Do you need a license for a short-term rental in Scottsdale? Yes. Any Scottsdale home rented for less than 30 days needs an annual city license, at $250 per property, on top of an Arizona TPT license, $500,000 in liability coverage, neighbor notification and Maricopa County registration. Operating without one carries a fine of at least $1,000 per violation.
What changed in 2026? In August, the City Council voted 7–0 for Ordinance No. 4720. Each rental's designated emergency contact must now be reachable 24/7 by phone or email for complaints, such as noise or parking, not just emergencies. If you're buying a Scottsdale home with rental income in mind, or living next to one, here's the full picture.
Data note: Requirements are from the City of Scottsdale's "Information for Owners and Operators" page and Scottsdale City Code Article IX. Ordinance 4720 details are from the Scottsdale mayor's office, Scottsdale Progress/scottsdale.org coverage of the August 24, 2026 council meeting, and Citizen Portal. All read October 21, 2026.
Scottsdale STR Requirements: The Five Steps
Step 1: Arizona TPT License
- Required for each rental property, from the Arizona Department of Revenue
- Needed first: your TPT number goes on the city application
Step 2: Scottsdale License
- Annual fee: $250 per property
- Applies to: rentals of less than 30 days only; 30-day-plus rentals don't need this license
- Legal basis: Ordinance 4566, effective January 8, 2023
Step 3: Neighbor Notice and Insurance
- Within 30 days of licensing, or whenever contact information changes
- Who gets notice: single-family properties adjacent to, directly across and diagonally across the street; in multifamily buildings, all units on the same floor
- What it says: license number, rental address, and the 24-hour emergency contact's name, address and phone
- Liability coverage: at least $500,000, directly or through the booking platform
Step 4: Maricopa County Registration
- Register with the County Assessor under A.R.S. 33-1902 before the property is occupied
Step 5: Post the Required Notice
- Where: inside the front door and the primary door to the backyard, or a conspicuous spot near each
- Format: 14-point or larger bold type, laminated or similarly protected
- Contents include: locations of fire and life safety equipment and city waste rules
What Ordinance 4720 Changed
- Before: the designated contact had to handle emergencies
- Now: the same contact must be reachable 24/7 by phone or email for complaints and emergencies
- Still required: an in-person response within one hour when public safety personnel request it during an emergency
- Not required: an in-person response to complaints, or instantly resolving them
- Also added: a definition of "event center"
- Penalty: Scottsdale Progress reported fines starting at $500 for owners who don't respond
Why Scottsdale Is Tightening the Rules
The city attorney told the council the measure "closes a loophole." Sgt. Eric Bolles of the Scottsdale Police Department's short-term rentals unit described cases where officers cleared a party, then wrote to the owner or contact and got no response. The mayor's office framed it as making sure complaints don't go unanswered.
Other Rules That Apply
- Pool barriers: short-term rentals with a pool, hot tub or spa must meet city pool barrier requirements
- Nuisance parties: SRC 18-121 holds owners accountable for repeated unruly gatherings at any private residence
- State law limits: A.R.S. 9-500.39 limits city authority; broader changes generally need the Legislature
- What's next: Scottsdale backed a League of Arizona Cities and Towns proposal, now headed to the 2027 session, to bar multifamily properties, specifically including condominiums, from operating as short-term rentals
That last item is a watch-list issue for anyone buying a Scottsdale condo with nightly rental income in the plan.
“When a client tells me they want a Scottsdale home that can earn rental income, my first question is: what does the HOA allow, and what's your plan if the rules change? The city license is the easy part. The CC&Rs, the neighbors and the next legislative session are what decide whether the numbers work. I'd rather run those scenarios before we write an offer than after.”
— Elizabeth Vijan, Tackett Team, eXp Realty
FAQ: Scottsdale Short-Term Rentals
Do you need a license for a short-term rental in Scottsdale?
Yes, for stays under 30 days: $250 per property per year, plus a state TPT license.
Why is Scottsdale tightening short-term rental rules?
To speed up responses to complaints. Ordinance 4720 requires 24/7 reachable contacts.
What are Scottsdale's short-term rental requirements?
TPT license, city license, neighbor notice, $500,000 liability coverage, county registration and a posted notice.
Can Scottsdale ban short-term rentals?
Not by itself; A.R.S. 9-500.39 limits cities. A 2027 legislative proposal targets condos and other multifamily.
Considering a Scottsdale Home With Rental Income in Mind?
I'll help you check the HOA's rental rules before you fall in love with a property, line up the city and county steps, and pressure-test the plan against both short- and long-term rental scenarios.
Elizabeth Vijan | Tackett Team, eXp Realty
Scottsdale & Phoenix Real Estate
Talk Through My Rental Plan · Call or text 602-885-7752
Sources: City of Scottsdale: Information for STR Owners and Operators · Scottsdale City Code Article IX (Municode) · Mayor of Scottsdale: Ordinance 4720 · Scottsdale Progress: City Council returns to action · Citizen Portal: Council adopts STR ordinance
Disclaimer: General information, not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental rules change; confirm current requirements with the City of Scottsdale, Maricopa County, the Arizona Department of Revenue and your HOA before renting. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Tackett Team, eXp Realty · Get in touch