| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Permitted with registration |
| Permit / License Required | Yes |
| Tax Rate | Total TPT rate approximately 14.07% for short-term rentals (state + county + city combined). City business code 044 (hotel/motel) applies for city-lev |
| Night / Day Cap | None explicitly stated. STR is defined as rental of real property for less than 30 consecutive days. |
| Minimum Stay | No minimum stay mandated. Short-term defined as under 30 days. |
| Permit Fee | Annual STR license fee: $250 (expires December 31 each year). Arizona TPT license required (free via ADOR). Maricopa County Assessor registration requ |
| Penalties | License may be suspended for up to 12 months for verified violations. Failure to register with the Maricopa County Assessor results in a $1,000 fine f |
| Primary Residence Required | Not required for most properties. However, owner-occupancy IS required when renting out an ADU as a licensed STR if that ADU was constructed on or aft |
| Occupancy Limit | Not specified in available city code provisions; subject to applicable building/fire codes. |
Short-term rental operations in Tempe, Arizona are permitted under an active regulatory framework as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes. The associated permit fees are Annual STR license fee: $250 (expires December 31 each year). Arizona TPT license required (free via.
Short-term rental operators in Tempe should be aware of these tax obligations: Total TPT rate approximately 14.07% for short-term rentals (state + county + city combined). City business code 044 (hotel/motel) applies for city-level reporting; code 025 (transient lodging) for state/county..
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Tempe include: Primary residence requirement: Not required for most properties. However, owner-occupancy IS required when renting out an ADU as a licensed STR if that. Rental day cap: None explicitly stated. STR is defined as rental of real property for less than 30 consecutive days.. Occupancy limit: Not specified in available city code provisions; subject to applicable building/fire codes.. Minimum stay: No minimum stay mandated. Short-term defined as under 30 days..
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Tempe: Arizona state law (A.R.S. §9-500.39) prohibits cities from banning STRs outright. Tempe cannot restrict STRs by zone, but ADUs built on or after December 20, 2024 require owner-occupancy when used as . Density rules: None identified in current ordinance.. Insurance: Yes. Liability insurance of at least $500,000 aggregate is required, OR evidence that each transacti.
Hosts who fail to comply with Tempe's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. License may be suspended for up to 12 months for verified violations. Failure to register with the Maricopa County Assessor results in a $1,000 fine from code enforcement. Nuisance party citations: $2.
Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Tempe: License number must be displayed on all advertisements. If the OLM platform performs the required sex-offender background check, the owner's separate check obligation is satisfied/waived..
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Tempe with proper registration and permits. Owner must conduct a sex-offender background check (via nsopw.gov) on the booking guest no later than 24 hours before each stay and retain records for 12 months, unless the booking OLM platform perfor
Yes. Tempe requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes.
Short-term rental hosts in Tempe are subject to the following tax obligations: Total TPT rate approximately 14.07% for short-term rentals (state + county + city combined). City business code 044 (hotel/motel) applies for city-level reporting; code 025 (transient lodging) for state/county..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Tempe may face enforcement. License may be suspended for up to 12 months for verified violations. Failure to register with the Maricopa County Assessor results in a $1,000 fine from code enforcement. Nuisance party citations: $250–$1,500 depending on number of citations..
Tempe was previously limited to maintaining a voluntary registry under state pre-emption. Arizona SB 1168 (signed 2022) gave cities expanded but not unlimited regulatory authority. Licenses expire December 31 annually and must be renewed. The city actively monitors Airbnb and VRBO listings for compliance.
LawfulStay tracks STR regulations across 1,026+ cities & countries on 6 continents, updated daily.
View in Full Database →