Graffiti is the single most destructive property crime in Southern Nevada and across the nation.  In Clark County, the evidence of this act of vandalism can be found on all kinds of property including public or taxpayer-funded structures throughout the County and in the Resort Corridor.  Clark County is committed to preserving public property from the negative impacts of this harmful activity. 

To that end, $3 million a year is spent to remove graffiti from public buildings, streets, flood control facilities, traffic-related devices and signs and parks and other structures in unincorporated Clark County.  Approximately $2 million is used toward the clean up of flood control basins, streets, traffic control devices and the resort corridor area, while the remaining funds are used by the Clark County Public Response Office for public and private property graffiti abatement. 

This past March Clark County embarked on an anti-graffiti initiative entitled “Targeting Area Graffiti” or “TAG.” The initiative involves increased enforcement, tougher penalties, further public outreach and expanded community service.  To find out more about TAG, please visit http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/clark_county/Graffiti/index.htm .

Individuals who deface property with graffiti are sometimes referred to as “taggers.”  They often make their mark over and over again and may do so during the day or at night.  In light of this, Clark County depends heavily upon notice from the public that property has been vandalized with graffiti.

“Solving the graffiti problem is everyone’s responsibility since this is our community,” states Cameron Harper, Clark County Public Works Maintenance Management Division Manager.  Harper continued, “I hope that everyone, from parents to neighbors to citizens passing by, will make phone calls to report graffiti and get actively involved to stop it.”

The following table provides contact information to report graffiti.

The logistics involved and costs for graffiti removal involving public properties are significant.  Three employees on the Public Response Graffiti Abatement Team cover all areas of the county, removing the destructive vandalism.  Recently, County Commissioners have approved two additional graffiti abatement employees for the coming fiscal year. A full-time staff member with the Maintenance Management Division of Clark County Public Works handles graffiti abatement of flood control facilities, medians and concrete barriers.  Both the Public Response Team and the Maintenance Management staff members operate trucks equipped with paint pumps, solvents, spray wands and other tools.  Furthermore, McCarran Airport has a small team of graffiti abatement specialists.  Over the years, the annual damage on public and private property is estimated at upwards of $30 million.   

In the Resort Corridor, which includes the Las Vegas Strip, Clark County Public Works manages the work of two private maintenance companies that perform graffiti eradication among other maintenance duties.  The annual cost for this operation is more than $1 million.

 “On the Strip, you can see how much more appealing and cleaner it is compared to some years back,” stated Gary Loberg, a Clark County Public Works Management Analyst II who oversees the Resort Corridor contracts.

Graffiti cannot be dismissed as a mere prank without costs. Graffiti results in considerable aesthetic damage and economic consequences. Clark County encourages residents to help us successfully address this very serious community concern.  

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