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Short-Term Rentals in Mesa, AZ (2026)

13 verified short-term rentals rules for Mesa, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Permit Requirements

Mesa requires every short-term and vacation rental owner to hold a City Short-Term Rental License under Mesa City Code Title 5, Chapter 15, effective February 1, 2023. The license costs $250, requires $500,000 in liability insurance, and operators must notify neighbors within 200 feet before the first booking. The ordinance operates within the limits set by Arizona's state STR preemption statute, A.R.S. Section 9-500.39.

Mesa AZ Short-Term Rental Permit: $250 License, $500k Insurance Required

Heavy Restrictions

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 9-500.39 (Vacation Rentals)

A city or town may not prohibit vacation rentals or short-term rentals. B. A city or town may not restrict the use of or regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals based on their classification, use or occupancy except as provided in this section. A city or town may regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals as follows: 1. To protect the public's health and safety, including rules and...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Mesa STRs must comply with general noise ordinance. Under SB 1168, cities can fine and suspend properties with repeated verified noise violations.

Mesa STR Noise Rules

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Mesa charges a $250 STR license fee and requires operators to collect and remit Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) on all short-term stays under 30 days. A state TPT license is also required.

Mesa Short-Term Rental Taxes and License Fees

Heavy Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

Mesa's STR ordinance requires adequate off-street parking for rental guests. Operators must ensure guests do not create parking nuisances in residential neighborhoods.

Mesa Short-Term Rental Parking Requirements

Some Restrictions

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 9-500.39 (Vacation Rentals)

A city or town may not prohibit vacation rentals or short-term rentals. B. A city or town may not restrict the use of or regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals based on their classification, use or occupancy except as provided in this section. A city or town may regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals as follows: 1. To protect the public's health and safety, including rules and...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Mesa regulates short-term rental occupancy under Title 5, Chapter 15. Licensed STR operators must comply with occupancy limits tied to the property's bedroom count and ensure the rental is used solely for residential purposes.

Mesa Short-Term Rental Occupancy Standards

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Mesa requires all short-term rental operators to maintain liability insurance coverage of at least $500,000 as a condition of their STR license under Title 5, Chapter 15.

Mesa STR Liability Insurance Requirements

Heavy Restrictions

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 9-500.39 (Vacation Rentals)

To require the vacation rental or short-term rental to maintain liability insurance appropriate to cover the vacation rental or short-term rental in the aggregate of at least $500,000 or to advertise and offer each vacation rental or short-term rental through an online lodging marketplace that provides equal or greater coverage. 9. To require the owner of a vacation rental or short-term rental ...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Mesa cannot cap the number of nights a property is rented short-term per year. ARS §9-500.39 bars cities from imposing usage limits that effectively prohibit vacation rentals, leaving operators free to book year-round.

Annual Night Caps Banned by State

Few Restrictions

A.R.S. § 9-500.39(A)-(B)(1)

A. A city or town may not prohibit vacation rentals or short-term rentals. B. A city or town may not restrict the use of or regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals based on their classification, use or occupancy except as provided in this section. A city or town may regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals as follows: 1. To protect the public's health and safety, including rules ...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

Mesa City Code Chapter 5-15, effective Feb. 1, 2023, requires every short-term and vacation rental owner to obtain a Mesa Short-Term Rental License before listing a property under 30 days. The fee is $250 to apply and $250 annually to renew per unit, and operators must also hold an Arizona TPT license and a Mesa business license.

STR Registration Rules in Mesa

Some Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Mesa cannot require that the owner or a designated host live on-site during short-term rental stays. ARS §9-500.39 preempts cities from banning unhosted whole-home rentals, so absentee operation is fully legal in Mesa.

No Host-Presence Rule for Mesa STRs

Few Restrictions

A.R.S. § 9-500.39(B)(9)

9. To require the owner of a vacation rental or short-term rental to reside on the property if the property contains an accessory dwelling unit and if a certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion or similar final approval for the accessory dwelling unit was issued by the municipality on or after September 14, 2024. This paragraph does not apply to an owner of a vacation rental or short...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Mesa cannot limit short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. ARS §9-500.39 protects investor-owned vacation homes, so non-primary properties may operate as STRs throughout the city subject only to registration and tax compliance.

Primary-Residence-Only Rules Preempted

Few Restrictions

A.R.S. § 9-500.39(A)-(B)(2)

A. A city or town may not prohibit vacation rentals or short-term rentals. B. A city or town may not restrict the use of or regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals based on their classification, use or occupancy except as provided in this section. A city or town may regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals as follows: 1. To protect the public's health and safety, including rules ...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Extended Home Share

Mesa STR rules apply only to stays under thirty consecutive days. Bookings of thirty-one nights or more convert to ordinary residential tenancies governed by the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, not STR registration.

Extended Stays Treated as Long-Term

Few Restrictions
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Mesa may suspend or revoke a short-term rental registration after repeat verified violations within a twelve-month window. ARS §9-500.39 authorizes cities to enforce three documented nuisance strikes against the operator and the property.

Mesa Three-Strikes STR Suspension Rule

Some Restrictions

A.R.S. § 9-500.39(D)

D. A city or town that requires a local regulatory permit or license pursuant to this section shall adopt an ordinance to allow the city or town to initiate an administrative process to suspend a local regulatory permit or license for a period of up to twelve months for the following verified violations associated with a property: 1. Three verified violations within a twelve-month period, not i...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Online platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo must confirm a Mesa short-term rental holds a valid registration before listing. Mesa may require the platform to remove non-compliant listings after written notice under ARS §9-500.39 amendments.

Platforms Must Verify Mesa STR Registration

Some Restrictions

A.R.S. § 9-500.39(B)(7)

7. To require the owner or owner's designee of a vacation rental or short-term rental to display the local regulatory permit number or license number, if any, on each advertisement for a vacation rental or short-term rental that the owner or owner's designee maintains. A city or town that does not require a local regulatory permit or license may require the owner or owner's designee of a vacati...
Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mesa city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Maricopa County →