of that amount accrue for every 30-day period a registration is overdue. When a mortgage or servicing interest is sold or transferred, the incoming mortgagee must update or create a registration within ten days, and prior unpaid fees, fines, and penalties remain the responsibility of the previous mortgagee as well.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 22-408 is primarily directed at lenders and servicers rather than tenants, but tenants living in a property subject to a foreclosure action may have an interest in knowing that the mortgagee is required to register the property, maintain it, and keep occupancy status current with the city. If a property appears to be unregistered, poorly maintained, or out of compliance with these requirements, tenants can contact the City of Phoenix code enforcement division to report potential violations under this chapter. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand how foreclosure-related registration rules may intersect with their occupancy rights and any local tenant protections that apply.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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