Jurisdiction table
Every authority, what to check, and where the rule lives.
| Authority | What to check | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| City of ScottsdaleCity | Applies to a parcel inside the incorporated city offered for fewer than 30 days. The City states every such property needs an annual Scottsdale license, with an annual per-property fee listed on the City page. Prerequisites and conditions on the owner page: a valid Arizona TPT license first; notice to neighbors within 30 days of receiving the license or whenever contact details change, including a 24-hour emergency contact; liability coverage of at least $500,000 directly or through an online lodging marketplace (per the City page checked 2026-09-19); a posted notice inside the front door; pool-barrier requirements for a pool, hot tub or spa; and, under Ordinance 4719, no use as a commercial event venue. The Resource Center lets anyone look up a property's license status. | Information for Owners and Operators Vacation and Short-Term Rentals Short-Term Rental Resource Center Checked 2026-09-19 |
| Maricopa County AssessorCounty | Applies to any residential rental in the county, including Scottsdale. Arizona law (A.R.S. § 33-1902) requires registering the rental with the Assessor; the City says this must be done before the property is occupied. Out-of-state owners must name an Arizona statutory agent. Registration is a registry entry, not a license: the Assessor states that the incorporated municipality is responsible for code enforcement. | Rental Registration FAQ Information for Owners and Operators Checked 2026-09-19 |
| Arizona Department of RevenueState | Applies to every stay under 30 days. ADOR classifies these as transient lodging subject to transaction privilege tax and requires a TPT license through AZTaxes.gov, with a return due for every filing period even when nothing was rented. Where an online lodging marketplace collects and remits, ADOR describes a deduction the owner reports. Residential rentals of 30 or more consecutive days follow different rules. Confirm your classification and filing frequency. | Transaction Privilege Tax Short-Term Lodging Checked 2026-09-19 |
| A Scottsdale mailing address outside city limitsConfirm first | Some homes with a Scottsdale address sit in a neighboring city or in unincorporated Maricopa County, where the City license above does not apply and another authority does. Use the Assessor's parcel search to identify the jurisdiction, then check that authority's own short-term rental rules. County registration and state TPT still apply. | Rental Registration FAQ Checked 2026-09-19 |
| Private governing documentsPrivate | HOA and condominium declarations, CC&Rs, rules, parking policies, leases and master-planned-community documents can prohibit or restrict short-term rentals, guest parking and amenity use regardless of any public license. No City, County or State page resolves this. Obtain the documents and any written determination before marketing. | Further verification needed |
Steps in order
The sequence the sources describe.
Generic order, not legal advice. Each step has its own form, its own clock and its own authority.
Confirm the jurisdiction
Look the parcel up with the County Assessor. Inside Scottsdale city limits, or not? That decides which local rule applies.
Register for state TPT
Get the Arizona TPT license through AZTaxes.gov. The City lists it as a prerequisite for its own license.
Register the rental with the County
Complete Maricopa County rental registration before the home is occupied. Name an Arizona statutory agent if you live out of state.
Apply for the City license
One annual license per property rented under 30 days. Then send the neighbor notice within the City's window and complete the insurance attestation.
Check the private documents
HOA, condominium, CC&R, lease and parking rules. Get any written determination before you market the home.
Post notices and confirm safety
Display the City's required notice inside the front door, confirm pool barriers where a pool or spa exists, and keep a 24-hour contact current.
Still needs address-level confirmation
- Whether the parcel is inside Scottsdale city limits, and its zoning.
- Existing license status, County registration status and TPT classification for this owner.
- Pool, spa, barrier and life-safety condition against the City's requirements.
- Every private restriction: rental use, minimum term, guest parking, amenity access.
- Any change to fees, forms, ordinances or tax treatment since 2026-09-19.
Applicability
- Information for Owners and Operators · City of Scottsdale. Checked 2026-09-19.
- Vacation and Short-Term Rentals · City of Scottsdale. Checked 2026-09-19.
- Short-Term Rental Resource Center · City of Scottsdale. Checked 2026-09-19.
- Rental Registration FAQ · Maricopa County Assessor. Checked 2026-09-19.
- Transaction Privilege Tax · Arizona Department of Revenue. Checked 2026-09-19.
- Short-Term Lodging · Arizona Department of Revenue. Checked 2026-09-19.
- These summaries describe the shape of each rule and link to the official page. They are educational, not legal, tax or insurance advice, and not a determination that a particular property may rent.
- A source check is not Casago business approval. Program availability and terms are confirmed for your property in the Owner Portal.
- The full six-question review, including area fit and amenities, is in the Scottsdale owner playbook.
Keep researching
More on Scottsdale, and the programs behind it.
Scottsdale rule questions
Do I need a Scottsdale license if I only rent for 30 nights or more?
The City's license requirement applies to properties offered for fewer than 30 days. Longer stays fall outside that definition, but County registration, state tax rules and your HOA still apply. Confirm the current City definition before relying on it.
Can my Scottsdale rental host a wedding or a large party?
No. The City states under Ordinance 4719 that short-term rentals are for residential use and may not operate as commercial event venues.
My HOA allows rentals. Do I still need the City license?
Yes. Public licensing and private permission are separate layers. An HOA cannot grant a City license, and a City license does not override a deed restriction.
Who enforces the rules, the County or the City?
The Assessor keeps the county rental registry but states that the incorporated municipality handles code enforcement. Inside city limits, that is the City of Scottsdale, whose Resource Center also shows license status.
Next step
See what your Scottsdale home could do.
Continue to the Owner Portal for a property-specific conversation. Prospective owners choose I'm considering the program. Existing owners sign in as an owner. Nothing about your home is sent from this page.
Casago Scottsdale, a DBA of Acme PHX Scottsdale AZ LLC · Judith D. Crane, Designated Broker · ADRE Broker License #BR625779000; Entity Lic #LC721288000.