Maricopa, AZ Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

A primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement would restrict short-term rentals based on their classification and use - exactly the kind of regulation A.R.S. 9-500.39 preempts. Arizona's statute bars cities from prohibiting vacation and short-term rentals or regulating them based on classification, use, or occupancy, with only narrow exceptions (protecting health and safety, preventing nuisances, banning nonresidential/special-event use, and barring use to house sex offenders or run certain restricted businesses). Research found no City of Maricopa ordinance requiring that a short-term rental be the owner's primary or full-time residence, and the city's municipal code does not contain a dedicated STR chapter imposing such a rule. As a result, both owner-occupied 'homestay' arrangements and non-owner-occupied whole-home investment rentals are generally permitted in the City of Maricopa, subject to the state's TPT licensing and tax rules and any HOA covenants that may independently limit rentals. Hosts should verify their subdivision's CC&Rs, since some master-planned communities in Maricopa impose their own minimum-lease or rental-cap restrictions that are enforced privately by the HOA rather than by the city. Confirm current city rules with Maricopa Development Services before operating.