Welcome to Camp Verde, Arizona — Founded in 1865. Rooted in rich agricultural heritage and a timeless Western spirit, Camp Verde is where open fields, working farms, and small-town warmth meet endless adventure. Nestled along the lush banks of the Verde River, we offer the perfect blend of historic charm and easy access to Northern Arizona’s most iconic destinations. Camp Verde is recognized as the oldest community in the Verde Valley. Whether you're here to paddle the river, explore the beauty of nature, seek an adventurous equestrian experience, learn about its rich culture, take advantage of farm-to-table dining, or find your forever home, Camp Verde is a destination for all. Welcome to the Center of It All.
Use this page to find information about essential services available in Camp Verde and the surrounding area, such as local assistance, public services, and helpful contacts and resources for residents and visitors.

Code of the West

The fact you can drive to your property does not necessarily guarantee that you, your guests, or emergency service vehicles (police, ambulance, fire truck, etc.) can get there easily. Please consider the following:

  • Camp Verde and surrounding areas are under the jurisdiction of Copper Canyon Fire Department, Camp Verde Marshal’s Office, and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. Response times for emergency service vehicles cannot be guaranteed in outlying areas
  • There can be problems with the legal aspects of access, especially if you have access through a wash or across someone else's property. Make sure you have a legal easement, not just a verbal agreement. You may want to get legal advice if you have questions regarding access.
  • The Town of Camp Verde maintains approximately 144 miles of paved roads and an additional three miles of unpaved roads, with many properties served by private roads that are not maintained. Some roads that have been used for many years by the public are not maintained by the Town (no grading or repair of damages resulting from natural disasters). Make sure you know what kind of maintenance is available in your area and who pays for it.
  • If you plan to build, check construction access. Private driveways should be wide and sturdy enough to support emergency and construction related vehicles.
  • If your driveway or private road accesses a Town road, you may need a right-of-way use permit. Call Camp Verde’s Community Development Department (928-554-0050) to find out. If your access is directly connected to a County road, State road, Forest Service road, or a Yavapai Apache Nation road, you will need to check with the applicable entity to get a right-of-way use permit.
  • Call the Camp Verde Unified School District Office (928-567-8000) or visit their website for bus routes and any other important information pertaining to your location and to find the school bus boarding area nearest your property.
  • In adverse weather, some roads may become impassable. You may consider a four-wheel drive vehicle and perhaps another mode of transportation to travel during these times.
  • Gravel and dirt roads generate dust. If this is a concern, you may not want to be in an area only accessible by gravel or dirt roads, and for which no paving is planned. You may experience an increase in vehicle maintenance costs when you regularly travel on rural roads. Many of our roads have never been paved, and it is our desire to keep our rural identity and cooler temperatures by keeping them unpaved. If you believe the dust from unpaved roads is unhealthy, you are encouraged to find property in another area of the Town. If you have a question about whether roads are scheduled for improvement, check with Camp Verde's Public Work's Department (928-554-0820).
  • Property that is currently undeveloped may not remain that way. Check applicable documents—subdivisions plats, zoning, general plan--to see what uses may be allowed. You may check, for example, with the County Assessor's office to determine if uses have been changed since a plat was recorded. You can also talk with the Town of Camp Verde Planning Department (928-554-0050) about the process properties undergo for land use changes, and how you will be notified if changes are proposed in your area.
  • Newspaper, parcel, overnight package delivery, U.S. mail delivery, and other home deliveries may not be available in your area. Check with the applicable agencies that provide these services to verify delivery services are available.

How About Sewer, Water (including Wells and Irrigation Ditches), Electricity, Telephone, Cable T.V.,Trash Pickup, Internet, Natural Gas, and Propane?

Utilities available in larger communities may not be available in our rural community. Please think about these potential situations: 

  • The availability of telephone and internet communication can be delayed, particularly in the more remote areas of the Town. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain a separate line for FAX or computer modem uses, and in some areas cellular telephones do not operate. Check with the local service provider to find out what services are available. High speed internet may be available by satellite or other non-wired systems or may not be available at all. If high-speed internet is important to you, please check availability.
  • To determine if sewer service is available to your property, contact Camp Verde’s Sewer Department (928-554-0820) to obtain connection and maintenance costs.
  • If sewer service is not available, you will be using or will have to install an individual sewage (septic) system. If there is an existing septic system, have the septic tank pumped and inspected by a reliable service. Call the Yavapai County Department of Environmental Services (928-771-3214) to get information about obtaining a permit or an inspection.  You may be required to have a Geotechnical Study before you can obtain an individual sewage system permit or a building permit. Collapsing and expansive soils can damage foundations and even twist steel I-beams.
  • If a water supply is available to your property, find out who supplies it, what the costs are to connect, and the monthly service cost. Be sure you know what water rights are available with your property and pertinent facts such as: Is there a well permit? Is it registered?  Do I need to file a Statement of Claim (SOC) with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR)?  If water is provided by a well located off your property, do you have an easement allowing you to access and repair it? If you plan to drill a well, contact the Arizona Department of Water Resources (602-771-8500).  Having a well permit does not guarantee there will be water where you drill. Consider potential drilling and installation costs in your development planning.
  • The Arizona Department of Water Resources, not the Town of Camp Verde, issues well permits. You can apply directly to the Department, through their Phoenix office (602-771-8500), at www.azwater.gov , or by contacting a local well driller who can complete and submit the application for you.
  • Camp Verde has several historic irrigation ditches that supply water to certain properties throughout the community.  These ditches are controlled by elected board members whose purpose is to make sure there is water in the main ditch for users who have historic water rights.  If you have questions about an irrigation ditch on your property, please reach out, using the contact information below.  Please don’t assume that because there is a ditch running through your property you have access to the water; it is your responsibility to find out.   During monsoons, the ditches may be damaged and in need of repair. It is not guaranteed water will be available during those periods.  Ditches do not run year-round, so please check with your ditch board to see when the water is turned on and off each irrigation season. Each ditch company has fees and assessments they charge each user to maintain the ditch.  All users with proven historic water rights need to complete a Statement of Claim through the Arizona Department of Water Resources (602-771-8500) before the Verde River Watershed Adjudication is completed.  In addition, there are easements on both sides of the ditch so the ditch company or a hired contractor can enter to complete repairs and maintenance, when needed.  The following is a list of contacts for the larger ditches:
  • Electricity is provided by Arizona Public Service (APS) (800-253-9405).
  • Electric service may not be available in remote areas of the Town.
  • The cost of electrical service usually includes both a fee to connect into the system (which may require extensive line installation if none exists) and a monthly charge for energy consumed.
  • The Town of Camp Verde requires all new electrical service or power lines to be installed underground. Please be prepared to factor this into your development plans.
  • The Town requires all new power lines to be underground which may increase development costs.
  • If you have special electric power requirements, or costs for electrical services, contact APS.
  • Power outages can occur. In addition to affecting your lights, these outages may also disrupt your computer internet connection and your water if you have a well with an electric pump.
  • Many areas of the community are not wired for cable TV or internet service.
  • If you’re not in a subdivision, your utility service lines may have to cross private property.  Make sure the proper easements are in place to allow lines to be extended to your property.
  • Natural gas may be available in limited areas; please contact UniSource Energy Services (877-837-4968) for assistance.
  • Propane is available from vendors that will deliver to your property on either a regular or an as-needed basis.  Vendors:  AmeriGas (928-567-4099); Ferrellgas (928-567-3274); Graves Propane:  928-567-2425; and Verde Propane (928-646-6693).
  • Trash service in not provided by the Town of Camp Verde.  Area providers for trash service are: 
  • The Camp Verde transfer station (928-713-8910) located at 2600 E. Highway 260 is managed by Yavapai County. This transfer station accepts many, but not all, materials and collects a load-based fee. Yavapai County also operates the Gray Wolf Regional Landfill (866-909-4458) located at 23355 E. Highway 169 in Dewey should you have materials not accepted by the Camp Verde transfer station. They also charge a disposal fee.

Many issues can affect your property, in addition to those concerning utilities and access. It's important to research them before purchasing land.

Many property owners do not own the mineral rights under the surface of their land. By federal law, owners of mineral rights have the right to extract the minerals, even if that activity changes “surface characteristics.” It is important you know what minerals may be located under your land and who owns them. Check your deed.  If you do not understand it, you may want to contact an attorney or other professional to assist you.

You may wish to obtain the services of a licensed Arizona surveyor to ensure the accuracy of your property boundaries.  Fences that separate properties may or may not be on legal boundary lines. A survey of the land is the only way to check the location of your property lines.

Whether you want to construct a home, a guest house, subdivide, or open a business, your plans may require a variance, zone change, site plan review, a special use permit, a right-of-way use permit, an individual sewage system permit, a building permit, a sign permit, a zoning clearance, or other requirements. Check with the Town of Camp Verde Community Development Department (928-554-0050) to find out what you need and when you’ll need it.

Many subdivisions and planned developments have Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (C.C. & R's) along with design guidelines that restrict the use of the property. Find out if there are C.C. & R's by asking your realtor or by checking with Yavapai County Recorder's Office (928-771-3244). Make sure you understand the rules of the subdivision. The by-laws of the Association should outline how the organization operates and how dues are set, collected, and spent.

Other property owners may have easements which require you to allow construction of roads, power lines, water lines, sewer lines and other utilities across your land, possibly restricting your development and building options. There may be easements that have not been recorded but are “historic.” Title abstracts, title insurance companies, or an attorney can help you obtain this information.

The Town of Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Department is actively seeking to enhance recreational opportunities in and around the Town. The Parks and Recreation Department is working collaboratively with several local, state and federal agencies as well as non-profit organizations to develop several trail systems for the Town. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (928-554-0820) to learn more about trails or planned trails. In many municipalities, properties with direct trail access are shown to be more desirable to buyers.

If you are considering a property with direct access to one of the trails or public lands you may be interested to know Arizona Revised Statute §33-151 limits property owners’ liability for accidents by persons recreating across property. Trails may not be fenced, blocked, or made impassable, even if it appears to be infrequently used. Intentionally creating hazards on trails to eliminate use may create liability on your part for any resulting accidents. If you do not like the idea of hikers, cyclists, or equestrian traffic near your property you may want to consider property located away from a trail or in another area.

Another consideration for trails on public lands – most of the public lands surrounding Camp Verde include livestock leases. Therefore, it is highly likely when recreating on these public lands you will encounter fences, gates, cattle guards, and of course open range grazing cattle. The proper etiquette when on the ‘open range’ is to leave the gate as you found it. This eliminates opportunities for open range cattle to be separated from available water or allowing cattle to damage potentially fragile natural resources which the fence and gate are designed to protect.

 Homeowners and property owner associations can be responsible for the maintenance of roads, utilities, and other common elements in subdivisions. Check the subdivision's covenants/deed restrictions to learn who has that responsibility.  Check with your realtor or neighbors to learn if the association is functioning. Dues are almost always a requirement for subdivisions that have an Association.