Shopping Cart Ordinance
As a valued member of our community, we would like to inform you of a new City of Glendale ordinance regarding shopping carts. The ordinance, adopted by the City Council on February 28, 2023, aims to address the issue of abandoned shopping carts in the city and requires businesses to take specific measures to prevent the removal of shopping carts from their premises. This new ordinance applies to all Glendale businesses that provide shopping carts for customer use.
One of the major requirements of the new ordinance is the installation of restrictive devices on shopping carts. The ordinance states that all new businesses opening on or after April 1, 2023, that provide shopping carts to their customers must have restrictive devices on their shopping carts.
Existing businesses, businesses open before April 1, 2023, that provide shopping carts to the public must install a restrictive device on their shopping carts and file a certification with Development Services stating their carts are equipped with these devices by October 1, 2023. Alternatively to installing restrictive devices, businesses may choose to contract with a shopping cart retrieval service. If a business chooses to use a shopping cart retrieval service, they must provide a copy of the contract to the city.
In addition, the following components must be included in the public notice and identification requirements that apply when a business owner contracts with a shopping cart retrieval service:
- Each shopping cart must contain business information such as the business name, address, and phone number. As well as the business name and number of the cart retrieval business.
- Posted public notices in English and Spanish notifying customers that the removal of shopping carts is a violation of State and City of Glendale law.
This ordinance has been put in place by the City of Glendale to protect the community at large and prevent shopping carts from becoming an eyesore or a safety risk. We encourage businesses to take the necessary actions to abide by this new ordinance as soon as possible.
For more information, contact Code Compliance at (623) 930-3610.
Frequently Asked Questions
I own a retail business, but only have a small number of shopping carts. Does this ordinance apply to my business?
Yes, any business using any number of shopping carts for their patrons must comply with this ordinance.
How do I comply with this ordinance?
To comply with this ordinance you must post signs at your business stating it is illegal to remove shopping carts from your business location, label your shopping carts with the name of your business – an address and contact phone number for your business – and a statement saying it is illegal to remove the cart from your premises, and you must either affix each shopping cart with an anti-theft device or enter into a service agreement with a cart retrieval service.
What is a shopping cart anti-theft device?
Anti-theft devices use an electronic wheel clamp or boot attached to the wheel of the cart. The parking lot of the retail store is fitted with a thin wire which locks the wheel clamp when a cart passes over this wire. Painted lines are typically used to indicate to customers when they are nearing the boundary lines.
What is a service agreement with a cart retrieval service?
This is an agreement with a company who will recover shopping carts unlawfully removed from the premises of the retail establishment on a regular basis.
When do I need to be in compliance with this ordinance?
You need to be in compliance by October 1, 2023.
How do I notify the City that I am in compliance?
A City “Certification of Compliance” must be completed and submitted to the Development Services Director.
Who can I call if I still have questions?
If you still have questions, contact Code Compliance at 623-930-3610.