Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Arizona?
No. Unlawful ouster or a utility cut-off entitles the tenant to recover possession or terminate, plus up to two months’ rent and actual damages. A.R.S. § 33-1367. In Arizona a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by A.R.S. §§ 33-1368, 33-1377, 12-1173.01, 33-1367.
| What | Arizona |
|---|---|
| Changing the locks, cutting a utility or removing belongings | Unlawful |
| Who may remove a tenant | Only a court officer acting on a court order |
Source
A.R.S. §§ 33-1368, 33-1377, 12-1173.01, 33-1367
Read the statute in the Arizona Revised Statutes (Arizona Legislature): azleg.gov.
Checked against the statute on September 7, 2026.
This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.
Guides on this rule
- Can a Landlord Shut Off Utilities or Change the Locks? — Self-help eviction rules: utility shutoffs and lock changes in California, Florida, New York and Texas, the one narrow Texas exception, and the penalties.
Compare this rule in every state
More Arizona rules
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- What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Arizona?
- Is there rent control in Arizona?
- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Arizona?
- Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Arizona?
- Do contractors charge sales tax in Arizona?
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- Every Arizona rule on one page
The same question in other states
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada