Arizona · Phoenix
Phoenix
Short-term rentals (any single-family or one- to four-family house/dwelling unit, or condo/coop unit, offered for transient use for a term of less than 30 days) are legal in Phoenix but require a city Short-Term Rental Permit before renting. The permit process is codified in Phoenix City Code Chapter 10, Article XVI (Sec. 10-193 through 10-206), originally enacted by Ordinance G-6653 (2020) and converted from a passive registration to a mandatory annual permit by Ordinance G-7156, which went into effect November 6, 2023 (later amended by G-7323 in 2024 and G-7495, codified May 2026); the city's authority to require a permit derives from Arizona Senate Bill 1168 (2022), codified at A.R.S. 9-500.39. It is prohibited to rent, or offer to rent, without both a current, unrevoked, unsuspended STR permit AND a valid Arizona transaction privilege tax (TPT) license (Sec. 10-204B). The permit carries a $250 nonrefundable application fee, expires one year after issuance, and renews for a fee not to exceed $250 (renewal due at least 15 working days before expiration; if filed 15 working days after expiration, a new permit must be filed) (Sec. 10-196). Applicants must supply proof of a TPT license, evidence of at least $500,000 aggregate liability insurance (or a platform that provides equal/greater primary coverage), registration with the Maricopa County Assessor per A.R.S. 33-1902, a 24-hour emergency point of contact, and (for individuals) proof of lawful U.S. presence; the Director must approve or deny within 7 days (Sec. 10-197). Owners must send certified-mail notice of intent to all neighboring properties and to HOAs/neighborhood associations registered with the Neighborhood Services Department and located within 600 feet (Sec. 10-199), maintain smoke/CO detection per NFPA 72 and fire extinguishers (Sec. 10-205A), display owner/designee/emergency-contact info within ten feet of the primary entrance (Sec. 10-205B) plus a copy of the permit within ten feet of the primary entrance (Sec. 10-201B), put the permit number on every advertisement (Sec. 10-201A), and conduct a registered-sex-offender background check on each guest (Sec. 10-204D). Arizona law (A.R.S. 9-500.39) preempts the city from banning STRs and from restricting or regulating them based on classification, use, or occupancy (except as the statute allows); Phoenix imposes no minimum-stay, no annual-night cap, and no license cap. Nonresidential uses, permit/license-requiring special events, event centers, and similar uses are prohibited (Sec. 10-204A). Effective April 4, 2026, an STR application for a property with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) whose certificate of occupancy issued on or after September 14, 2024 requires a notarized attestation that the owner will reside on the property (Sec. 10-197A.11 + Phoenix STR registry page). Enforcement/inspection involves the Neighborhood Services Department (Sec. 10-205C) while permits are issued by the Planning & Development Department; enhanced civil penalties apply (1st verified violation within 12 months: one night's rent as advertised, up to $500, whichever is greater; 2nd: two nights' or $1,000; 3rd+: three nights' or $3,500; plus $1,000/month for operating without a permit, dismissible if a permit is obtained within 30 days of the complaint) (Sec. 10-206), and the Director may suspend a permit for up to 12 months (Sec. 10-202). Combined transient-lodging tax on a direct booking is 13.07% (state 5.5% + Maricopa County 1.77% + Phoenix city Hotels 2.80% + Phoenix Hotel/Motel additional tax 3.00%), effective January 1, 2026; Arizona online lodging marketplaces (e.g., Airbnb/Vrbo) collect and remit the applicable state, county, and city transaction privilege taxes on the operator's behalf under A.R.S. 42-5076.
Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-15 · sources linked below.
Requirements checklist
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city Short-Term Rental Permit (Phoenix Planning & Development Department) Required
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city Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) License Required
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city Liability insurance (minimum $500,000 aggregate) or platform-provided coverage Required
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city Maricopa County Assessor residential rental registration Required
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city 24-hour emergency point of contact Required
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city Certified-mail notice of intent to neighboring properties and to HOAs/neighborhood associations within 600 feet Required
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city Smoke/carbon-monoxide detection (NFPA 72) and portable fire extinguishers Required
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city On-site display of permit and owner/emergency-contact info; permit number on advertisements Required
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city Registered-sex-offender background check on each guest Required
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city Lawful-presence and (for ADUs) owner-occupancy attestation Required
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Administered by | Airbnb remits | Vrbo remits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined transient-lodging (transaction privilege) tax — transient stays of 29 consecutive days or less | — | — | — | — |
Operating rules
- Primary residence
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- Min stay (nights)
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- Max nights / year
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- Max occupancy
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- Zoning-restricted
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- Cap on licenses
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Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in Phoenix?
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Phoenix?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Phoenix?
Official sources
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-193 — Definitions ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-195 — Permits required ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-196 — New permit; renewal; fees ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-197 — Permit application content ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-198 — Emergency contact response time ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-199 — Adjacent properties notification ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-201 — Display of permit and permit number ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-202 — Suspension of permit ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-204 — Prohibited uses ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-205 — Standards and operating requirements ↗
- reference Phoenix City Code Sec. 10-206 — Enhanced penalties ↗
- reference City of Phoenix — Short-Term Rental Registry (official program page) ↗
- reference A.R.S. 9-500.39 — State preemption of vacation/short-term rental regulation ↗
- reference Arizona SB 1168 (2022) — vacation rentals; short-term rentals; enforcement ↗
- reference Arizona Department of Revenue — Phoenix TPT city profile ↗
- reference City of Phoenix — Current Combined Tax Rate Chart (effective Jan 1, 2026) ↗
- reference A.R.S. 42-5076 — Online lodging marketplace classification ↗
- reference U.S. Census TIGERweb — Phoenix place lookup ↗
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.