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Scottsdale Short-Term Rental Rules: What Hosts Need to Know in 2026
Scottsdale licenses every property rented for fewer than 30 days. The city license costs $250 per property per year and is separate from the Arizona transaction privilege tax license and the Maricopa County registration.
Arizona law preempts local bans and occupancy caps, so Scottsdale regulates through licensing, insurance, neighbor notification, and nuisance enforcement rather than night limits.
A licensing model built around disclosure, not night caps
Scottsdale’s ordinance requires an annual city license for each property, a state TPT license, and registration with the Maricopa County Assessor before occupancy. The city license is issued per property, not per owner.
The compliance work continues after approval: neighbors must be notified within 30 days, liability coverage must be maintained at $500,000, and the required short-term rental notice must be posted inside the unit.
- Annual city license: $250 per property.
- Neighbor notification and insurance attestation due within 30 days of licensing.
- State law prohibits local night caps and nonresidential uses.
Three layers of licensing
A Scottsdale short-term rental needs a city license, a state TPT license, and a county registration. Each layer has a different purpose and a separate application.
City of Scottsdale license
Required for each property rented for fewer than 30 days. The annual fee is $250, and the license number must be included in the neighbor notice.
Arizona TPT license
Issued by the Arizona Department of Revenue with Scottsdale (SC) listed as a region code. A valid TPT license is a prerequisite for the city application.
Maricopa County registration
Required under A.R.S. 33-1902 before the property is occupied. The city directs owners to register with the Maricopa County Assessor.
License fees
| Label | Fee |
|---|---|
| New license | $250 |
License conditions and operating requirements
- A valid Arizona transaction privilege tax license listing Scottsdale (SC) as a region code is required before applying for the city license.
- Every property rented for fewer than 30 days needs its own annual city license; the license is separate from state and county requirements.
- Within 30 days of licensing, notify adjacent and directly or diagonally across-the-street neighbors and submit the attestation.
- Maintain at least $500,000 in liability coverage, either directly or through an online lodging marketplace.
- Register the property with the Maricopa County Assessor before occupancy, as required by A.R.S. 33-1902.
- Post the required short-term rental notice inside the front door and the primary backyard door, and comply with pool barrier rules if the property has a pool or spa.
What noncompliance costs
The city can impose a $1,000 penalty for each 30-day period a property operates without a license. Arizona law adds civil penalties for verified violations, scaled to the number of violations in a 12-month period.
Three verified violations in 12 months can suspend a license for up to 12 months. State law also bans nonresidential uses, including special events that would otherwise require a permit.
- Operating without a license: $1,000 per 30-day period.
- First verified violation: up to $500 or one night’s rent, whichever is greater.
- Three verified violations in 12 months: suspension for up to 12 months.
| Item | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Operating without a license | $1,000 penalty for each 30-day period the property operates without a license. |
| First verified violation | Up to $500 or one night’s rent, whichever is greater. |
| Repeat violations | Up to $1,000 for a second verified violation and $3,500 for a third or later, or two or three nights’ rent, whichever is greater. |
| Suspension | Up to 12 months after three verified violations within a 12-month period. |
Lodging taxes: about 14%
Combined hotel occupancy tax ~14%
Scottsdale charges a 1.70% city privilege tax on hotel/motel gross income plus a 5.0% transient lodging tax. State and Maricopa County transaction privilege taxes are added on top, for a combined rate of about 14%.
TPT returns are due on the 20th of the month following the month in which the revenue was recognized. Marketplace bookings may be taxed and remitted by the platform, but the host remains responsible for the TPT filing.
- Collection
- Booking platforms may collect and remit tax on marketplace bookings; hosts file TPT returns with the Arizona Department of Revenue.
- Filing
- TPT returns are due on the 20th of the month following the month in which revenue was recognized.
Ranges vary — verify. The city rate is 1.70% plus a 5.0% transient lodging tax; state and Maricopa County rates are set separately.
Permit notes
- Local contact
- The owner or owner’s designee must be reachable 24 hours a day and respond to complaints or emergencies.
- Nonresidential uses
- Arizona law prohibits nonresidential uses of short-term rentals, including retail, restaurant, banquet, or special-event uses that would otherwise require a permit.
- Liability insurance
- $500,000 in liability coverage is required, either directly or through an online lodging marketplace.
Compare Scottsdale with other STR markets
Some cities set night caps, minimum stays, or owner-occupancy rules; Arizona preempts those tools for short-term rentals. Scottsdale therefore regulates through licensing, insurance, neighbor notice, and local nuisance rules instead of limiting how often a home can be rented.
Phoenix
Arizona
Allowed citywide with permit (state law bars city bans — host-friendly)
Low–moderate enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Phoenix rules →Sedona
Arizona
Permit required; Arizona law sets the regulatory floor
Moderate enforcement
New license $210
Last verified
View Sedona rules →Los Angeles
California
Allowed in the host’s primary residence with registration; 120-night annual cap unless extended
High enforcement
New license $441
Last verified
View Los Angeles rules →Palm Springs
California
Allowed in single-family homes with an annual certificate; new certificates capped at 20% per organized neighborhood
High enforcement
New license — Vacation Rental $1,046
Last verified
View Palm Springs rules →San Diego
California
Licensed by tier; whole-home licenses are capped by ordinance
High enforcement
New license — Tier 1 — Part-Time $193
Last verified
View San Diego rules →San Francisco
California
Allowed only in the host’s permanent residence with registration; un-hosted stays capped at 90 nights per year
High enforcement
New license $925
Last verified
View San Francisco rules →Santa Monica
California
Home-sharing only in the host’s primary residence; un-hosted vacation rentals are unlawful
High enforcement
New license $582.25
Last verified
View Santa Monica rules →Denver
Colorado
Licensed, primary residence only
High enforcement
New license $150
Last verified
View Denver rules →Washington
District of Columbia
Licensed, primary residence only
High enforcement
New license $99
Last verified
View Washington rules →Fort Lauderdale
Florida
Licensed and inspected; annual Certificate of Compliance required
High enforcement
New license — Certificate of Compliance $880
Last verified
View Fort Lauderdale rules →Miami
Florida
Licensed and enforced; city and county requirements run in parallel
High enforcement
Last verified
View Miami rules →Orlando
Florida
Owner-occupied home sharing; whole-home rentals are limited by zoning
Moderate enforcement
New license — Home Sharing Registration $275
Last verified
View Orlando rules →Tampa
Florida
State-licensed; city rental registration repealed in 2023
Low–moderate enforcement
New license $230
Last verified
View Tampa rules →Atlanta
Georgia
Licensed, primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit
High enforcement
New license $150
Last verified
View Atlanta rules →Savannah
Georgia
Certified STVR, overlay district only, per-ward cap
High enforcement
New license $400
Last verified
View Savannah rules →Chicago
Illinois
Registered shared housing unit (31 days or fewer)
High enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Chicago rules →New Orleans
Louisiana
Licensed, capped, and lottery-based
High enforcement
New license — NSTR owner permit $500
Last verified
View New Orleans rules →Boston
Massachusetts
Registered, owner-occupied primary residence only
High enforcement
New license — Limited Share $25
Last verified
View Boston rules →Las Vegas
Nevada
Licensed; owner-occupied homes only (city limits)
High enforcement
New license $500
Last verified
View Las Vegas rules →New York
New York
Legal only in a registered primary residence (hosted stays)
High enforcement
New license $145
Last verified
View New York rules →Portland
Oregon
Permitted as an accessory use (primary residence required)
Moderate enforcement
Last verified
View Portland rules →Charleston
South Carolina
Licensed, primary residence only (commercial STRs only in the overlay district)
High enforcement
New license $345
Last verified
View Charleston rules →Nashville
Tennessee
Allowed with permit; heavy zoning restrictions on investor units
High enforcement
New license $313
Last verified
View Nashville rules →Austin
Texas
Licensed & enforced
High enforcement
New license $736.60
Last verified
View Austin rules →Seattle
Washington
Licensed; up to two units per operator
High enforcement
New license $75
Last verified
View Seattle rules →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a city license to rent my Scottsdale home for fewer than 30 days?
Yes. Each property needs its own annual Scottsdale license, and the city license is in addition to a state TPT license and Maricopa County registration.
Are there night limits on Scottsdale short-term rentals?
Scottsdale's ordinance does not impose a night cap. Arizona law limits how cities may regulate occupancy, so the city relies on licensing, insurance, neighbor notice, and nuisance enforcement.
How much liability insurance is required?
At least $500,000 in liability coverage, either carried directly or provided through an online lodging marketplace.
Official sources and cross-checks
Sources with links
- City of Scottsdale — Information for Owners and Operators scottsdaleaz.gov
- City of Scottsdale — Hotel/Motel Privilege and Use Tax scottsdaleaz.gov
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 9-500.39 azleg.gov
- City of Scottsdale — Business and Regulatory Licenses scottsdaleaz.gov