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Sedona, AZ Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in Sedona, AZ, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

Permit required per unit
Yes, individually
Permit term
1 year
Minimum violation penalty
$500.00
Late-application penalty
Up to $1,000/month
Administered by
Short-term rental specialist

Summary

Every short-term rental unit in Sedona needs its own city-issued annual permit under SCC 5.25.030, enacted consistent with A.R.S. Section 9-500.39. Advertising, booking, or hosting guests without one is prohibited, and an unpermitted operator must cease operations immediately in addition to facing other penalties.

A. Permit Required. Each short-term rental unit requires its own city-issued short-term rental permit. No person shall advertise or operate a short-term rental in the city without a valid annual short-term rental permit issued by the city. Renting, offering for rent, booking for rent, or hosting of guests at a short-term rental without complying with the permit requirement in this section is prohibited. In addition to any other penalty imposed pursuant to the city code, any property that operates as a short-term rental and fails to apply for a short-term rental permit in accordance with this section must cease operations immediately.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).

Full Breakdown

S. 39," is Sedona's response to the state law that bars cities from prohibiting vacation rentals outright but allows permitting, safety, and nuisance regulation. 030(A) requires each short-term rental unit to carry its own city-issued permit; renting, offering for rent, booking, or hosting guests without complying with the permit requirement is prohibited, and a property operating without one must cease immediately. 030(B) must include the rental's physical address, the owner's contact information (or the statutory agent if the owner is an entity), the owner's designee if any, the 24-hour emergency point of contact, proof of a valid state transaction privilege tax license, and the owner's acknowledgment of compliance with the Sedona Land Development Code, building codes, neighbor notification, and liability insurance, plus certification that neither the owner nor any designee is a registered sex offender.

030(C). 030(D) for incomplete or false information, unpaid fees, a disqualifying felony conviction, or an existing suspension or a pattern of recent violations. 030(H), meaning a change in ownership requires a new permit and the seller must remove all advertisements at the time of sale. 010(B).

Violations & Fines

Operating, advertising, or booking a short-term rental without a valid permit violates SCC 5.25.030(A) and is punishable as a misdemeanor and civil offense under SCC 5.25.120(A), with a minimum $500.00 penalty for any admitted or adjudicated violation. SCC 5.25.120(D) separately allows a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per month against an owner who fails to apply for a permit within 30 days of written notice of that requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Sedona?
Yes. SCC 5.25.030(A) requires each short-term rental unit to have its own valid, annual city-issued permit before it can be advertised, booked, or operated; an unpermitted property must cease operations immediately.
What has to be in a Sedona short-term rental permit application?
The rental's address, the owner's and any designee's contact information, a 24-hour emergency contact, proof of a state transaction privilege tax license, and certification that neither the owner nor designee is a registered sex offender, per SCC 5.25.030(B).
What happens if I operate without a permit in Sedona?
It is a misdemeanor and civil offense under SCC 5.25.120(A) carrying a minimum $500.00 penalty, and the city can impose a separate civil penalty of up to $1,000 per month for failing to apply after receiving written notice.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sedona

All Sedona rules

How Sedona compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Sedona to another location·View the Arizona short-term rentals overview

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