Short-Term Rentals in Tempe, AZ (2026)
10 verified short-term rentals rules for Tempe, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Tempe requires short-term rental operators to register with the city and hold an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license. Under Arizona state law, cities cannot ban STRs in residential areas but can regulate safety and nuisance aspects. Registration allows the city to contact owners in emergencies.
Tempe Short-Term Rental License
Some RestrictionsAriz. Rev. Stat. § 9-500.39 (Vacation Rentals and Short-Term Rentals; Regulation by Cities and Towns)
require the owner of a vacation rental or short-term rental to obtain and maintain a local regulatory permit or license. As a condition of issuance of a permit or license, the application for the permit or license may require an applicant to provide only the following: (a) The name, address, telephone number and email address for the owner or owner's agent. (b) The address of the vac...
Noise Rules
Arizona law, not a Tempe-specific noise code, controls how far the City can go in regulating short-term rental noise. A.R.S. Section 9-500.39(B)(2) lets Tempe adopt and enforce noise and nuisance ordinances against vacation rentals, but only if the same rules are applied equally to other residential property, not singled out for STRs.
Tempe STR Noise Rules Under State Law
Light RestrictionsA.R.S. § 9-500.39(B)(2)
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: ... 2. To adopt and enforce use and zoning ordinances, including ordinances related to noise, protection of welfare, property maintenance...
Taxes & Fees
Tempe charges $250 for every short-term rental license application or annual renewal, a fee cut 25% for licenses first issued after July 1 of a given year, and conditions the license on proof of a valid state transaction privilege tax license before any booking is accepted.
Tempe Short-Term Rental License Fees
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code § 16A-213(c)
(c)License fee. Every application, including any renewal application, for each short-term rental license under this Article shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). For any new short-term rental license issued by the City on or after July 1 of any calendar year, the short-term rental license for the remaining portion of the calendar year shall be impo...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Tempe holds short-term rentals to the same traffic-control laws as any home, but a vehicle parking violation at a rental only counts toward the City's three-strikes license suspension threshold if it also poses a serious threat to public health and safety.
Tempe STR Parking Violation Enforcement
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code § 16A-220(a)(1)
(a)License suspensions. The Licensing Officer may initiate an administrative process to suspend a short-term rental license for a period of up to twelve (12) months for any of the following:(1)Three (3) verified violations of this article within a twelve (12) month period, not including any such violation based on an aesthetic, solid waste disposal or vehicle parking violation that is not also ...
Occupancy Limits
Tempe's STR licensing ordinance (O2023.01) requires compliance with residential use standards. Arizona preemption (ARS 9-500.39) limits city-specific occupancy caps. STR properties must comply with general noise, parking, and nuisance ordinances. STRs cannot be used as party houses or event venues. Neighbor notification is required when obtaining an STR license.
Tempe Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsAriz. Rev. Stat. § 9-500.39 (Vacation Rentals and Short-Term Rentals; Regulation by Cities and Towns)
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 regulations related to fire and building codes, health and sanitation, transportation or traffic control and solid or hazardous waste and pollution control, if the city or town demonstrates that the rule or regulation is for the primary purpose of...
Insurance Requirements
Tempe's STR license ordinance (O2023.01) and Arizona law (ARS 9-500.39) establish the framework for STR insurance. Operators should carry liability insurance as standard homeowner's policies may exclude STR activity. STR platforms provide some host protection, but personal coverage is recommended. The annual $250 license fee helps fund enforcement.
Tempe Short-Term Rental Insurance
Some RestrictionsAriz. Rev. Stat. § 9-500.39 (Vacation Rentals and Short-Term Rentals; Regulation by Cities and Towns)
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.
Night Caps
Tempe imposes NO annual or per-stay night cap on short-term rentals. Arizona Revised Statutes § 9-500.39 (SB 1350, expanded by SB 1168) preempts cities from prohibiting STRs or capping the total number of dwelling units used as vacation rentals. Stays under 30 consecutive days are taxed at the combined ~14.07% rate (6.80% city + 7.27% state/county).
STR Night Caps in Tempe
Few RestrictionsA.R.S. § 9-500.39(A)–(B) — Limits on regulation of vacation rentals and short-term rentals; state preemption
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 ...
Host Presence Rule
Tempe requires the owner of a short-term rental to actually live on the property if it contains an accessory dwelling unit whose certificate of occupancy or completion was issued on or after September 14, 2024, closing a workaround where owners rented out both the main house and a detached ADU as separate short-term listings.
Tempe STR Owner Residency for ADU Units
Significant RestrictionsTempe City Code § 16A-213(k)
(k)Residency. Owners of a short-term rental or vacation rental shall reside on the property if the property contains an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and if a certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion or similar final approval for the additional dwelling unit was issued by the City on or after September 14, 2024. This paragraph does not apply to an owner of a vacation rental or short-...
Repeat Violator Strikes
Tempe can suspend a short-term rental license for up to twelve months once an owner racks up three verified violations in a year, or immediately after one serious incident like a felony or a sex offender housed on site. Section 16A-220 sets the suspension triggers, and Section 16A-221 layers escalating civil fines of up to $3,500 per violation on top.
Tempe STR License Suspension for Repeat Violations
Significant RestrictionsTempe City Code §§ 16A-220, 16A-221
Sec. 16A-220(a): License suspensions. The Licensing Officer may initiate an administrative process to suspend a short-term rental license for a period of up to twelve (12) months for any of the following:(1)Three (3) verified violations of this article within a twelve (12) month period, not including any such violation based on an aesthetic, solid waste disposal or vehicle parking violation tha...
Host Platform Liability
Tempe's short-term rental ordinance makes it a civil offense for anyone, including a booking platform, to collect a fee for facilitating a rental that is operating illegally. Section 16A-215(d)-(e) bars payment for facilitating unlawful stays, and Section 16A-219 lets an online lodging marketplace's own sex-offender background check substitute for the owner's, without erasing the owner's liability.
Tempe STR Facilitation and Platform Liability
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code § 16A-215(d)-(e); § 16A-219(c),(e)
(d)No person or entity may receive payment or accept a fee, directly or indirectly, for facilitating the rental of a short-term rental operating in violation of this Code or other law. (e)In addition to any other penalty pursuant to the City Code, any person who causes, allows, facilitates, aides, or abets any violation of this article shall be subject to a civil offense. ... Sec. 16A-219(c): T...
Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tempe city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Maricopa County →