Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-150 Purpose.
Sec. 18-150. - Purpose.
This article is necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
LICENSING
Scottsdale Revised Code ch. 18, art. IX, div. 1
in effectScottsdale Revised Code § 18-151 Vacation rental license required; invalid license; penalties.
Sec. 18-151. - Vacation rental license required; invalid license; penalties.
(a) Effective January 8, 2023, no person shall operate a vacation rental or short-term rental in the city without first having obtained a current vacation rental license from the city and paying the applicable fees. A separate current vacation rental license is required for each house or dwelling unit where a vacation rental or short-term rental is operated.
(b) No person shall operate a vacation rental or short-term rental in the city with an expired, suspended or revoked vacation rental license.
(c) Representations or advertisements including online listings that reference the property, house or dwelling unit location within the city is prima facie evidence that a vacation rental or short-term rental is operating in the city.
(d) A violation of this section is a civil offense and shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per violation. The court shall not suspend any part of any fine required by this section.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-152 License fees.
Sec. 18-152. - License fees.
(a) Every application, including any renewal application, for a vacation rental license under this article shall be accompanied by a non-refundable two hundred fifty-dollar ($250.00) license fee and penalties incurred pursuant to this section.
(b) If the applicant failed to apply for a vacation rental license upon receiving written notice from the city of the requirement to do so, the applicant shall pay an additional one-thousand-dollar ($1,000.00) penalty for every thirty (30) day period the applicant failed to apply. Any penalty shall be non-refundable. For purposes of this section, written notice includes, but is not limited to, a notice sent by electronic means, United States mail or hand delivered to the physical location of the vacation rental or short-term rental or the address on file with the county assessor for the property. Written notice is deemed served on the date it is sent by electronic means, hand delivered or, if mailed, on the date it is deposited in the United States mail.
(c) The amount of any license fee and any penalty imposed by the provisions of this article shall be deemed a debt to the city. An action may be commenced in the name of the city in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of any delinquent license fee and penalties.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-153 Term of license; transfer.
Sec. 18-153. - Term of license; transfer.
(a) A vacation rental license issued under this article shall be valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance unless suspended or revoked.
(b) No license shall be transferable either as to location or as to person.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-154 Application for license.
Sec. 18-154. - Application for license.
(a) An applicant for a vacation rental license including for a renewal application shall file an application on a form prescribed by the city manager or designee and contain the following information:
(1) The physical address of the house or dwelling unit to be used as a vacation rental or short-term rental.
(2) The name, address, email and telephone number of the owner of the vacation rental or short-term rental. If the owner is a fictitious person, the name, address, email and phone number of the owner's statutory agent.
(3) The name, address, email and telephone number of the owner's designee, if any. The owner shall certify that the owner's designee is authorized to act upon the owner's behalf.
(4) The name, address, email and twenty-four (24) hour telephone number of the individual who will serve as the emergency point of contact for the vacation rental or short-term rental. An individual pursuant to this subsection must be a real person and cannot be a fictitious person.
(5) Agreement by the owner and each designee to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
(6) The owner and each owner's designee shall attest that they are not registered sex offenders, have not been convicted of any felony act that resulted in death or serious physical injury, and have not been convicted of any felony use of a deadly weapon within the past five (5) years.
(7) Proof of a valid transaction privilege tax license.
(8) If the applicant is an individual, proof of lawful presence in the United States in accordance with A.R.S. §§ 1-502 and 41-1080 unless exempted by A.R.S. § 41-1080(B).
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-155 License issuance; denial.
Sec. 18-155. - License issuance; denial.
(a) The city shall issue a vacation rental license within seven (7) business days after receipt of a complete application unless grounds for denial exist as follows:
(1) Failure to provide the information required by this article;
(2) Failure to pay the required license fee(s) including any penalties;
(3) At the time of application, the owner has a revoked or suspended license for the same vacation rental or short-term rental;
(4) The applicant has provided false information;
(5) The owner or designee of the owner: (i) is a registered sex offender; (ii) has been convicted of any felony act that resulted in death or serious physical injury; (iii) or has been convicted of any felony use of a deadly weapon within five (5) years of submitting the application; and
(6) Any grounds for revocation or suspension of a vacation rental license exist for the specific license application.
(b) The city manager or designee shall give notice of any denial of an application, and the right of appeal from the denial, as provided for in this article.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-156 License revocation.
Sec. 18-156. - License revocation.
The city manager or designee shall initiate revocation proceedings if any grounds for denial exist for a vacation rental license that already has been issued.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-157 Reapplication after denial or revocation.
Sec. 18-157. - Reapplication after denial or revocation.
No person who has had a vacation rental license denied or revoked pursuant to this article may apply for another vacation rental license for one (1) year at that same property after the decision affecting the applicant's license has become final. At the time of sustaining a denial, the hearing officer may reduce in whole or in part the one (1) year period described above in this section, if the denial was based on a good faith failure to provide complete information pursuant to section 18-155(a)(1) or failure to pay the required license fee(s) and any penalties provided that the applicant has paid all required fees and penalties by the time of the denial hearing.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-158 License suspension; term of suspension.
Sec. 18-158. - License suspension; term of suspension.
(a) The city manager or designee shall initiate suspension proceedings against a vacation rental license for any of the following:
(1) Three verified violations within a twelve (12) month period, not including any such violation based on an aesthetic, solid waste disposal or vehicle parking violation that is not also a serious threat to public health and safety.
(2) One verified violation that results in or constitutes any of the following:
(a) A felony offense committed at or in the vicinity of a vacation rental or short-term rental by the owner of the vacation rental or short-term rental or by the owner's designee;
(b) A serious physical injury or wrongful death at or related to a vacation rental or short-term rental resulting from the knowing, intentional or reckless conduct of the owner of the vacation rental or short-term rental or the owner's designee;
(c) An owner of the vacation rental or short-term rental or the owner's designee knowingly or intentionally housing a sex offender, allowing offenses related to adult-oriented businesses, sexual offenses, or prostitution, or operating or maintaining a sober living home; or
(d) An owner of the vacation rental or short-term rental or the owner's designee knowingly or intentionally allowing the use of a vacation rental or short-term rental for a special event that would otherwise require a permit or license pursuant to this code or a state law or rule or for a retail, restaurant, banquet space or other similar use.
(b) The city manager or designee shall give notice of any suspension, and the right of appeal from the suspension, as provided for in this article.
(c) Any final suspension shall be for a period of one (1) year except that a hearing officer may reduce the suspension period to a period of six (6) months upon a finding that the owner of the vacation rental or short-term rental has taken substantial and significant steps to prevent the reoccurrence of the actions that led to the suspension.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-159 Judicial relief for certain grounds of suspension.
Sec. 18-159. - Judicial relief for certain grounds of suspension.
(a) Notwithstanding section 18-158, any attempted or completed felony act, arising from the occupancy or use of a vacation rental or short-term rental, that results in a death, or actual or attempted serious physical injury, shall be grounds for judicial relief in the form of a suspension of the property's use as a vacation rental or short-term rental for a period that shall not exceed twelve (12) months.
(b) The city attorney may initiate proceedings in the city court or other court of competent jurisdiction to enforce this section.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-160 Information updates.
Sec. 18-160. - Information updates.
All applicants and persons holding licenses issued pursuant to this article shall give written notice to the city manager or designee of any material changes in information submitted in connection with an application or application for renewal of a license. Any information required for an application pursuant to section 18-154 is deemed to be material for purposes of this section. This information shall be provided to the city manager or designee by the licensee or the effected person, as applicable, within ten (10) business days of any such change.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-161 Appeals.
Sec. 18-161. - Appeals.
(a) Any person aggrieved by any decision with respect to the denial of or a refusal to issue a vacation rental license, the revocation of a vacation rental license, the suspension of a vacation rental license or a verified violation penalty imposed pursuant to section 18-177, shall be entitled to the review and appeal procedures provided in chapter 16, article I.
(b) This section is not applicable for judicial actions brought pursuant to section 18-159 or penalties including fines imposed by a court.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Scottsdale Revised Code § 18-162 City use of license information.
Sec. 18-162. - City use of license information.
Unless otherwise provided for by law, the city may use any information obtained from licensing applications including contact information pursuant to this article for any lawful purpose including, but not limited to, communicating or providing information regarding compliance with laws, public health and safety regulations, general city updates and reminders to keep required information updated with the city.
(Ord. No. 4566, § 3, 10-25-22, eff. 1-8-23)
Source: City of Scottsdale, Arizona, Revised Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/az/scottsdale/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=REVISED_CODEVO1_CH18PUNUPRMA_ARTIXVARESHRMRE_DIV1LIFetched: 11/8/2026