Surprise, AZ Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Long-term residential rentals in Surprise are subject to two parallel registration regimes. First, Arizona Revised Statutes Section 33-1902 requires the owner of any residential rental property to maintain current ownership and contact information with the County Assessor in the county where the property is located - here, the Maricopa County Assessor's Office - and to update that information within 10 days of any change. The required information includes the owner's name, address, and phone number; for entities (LLC, corporation, partnership, trust), at least one statutorily designated individual contact; and for owners who live outside Arizona, the name and address of an Arizona statutory agent who will accept legal service on behalf of the owner. Registration is filed using Arizona Department of Revenue Form 82901 (or directly through the Maricopa County Assessor's online portal); ARS 33-1902(D) caps the Assessor fee at $10 per initial registration or change of information. Critically, ARS 33-1902(E) prohibits occupancy of residential rental property when the required information is not on file with the Assessor. Second, the City of Surprise separately requires a city business license under Surprise Municipal Code Chapter 26 (Licenses, Permits, and Miscellaneous Business Regulations) for each residential rental property operated within municipal limits, a requirement the city extended to long-term rentals to align with state and county rental-accountability laws. Short-term/vacation rentals fall under Chapter 26, Article X (separate STR license under ARS 9-500.39). Owners must also hold an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue to remit residential rental tax (Surprise region code SP). Confirm current city business-license fees and renewal cycles with the Surprise Finance Department.