Scottsdale is one of the most established short-term rental markets in the Southwest, driven by golf, spring training, bachelorette weekends and winter visitors escaping the cold. Arizona law stops cities from banning rentals outright, so Scottsdale regulates through licensing, neighbor notice and enforcement instead. Most homes here have pools, which shapes the kind of help hosts need.
As of 2026, every Scottsdale property rented for less than 30 days needs an annual city short-term rental license, which the city lists at $250 per property per year. Within 30 days of getting the license, you must notify adjacent neighbors, homes directly and diagonally across the street, and same-floor units in multifamily buildings, giving them the license number and a 24-hour emergency contact. You must carry at least $500,000 in liability coverage, either directly or through the booking platform. The city says one of its most common complaints is emergency contacts who do not respond, so pick someone who actually answers the phone.
You also need an Arizona transaction privilege tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue, listing Scottsdale as the region. Scottsdale adds a 5% transient lodging tax on top of the city's privilege tax and the state and Maricopa County rates. Arizona requires online lodging marketplaces to collect these taxes for bookings they process, and Airbnb lists Arizona and Scottsdale among its collection areas, but direct bookings remain your job. State legislators considered a bill in 2026 that would have given cities more power to limit occupancy, but it did not pass, so watch for changes in 2027.
We did not find a published Scottsdale price survey, so collect at least two written quotes. For reference, HomeGuide's national ranges run about $175 to $275 for a four bedroom home and $250 to $400 or more for five bedrooms and up, and many Scottsdale rentals are large homes marketed to groups. Expect quotes to reflect laundry volume for big groups, desert dust and monsoon grime on patios, and outdoor areas like grills and putting greens. Pool service is usually a separate contract.
Peak season runs roughly January through April. The WM Phoenix Open in February and Cactus League spring training in late February and March are the busiest stretches. Summer brings extreme heat and much lower demand, and the monsoon season usually runs July through September. Book turnover crews for spring training before the new year, and use summer to deep clean, service AC units and refresh pool furniture.
No. As of 2026, Arizona law prevents cities from prohibiting short-term rentals, but Scottsdale can require a license and penalize repeat violations.
Yes. The city short-term rental license and the state TPT license are separate, and you need both before hosting.
Within 30 days of receiving your city license, with your license number and 24-hour emergency contact.
Sources:
Part of the same family as WelcomeScreen and Valdra