Mesa, AZ Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Mesa, AZ, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Mesa City Code Title 5, Chapter 15 (effective Feb. 1, 2023)
- License Fee
- $250 annual
- Liability Insurance
- $500,000 minimum per occurrence
- Neighbor Notification
- Required to all owners within 200 feet before first booking
- Emergency Contact
- 24-hour local contact, 1-hour response
- State Preemption Framework
- A.R.S. Section 9-500.39
- Civil Penalties
- $500 / $1,000 / $2,000 escalating per verified violation
Summary
Mesa requires every short-term and vacation rental owner to hold a City Short-Term Rental License under Mesa City Code Title 5, Chapter 15, effective February 1, 2023. The license costs $250, requires $500,000 in liability insurance, and operators must notify neighbors within 200 feet before the first booking. The ordinance operates within the limits set by Arizona's state STR preemption statute, A.R.S. Section 9-500.39.
A city or town may not prohibit vacation rentals or short-term rentals. B. A city or town may not restrict the use of or regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals based on their classification, use or occupancy except as provided in this section. A city or town may regulate vacation rentals or short-term rentals as follows: 1. To protect the public's health and safety, including rules and regulations related to fire and building codes, health and sanitation, transportation or traffic control and solid or hazardous waste and pollution control, if the city or town demonstrates that the rule or regulation is for the primary purpose of protecting the public's health and safety. 2.
Full Breakdown
Mesa City Code Title 5, Chapter 15 (Short-Term Rentals) was adopted by the Mesa City Council in October 2022 and took effect February 1, 2023. Every owner of a property rented for periods of less than 30 days must apply for and maintain a City of Mesa Short-Term Rental License through the Business Services Department. The application requires: (1) a $250 license fee, (2) proof of liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence covering the rental use, (3) the name and 24-hour contact information for an emergency local contact who can respond to complaints within one hour, (4) a current Arizona Department of Revenue Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license number, (5) Maricopa County Assessor residential rental registration, and (6) sex-offender background-check attestation for the operator.
Before accepting the first booking, the licensee must mail or hand-deliver written neighbor notification to every property owner within 200 feet of the rental, identifying the operator and the 24-hour emergency contact. Licenses are issued annually and must be renewed each year. 39, which preempts most local STR regulation, prohibits outright bans on short-term lodging in residential zones, and caps fees at the cost of administering the program; cities may, however, require licensing, neighbor notification, liability insurance, emergency contacts, and offender background checks, and may bar special events such as weddings or commercial photo shoots that exceed the home's residential occupancy.
Mesa exercises each of these state-authorized requirements. Enforcement is handled by Mesa Code Compliance and Mesa Police; complaints can trigger inspection, citation, civil penalty, and ultimately license suspension or revocation for repeat verified violations.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental in Mesa without a current City Short-Term Rental License is a code violation enforceable by Mesa Code Compliance under Mesa City Code Title 5, Chapter 15. Under the Mesa civil penalty schedule, verified violations carry escalating fines: $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second within the same year, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent verified violation, with each day a separate offense. S. 39 a city may also seek suspension of the state TPT license. Failure to maintain the $500,000 liability insurance, failure to provide a 24-hour emergency contact, failure to send the required 200-foot neighbor notice, or holding a prohibited special event (such as a wedding, ticketed party, or commercial photo shoot exceeding residential occupancy) are independently citable.
Operators who fail to collect and remit the Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax on the rental face additional state enforcement by the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Mesa?
How much does the Mesa STR license cost?
What insurance does Mesa require for an STR?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mesa
How Mesa compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Mesa to another location·View the Arizona short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle short-term rental permits.