Mesa cannot limit short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. ARS §9-500.39 protects investor-owned vacation homes, so non-primary properties may operate as STRs throughout the city subject only to registration and tax compliance.
Cities like Santa Monica restrict STRs to primary residences to curb housing loss. Arizona explicitly forbids that approach. ARS §9-500.39 prevents cities from limiting vacation and short-term rentals based on the owner's residency status, and it forbids classification of STRs as a separate land use category. Mesa accordingly allows whole-home rentals of non-owner-occupied investment properties so long as the operator obtains a transaction privilege tax license, registers the unit annually with the city, and meets life-safety requirements. Mesa cannot cap how many days a non-primary STR may book per year.
Operating an unregistered STR or failing to display a permit number in listings results in escalating fines up to fifteen hundred dollars per violation under Mesa code.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Mesa, AZ
Mesa allows recreational backyard fires under International Fire Code Section 307, adopted in Mesa City Code Title 7. Recreational fires must stay at least 2...
Mesa, AZ
Mesa does not have its own smoke alarm ordinance separate from state and code requirements. Arizona Revised Statutes Sec. 36-1637 requires an approved smoke ...
Mesa, AZ
Mesa has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round decorations on residential property. Mesa Code requires property maintenance b...
Mesa, AZ
Mesa has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, lighting hours, and blower noise are governed by HOA CC&Rs, which apply ...
Mesa, AZ
Mesa has no municipal ordinance regulating residential holiday lights. Installation timing, brightness, and animated displays are governed by HOA CC&Rs in Me...
Mesa, AZ
Mesa requires building permits for outdoor kitchens with gas lines, plumbing, electrical wiring, or structural roofs under Mesa Building Code and the adopted...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Maricopa County.
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle primary-residence-only rule.
See how Mesa's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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