Scottsdale Short-Term Rental License and Tax Rules
The licenses, registration and lodging taxes every Scottsdale vacation rental needs, in the order you need them.
Licensing and taxes
Published November 1, 2026 · By Ramin Roudi, Founder and Designated Broker
Short-term rentals are legal in Scottsdale, and Arizona law keeps it that way. Cities cannot ban them, cap the nights you rent, or require you to live in the home. What Scottsdale does require is a license, and the paperwork has an order to it. Here is everything an owner needs, step by step.
1
Get your Arizona TPT license first
The state Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license comes from the Arizona Department of Revenue, one for each rental property. Get it first, because the city application asks for the number.
Arizona also requires the TPT license number on every listing and ad for the home.
2
Register the home with the Maricopa County Assessor
Every rental in Maricopa County, short-term or long-term, must be registered with the County Assessor under A.R.S. 33-1902.
It is done online at mcassessor.maricopa.gov. Look up your parcel and choose Register Rental.
3
Apply for the City of Scottsdale license
Any home rented for less than 30 consecutive days needs its own Scottsdale short-term rental license under Ordinance 4566.
The fee is $250 per property per year, and the license renews every year. You apply through the city's online short-term rental portal.
4
Notify neighbors and carry the right insurance
Once licensed, the city requires a neighbor notification letter showing the license number, the rental's address, and the name, address and 24-hour phone number of your emergency contact.
State law also requires at least $500,000 in liability coverage for the rental, or booking through a platform that provides equal or greater coverage.
5
Post the notice and keep a 24/7 contact
Scottsdale requires a Short Term Rental Notice, generated from the city's portal, displayed inside the home.
You also need a local emergency contact who answers around the clock. If that contact changes, update the city license and let your neighbors know.
6
Check your pool, spa and cameras
Homes with a pool, hot tub or spa must meet Scottsdale's barrier requirements for short-term rentals.
Security cameras are allowed, but the city has rules to protect guest privacy. Confirm both before your first booking.
7
Know the lodging tax: 13.97% in Scottsdale
Guests pay lodging tax on top of the rent, reported on three lines. In Scottsdale it adds up to 13.97%: 7.27% Arizona state and Maricopa County transient lodging tax (code 025), 1.70% City of Scottsdale Hotels tax (code 044), and 5.00% City of Scottsdale Hotel/Motel additional tax (code 144).
Scottsdale's general rate dropped from 1.75% to 1.70% on July 1, 2025, so older guides that show 14.02% are out of date.
8
Know who files the tax
Airbnb and Vrbo collect and pay Arizona TPT on bookings made through their sites, and give you a certificate (ADOR Form 5018) saying so.
Direct bookings, and channels that do not collect, are reported on your own TPT license on the filing schedule ADOR assigns. Keep your license active even if every booking comes through Airbnb.
9
Follow the rules once you are open
Scottsdale fines unlawful gatherings and nuisance parties at $1,000. Under state law, three verified violations in 12 months can lead a city to suspend a short-term rental license.
Stays of 30 days or longer do not need the city short-term rental license, but the home still needs its county registration.
10
Watch the State Capitol
Bills to give cities more control over short-term rentals, and a proposed $3.50 nightly fee, came up in the 2026 legislative session. The main occupancy bill stalled in the Senate and did not pass.
The rules above are current as of November 2026, and we will update this guide when they change.
What Sway handles for you
Every Sway home gets its state TPT license, county registration and city license set up and renewed for you, and we file the lodging tax returns. You get one owner statement and payment on the 10th of each month.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the City of Scottsdale, the Arizona Department of Revenue or your CPA. More answers on our owner FAQ.
Sources:City of Scottsdale, Information for Owners and Operators · City of Scottsdale, Taxes · Arizona Department of Revenue, Scottsdale tax rates · Arizona Department of Revenue, Short-Term Lodging · Maricopa County Assessor
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