East Valley line, 480
A city 31 miles long, built in waves from postwar block houses to post-2000 desert homes, threaded by Indian Bend Wash and bordered on the south and east by Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land.
Scottsdale incorporated on June 25, 1951 with about 2,000 residents and now covers 184.5 square miles, running 31 miles from south to north. Phoenix, Paradise Valley and unincorporated land border it on the west, Tonto National Forest on the north, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community on the south and east. That last border matters on the ground: Salt River Fields, Talking Stick Resort and Scottsdale Community College all sit on tribal land under the Community's own jurisdiction, not inside the city.
For repairs after a leak, the city's One Stop Shop on Indian School Road handles permits inside city limits. Homes on reservation land, in Phoenix-side 85254 around Kierland, or on unincorporated land in the far north answer to other offices, and inspections follow the parcel. The district pages work through those splits ZIP by ZIP: Old Town and South Scottsdale, the Shea Corridor and the master-planned ranches, and the northern foothill communities.
Across the city, the ACS counts 139,168 housing units with a median build year of 1991. Some 28.8% predate 1980 and 27.4% were built in 2000 or later, and the two groups mostly sit at opposite ends of town. City preservation research describes 1960s and early 1970s townhouses as slab-on-grade with no basement, first in painted block and later in stucco, so water from a failed line spreads across the floor and into the base of the walls instead of draining below.
After the 1970 McCormick Ranch sale, master-planned communities followed: Scottsdale Ranch in 1978, Gainey Ranch in 1980, Desert Mountain in 1986, McDowell Mountain Ranch in 1992 and DC Ranch in the 1990s. Shea Corridor homes generally date to the 1970s. Another 29.4% of units are in buildings of five or more, where a leak can move between floors, and 8.8% are held for seasonal use, which lets a slow drip go unseen for weeks.
Scottsdale Water's 2025 supply was 71% Central Arizona Project water, 13% Salt River Project water, 8% groundwater and 8% recycled. The 2026 Water Quality Report puts hardness at 13 to 15 grains per gallon south of Indian School Road and 13 to 17 north of it, and the city does not treat for hardness. That mineral load leaves scale in tank water heaters and at valves, so slow leaks at heaters and fixtures are worth checking for in every part of town. EPCOR's Chaparral City district serves some portions of the city with water near 16 grains.
Electric service is split between SRP and APS by address, and both reported outages in Old Town and South Scottsdale after the July 22, 2021 storm. During the August 12, 2022 storm, Scottsdale Fire worked with APS to de-energize downed lines near Scottsdale and Cactus roads. When floodwater reaches a garage or a room full of outlets, knowing which utility serves the house saves time in getting the power safely cut.
On June 22, 1972, 3 to 5 inches of rain over the north half of metro Phoenix sent Indian Bend Wash backing up behind the Arizona Canal at Bonita and 74th Street, and floodwater reached hundreds of homes in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Instead of the concrete channel first proposed with the Army Corps of Engineers, the city chose a grass-lined greenbelt, dedicated in 1985, which now runs 11 miles with more than 24 grade-separated crossings. It moves storm water through town, but its unbridged road crossings still close in storms.
Recent storms show where water still collects. On September 26, 2025, one driver was rescued from the flooded wash near Miller Road and Roosevelt Street and another near Hayden Road and McCormick Parkway. On September 16, 2026, vehicles stalled in about 2 feet of water near Loop 101 and Raintree Drive while WestWorld and the Water Campus flooded. The city hands out free sand and bags at two self-service sites during monsoon season. Scottsdale calls go to the East Valley line, and only for water: it does not place fire or smoke jobs, or mold removal.
| ZIP | Postal name | Page |
|---|---|---|
| 85250 | Scottsdale | South Scottsdale & Old Town |
| 85251 | Scottsdale | South Scottsdale & Old Town |
| 85254 | Scottsdale | Central Scottsdale |
| 85255 | Scottsdale | North Scottsdale |
| 85257 | Scottsdale | South Scottsdale & Old Town |
| 85258 | Scottsdale | Central Scottsdale |
| 85259 | Scottsdale | North Scottsdale |
| 85260 | Scottsdale | Central Scottsdale |
| 85262 | Scottsdale | North Scottsdale |
| 85266 | Scottsdale | North Scottsdale |
| Fountain Hills | ZIP 85268; also 85263, 85264 | Median home built: 1994. East Valley line. |
|---|
No. The mailing name reaches beyond the city. Most of 85254, including Kierland Commons, is in Phoenix; large parts of 85250, 85257 and 85258 are Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land; and much of 85255 and 85262 in the north is unincorporated county.
The 2026 city report lists 13 to 15 grains per gallon for the area below Indian School Road and 13 to 17 farther north. Older and higher figures still appear on the city website, but the 2026 report is the current reference. Softening is left to each owner, since the city does not soften.
At the One Stop Shop, part of Planning and Development Services, at 7447 E. Indian School Road. It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with later opening on Wednesdays. Properties in Phoenix, on tribal land or in unincorporated county use those offices instead.
The figures and places named above come from these sources.