Tucson, AZ Rental Property Rules: Pass-Through Charges (2026)

33-1314.01. Utility charges; submetering; ratio utility billing; allocation; water system exemption. A. A landlord may charge separately for gas, water, wastewater, solid waste removal or electricity by installing a submetering system or by allocating the charges separately through a ratio utility billing system. B. If a landlord charges separately for a utility pursuant to subsection A, the landlord may recover the charges imposed on the landlord by the utility provider plus an administrative fee for the landlord for actual administrative costs only. The landlord shall not impose any additional charges. The rental agreement shall contain a disclosure that lists the utility services that are charged separately and shall specify the amount of any administrative fee that is associated with submetering or the use of a ratio utility billing system. C. If provided in the rental agreement, the landlord may impose a submetering system or ratio utility billing system during the term of a rental agreement if the landlord provides notice as prescribed by subsection G. D. If a landlord is not in compliance with subsection B, the tenant shall first object in writing to the landlord regarding the utility billing. If the dispute is not resolved, the tenant may file a civil complaint in justice court to enforce this section. E. If a landlord uses an allocation or submetering system, the bill format for each billing period shall: 1. Separately state the cost of the charges for the period together with the opening and the closing meter readings and the dates of the meter readings. 2. Show the amount of any administrative fee charged. F. If a landlord does not use a submetering system and allocates charges separately for gas, water, wastewater, solid waste removal or electricity, the landlord may allocate the costs to each tenant by using one or more of the following ratio utility billing system methods: 1. Per tenant. 2. Proportionately by livable square footage. 3. Per type of unit. 4. Per number of water fixtures.