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.
Some cities require an owner or local host to remain on the property during STR stays as a noise and safety control. Arizona blocks that approach. ARS §9-500.39 forbids municipalities from prohibiting vacation or short-term rentals or from requiring that a property be owner-occupied to be eligible. Mesa's Zoning Ordinance §11-3 therefore registers operators but does not require physical presence. Hosts may live anywhere, including out of state, provided they designate a 24-hour emergency contact who can respond to complaints. The contact must be reachable within an hour of city notice.
Failure to designate or update an emergency contact triggers civil penalties under Mesa's STR registration ordinance, escalating with repeat citations.
Mesa, AZ
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...
Mesa, AZ
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 remov...
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle host presence rule.
See how Mesa's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
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