Rental Property Rules in Tempe, AZ

Tempe maintains 149 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Tempe falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Repairs & Habitability

Tempe's Rental Housing Code (Secs. 21-31 to 21-38) sets minimum sanitary, electrical, heating/cooling, ventilation, safety and maintenance standards for every rental unit, including a 70-degree minimum heat and dead-bolt locks on exterior doors. The Community Development Department enforces these standards through inspection, notice to comply and, if needed, civil or criminal citation.

Key details: Minimum heat: 70F, measured 3 feet above floor. Max cooled temp: 88F evaporative / 82F refrigerated. Hot water minimum: 110F at the tap. Exterior door locks: Dead bolt, minimum 1-inch throw. Civil penalty cap: Up to $2,000/day per property.

A rental unit failing any Division 2 habitability standard is subject to a notice to comply with a City-set correction deadline under Sec. 21-43. Continued noncompliance is enforceable as a civil sanction of up to $2,000 per day per property or as a Class 1 misdemeanor under Sec. 21-42, and an owner who allows the unit to sit vacant cannot relet it until the violation is corrected and reinspected.

Rental Registration

Owners of residential rental property in Tempe must file contact and ownership information with the Maricopa County Assessor under City Code Sec. 21-25 and update it within ten days of any change. A rental cannot lawfully be occupied while that filing is missing, and noncompliance draws a $1,000 civil penalty plus $100 for every month it continues.

Key details: Filed with: Maricopa County Assessor, not the City. Update deadline: 10 days after information changes. Out-of-state owners: Must designate an in-state service agent. Base civil penalty: $1,000, plus $100/month ongoing. Cure window: 10 days after complaint avoids any penalty.

Failing to keep current registration on file with the Maricopa County Assessor is a civil offense cited under Sec. 21-42(b), carrying a $1,000 penalty plus $100 for each additional month of noncompliance, with no judicial suspension of the fine allowed. Curing the violation within ten days of the complaint gets the case dismissed with no penalty.

This is one of the stricter rules in Tempe's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Tempe's rental property rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Tempe is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Tempe's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.