Scottsdale, Arizona
When deciding whether to become an Airbnb host, it is important for you to understand the laws in your city. We recommend that you do your own research as this article isn’t fully comprehensive and, as a platform and online marketplace, we do not provide legal or tax advice. Nonetheless, we want to provide resources that may help you better understand the laws and regulations in Scottsdale. This list is not exhaustive, but it may give you a good start in understanding your local laws. If you have questions, you can visit the city’s information page, contact the city agencies directly at ShortTermRentalsHotline@ScottsdaleAZ.gov, or consult a local lawyer or tax professional.Airbnb doesn’t update this article in real time and isn’t responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites. Please check each source and make sure that the information provided hasn’t recently changed.
Short-term rental regulations
The City of Scottsdale requires short term rental property owners/operators to obtain a Scottsdale license for each property and comply with several safety, health and neighborhood notification requirements.The city's license described here applies only to rentals of less than 30 days. Owners that rent for 30 days or longer do not need to obtain a City of Scottsdale license through this process. See the full ordinance.
Short-term/vacation rental owners must obtain and maintain an annual city license for each Scottsdale property. The annual license fee is $250 per property; funds received will go 100 percent to cover costs associated with licensing vacation and short-term rentals. This license is in addition to the county and state requirements outlined in the sections below.
Step 1: Obtain a Transaction Privilege Sales Tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR)
A valid TPT license is required for each rental property in Scottsdale; your TPT number will be needed to apply for the City of Scottsdale rental license in Step 2.
Step 2: Apply for a Scottsdale license (required for each property)
- Instruction on how to Register a New Account Guide
- Instruction on how to Apply for a Short Term Rental License
- Apply for a Scottsdale short-term/vacation rental license
- Download STR-Vacation Rental Owner Designee Certification
Step 3: Notify neighbors and provide proof of insurance
Within 30 days of receiving your Scottsdale license (or any time the contact information for a property changes), you must notify all single-family residential properties adjacent to, directly and diagonally across the street from the property, or in a multi-family residential building, all units on the same building floor.
The Neighbor Notification letter must include the short-term rental license number, the physical address of the short-term rental, and the name, address, and twenty-four (24) hour telephone number of the emergency point of contact for the rental.
Scottsdale's ordinance requires that every short-term/vacation rental property be insured with liability coverage of at least $500,000 (either directly or through an online lodging marketplace).
Once neighbor notification has occurred:
Step 4: Complete Maricopa County requirements
Each property must be registered with Maricopa County as required by ARS 33-1902
Step 5: Generate and Display the Required Short Term Rental Notice
Generate the Required Short Term Rental Notice and display it as defined in Sec. 18-175. (h).
- Sec. 18-175. (h): The following notice must be completed in 14-point or larger bold font, on a laminated or otherwise similarly shielded paper, and prominently displayed on the inside of the front door and the primary door to the backyard or a conspicuous location near each such door. The notice shall include information regarding the location of any fire or life safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, and the City of Scottsdale nuisance waste disposal regulations.
- Generate a Short Term Rental Notice
Maintenance
Once your property is licensed and neighbor notification has occurred, make sure contact information is maintained.
- Update a Scottsdale short-term/vacation rental license
- Update Neighbor Notification & Liability Insurance Compliance Attestation
Nuisance parties & unlawful gatherings
Under Scottsdale's Nuisance Parties and Unlawful Gatherings ordinance, property owners are accountable for repeated unruly gatherings or parties. This ordinance applies to all private residences whether they are long- or short-term rentals, or owner occupied.
Resources for neighborhoods
Short-term Rental Hotline: Scottsdale's short-term rental hotline allows residents to report issues with rental properties and provides assistance for property owners and managers.
- Phone: 480-312-7368
Other contracts and rules
It's also important to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo board or co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable.
Our commitment to your community
We are committed to working with local officials to clarify how local rules impact the community. We will continue to advocate for changes that will enable people to rent out their homes.