Community Relations - Taking Action Against Graffiti - TAAG

What is Graffiti?

Graffiti is the unwanted placement of markings, initials, slogans, drawing, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a wall, a building, or other surfaces usually to been seen by the public. Graffiti can have a negative impact on a community. It contributes to resident's feeling unsafe in their neighborhood and can creates a perception (whether factual or not) that crime is on the rise and gangs are moving into the area.

What Is the Graffiti Abatement Assistance Program?

The purpose of this program is to provide private property owners in unincorporated Pima County with a Graffiti Abatement Assistance Program. Pima County's program Taking Action Against Graffiti (TAAG) is designed to prevent and control the spread of graffiti.

How the program works

If you see an incident of graffiti on your property, public property, or in an area of unincorporated Pima County, you should immediately call (520) 792-8224 (TAAG), or send an e-mail to PCTAAG@pima.gov to register your complaint. County staff will pick up these messages on a daily basis and will contact you to verify the location and type of graffiti. Once the graffiti is verified and the appropriate property owner is identified, a right of entry waiver signed by the property owner or a representative of the property owner will need to be filed with the TAAG Program. The TAAG Program Coordinator will then assign/dispatch a work crew to clean up the graffiti.

Who's Eligible to Receive Assistance

If you are a residential private property owner in unincorporated Pima County you are eligible to receive Pima County graffiti removal service free of charge. This service may be limited to those individual that do not belong to a Home Owners Association (HOA). Residents contributing/participating in a HOA should check with their respective management company prior to contacting Pima County for Assistance. Most home owners that are members of an HOA are eligible for these services through their management provider. Pima County does not proved abatement assistance for commercial properties. These incidents are the responsibility of the individual business owners.

Pima County will not perform abatement on any utility properties, but will ensure that if these instances are reported to Pima County the appropriate responding authority will be contacted for removal.

The Most Important Thing to Remember

The immediate removal of graffiti is one of the most effective ways of combating graffiti.

Graffiti is a CRIME, and it should be reported to local law enforcement.

How to Report Graffiti

If you see someone in the process of applying graffiti, CALL 911.
Do Not try to apprehend the offenders, leave this up to law enforcement officials.

If you wish to report graffiti in unincorporated Pima County there are two reporting methods. You can call the TAAG Program Hotline at 792-8224 (TAAG) or send an e-mail to PCTAAG@pima.gov

Helpful Tips

Painting is the most effective way to remove graffiti. It's much easier to paint a whole area than to try and repair a small area. This will allow for a more uniform look instead of a patch work look. The less we can make it look like graffiti ever existed, the better off you will be.

When removing graffiti do not follow the graffiti outline. Cleaning only the affected area can result in further etching of the graffiti. When cleaning the affected area, also clean a small section around it. Cleaning the area around the graffiti will make it more uniform.

Planting vegetation around inviting surfaces prevents your property from becoming a target spot. Vegetation, especially thorn growing plants, can be an effective way to keep vandals from damaging your property.

Performing Your Own Abatement

Pima County encourages community participation whether it's performing your own abatement or contacting us for assistance. Pima County will provide available materials to those individuals wishing to perform their own abatement. These materials are limited to available supplies. Material may include paint, painting supplies, or volunteer help.

Want to Be a Volunteer?

Pima County would like to put our community into action by seeking participants to help in a quarterly clean-up event. These events will be scheduled every quarter and will take place throughout Pima County. If you would like to participate in any of these events, please contact the TAAG Program Coordinator at 740-6410.

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To report graffiti for cleanup, please use our TAAG Graffiti Report Form or call Pima County DOT Community Relations at 740-6410.