Scottsdale, AZ Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)

Scottsdale Code § 18-177(a) sets the tiered civil penalty owners face for repeated violations tied to the same vacation rental or short-term rental property within a 12-month period: up to $500 (or one night's advertised rent, whichever is greater) for a first verified violation, up to $1,000 (or two nights' rent) for a second, and up to $3,500 (or three nights' rent) for a third or any later violation. Subsection (b) prevents pyramiding penalties from a single incident: if multiple violations arise out of the same response to one incident, they count as a single violation for penalty purposes.

Subsection (c) sets a firm collection deadline: the civil penalty is due within 30 days of the city's initial written notice unless the owner files a timely appeal under Sec. 18-161. The strikes carry consequences beyond fines. Under Sec. 18-158, three verified violations within a 12-month period (excluding aesthetic, solid-waste, or parking violations that aren't also a serious public-safety threat) trigger mandatory license suspension proceedings, and a single verified violation involving a felony, serious injury or death, housing a sex offender, or an unpermitted special event can suspend the license outright. A final suspension runs one year, though a hearing officer may cut it to six months if the owner shows substantial corrective steps.