Maricopa, AZ Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Arizona's preemption statute, A.R.S. 9-500.39, generally bars a city from regulating vacation and short-term rentals based on their classification, use, or occupancy. The statute does carve out that a 'vacation rental or short-term rental may not be used for nonresidential uses, including for a special event that would otherwise require a permit or license' under the city code or A.R.S. Title 4 (liquor). In practical terms this means a city may stop a short-term rental from operating as an event venue, but cannot simply cap the number of overnight guests by ordinance the way it might for a hotel. Research did not find any City of Maricopa ordinance imposing a specific per-bedroom or total-guest occupancy limit on short-term rentals. As a result, occupancy is governed by general residential and building-code standards rather than an STR-specific city cap. Hosts should still set a reasonable maximum occupancy consistent with the dwelling's bedrooms, septic/sewer capacity, and fire-safety considerations, and should confirm with Maricopa Development Services whether any newer occupancy or nuisance provisions have since been adopted under the authority A.R.S. 9-500.39 leaves to cities.