Tucson caps STR occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests overall, with an absolute maximum of 12 guests regardless of bedroom count. Day guests count toward the occupancy limit during any portion of the stay, and advertising events beyond the cap is independently prohibited.
The city adopted explicit occupancy caps alongside the 2023 STR ordinance to close loopholes where advertised capacity exceeded building code limits. The cap mirrors the International Residential Code occupancy standards and aligns with the insurance policies most STR underwriters will write. Children under 3 are excluded from the count. Weddings, bachelor parties, and similar events at STRs are prohibited in residential zones without a special event permit, which the city generally does not issue for single-family homes.
Exceeding occupancy is a 500 dollar first-offense fine that scales to 3,500 dollars by the third violation plus STR license suspension. Advertising a property for events exceeding the cap is a separate 1,500 dollar violation.
Tucson, AZ
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