Arizona · Short-Term Rental Compliance

Scottsdale Short-Term Rental Permit Guide

Arizona state law (SB 1350, 2016, amended by HB 2672 in 2022) preempts cities from banning STRs outright but lets them require registration, sex-offender background checks on owners, neighbor notification, and posted emergency contacts. Scottsdale enforces the full set: a city license, a $1M liability requirement, a 30-day-prior neighbor notification, and a strict noise/nuisance ordinance backed by escalating per-incident fines.

Permit

Vacation Rental / Short-Term Rental License

Annual fee

$250

Occupancy tax

13.92%

Fine range

$500–$3,500 per violation

⚠ This summary is preliminary — we’re still verifying it against the current Scottsdale ordinance. Treat every line as a starting point and confirm with the city before filing or accepting bookings.

Informational only — not legal advice. Our information can be wrong or out of date. Always confirm with Scottsdale directly before applying, paying, or accepting bookings. We do not file applications or returns on your behalf.

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What the city requires

Requirements checklist

1
Scottsdale STR License
~$250/yr. Application requires sex-offender registry check on the owner, attestation of no felony convictions, and posted emergency contact reachable 24/7.
2
Neighbor notification
Owner must mail notice to all properties within 30 ft of the STR before first booking and at every renewal. Failure to notify is a stand-alone violation.
3
Combined transient lodging tax
5.5% AZ state TPT + 1.75% Scottsdale TPT + 1.77% Maricopa County + 5.0% Scottsdale bed tax ≈ 13.92% combined. Airbnb collects state + county; Scottsdale TPT and bed tax often require direct registration with the AZ Department of Revenue + city.
4
$1M liability insurance
Either a dedicated STR policy with $1M minimum or proof of equivalent coverage from the booking platform (Airbnb Host Protection / VRBO Liability).
5
Nuisance + noise ordinance
Two verified noise/nuisance violations within 12 months suspend the license for 12 months. Three within 24 months trigger a 1-year ban on re-application.

Scottsdale enforcement is complaint-driven but well-resourced — the STR ombudsperson processes neighbor complaints and stacks them against the license. The 2022 HB 2858 update gave cities more teeth on nuisance suspensions; expect more aggressive enforcement going forward.

Official filing portal: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/codes/short-term-rentals

Other jurisdictions

Scottsdale Short-Term Rental Permit Guide

Requirements checklist

Operating in more than one city?