Business Licensing & Operations in Scottsdale, AZ (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Scottsdale, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Scottsdale requires a sexually oriented business license before conducting an adult service, adult video, or cabaret operation, plus separate manager and adult service provider permits. Applicants submit to fingerprinting and a criminal history check, and violations carry fines up to twenty thousand dollars for an enterprise.
Scottsdale Sexually Oriented Business License
Significant RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 16-239
A person or enterprise may not conduct a sexually oriented business without first obtaining a sexually oriented business license pursuant to this article. The license shall state the name of the license holder, the name, address and phone number of the licensed premises, and the dates of issuance and expiration of the license. A sexually oriented business for which a license has been issued pur...
Massage Establishments
Scottsdale requires anyone operating a massage facility to hold a city license issued by the director of licensing and revenue. Applicants and controlling persons must be fingerprinted, pass a criminal-history check, and keep an on-site manager present whenever massage therapy is performed.
Scottsdale Massage Facility License Rules
Significant RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 16-206
(a)A person desiring to operate the business of a massage facility shall obtain a license under this article.(b)A massage facility license is not required for massage facilities:(1)In hospitals and medical facilities licensed by Arizona;(2)In the offices of a physician, chiropractor, naturopathic practitioner, physical therapist, midwife or nurse practitioner licensed by Arizona who is practici...
Secondhand Dealers
Scottsdale bars anyone from operating as a junk dealer or secondhand dealer without first obtaining a city license under § 16-331, on top of any other required city, county, state or federal license, and the license cannot be transferred between owners or locations.
Scottsdale Secondhand and Junk Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 16-331
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to act within the city as an auction house, auctioneer, junk dealer, scrap metal dealer, pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, without first obtaining a city license to do so.(b)A license required by this section is in addition to any other licenses or permits required to engage in business by the city, county, state and federal governments, and shall be nontra...
Pawnbrokers
Scottsdale requires pawnbrokers to hold a city license under § 16-331 and imposes a pawn-specific 20-day holding period on pledged goods, longer than the 10 days required of other reportable dealers, before the property can be sold or returned to circulation.
Scottsdale Pawnbroker License and Holding Rules
Significant RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 16-339
(a)It is unlawful for any auction house, junk dealer, pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, or scrap metal dealer to sell, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of any goods or articles required to be reported to the police department under the provisions of this article, except as provided herein.(b)Property reported as a result of transactions described in this section shall not be sold, transfe...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Scottsdale flatly bars using a home carport or garage for any home occupation, which rules out running a paid auto-repair business from a residential garage. The same zoning definition also blocks material or mechanical equipment beyond normal household or hobby use, and licensed vehicle-repair shops elsewhere in the city must operate inside a fully enclosed commercial building.
Scottsdale Home Garage Auto Repair Ban
Heavy RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 3.100
A carport or garage may not be used for home occupations. There shall be no use of material or mechanical equipment not recognized as being part of normal household or hobby use.
Towing Companies
Scottsdale caps non-consent towing at $125, including the first 72 hours of storage, and requires posted signs, police notification before a tow, and 24/7 vehicle release. Towing carriers who overcharge or skip notice face minimum fines starting at $250 for a first offense.
Scottsdale Non-Consent Towing Rules
Some RestrictionsScottsdale Code of Ordinances § 17-369
(a)Under this article, the maximum charge for towing a motor vehicle from the city without the vehicle owner's permission shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00), including the first seventy-two (72) hours of storage.(b)The maximum charge includes all charges for towing the motor vehicle from the city, including all charges for transporting and storing the vehicle for up to seventy-t...
Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Scottsdale city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Maricopa County →