Legal Status
Short-term rentals are allowed in Mesa, but the deeded owner must obtain a City license for each qualifying rental unit before operating.
Mesa applies its license to residential stays of 29 days or fewer, including individual rooms in an owner-occupied home. Arizona law supplies the statewide framework, while Mesa City Code Chapter 5-15 supplies the local process.
First confirm the property is actually within Mesa. A USPS Mesa address can be located on a Maricopa County island and therefore fall outside the City license program.
Mesa Rules at a Glance
- Legal status
- Allowed with city license
- Covered stays
- 29 days or fewer
- Applicant
- Deeded property owner
- Initial / renewal fee
- $250 per unit
- License term
- One year
- Renewal deadline
- At least 45 days before expiration
- Arizona TPT license
- Required for each location
- Neighbor notice
- Required; retain delivery proof
Confirm Eligibility & Jurisdiction
Check Explore Mesa
RequiredConfirm the address is inside City limits and is not on a Maricopa County island.
Confirm ownership
RequiredOnly the deeded owner can receive the Mesa STR license.
Review HOA rules
RequiredCheck applicable CC&Rs or association rules independently of the City license.
A Mesa mailing address is not enough
Use the City map before paying the fee. County-island properties are outside Mesa jurisdiction even when USPS lists Mesa as the city.
Too many license, tax, and notice steps?
Let Pine organize the Mesa requirements into one property-specific checklist.
You’ll continue in Pine to review the checklist and add property details. Final government submissions remain under your control.
License Process
- 1
Verify the property and HOA status
Resolve jurisdiction and private-use restrictions before preparing an application.
- 2
Prepare TPT and contact records
List every rental location on the Arizona TPT license and gather owner, statutory-agent, and emergency-contact details.
- 3
Apply through DIMES
Choose the single- or multiple-rental-unit application, enter the property details, review the acknowledgements, and pay the fee.
- 4
Complete neighbor notification
After receiving the license number, send the required notice and retain a copy and delivery proof.
Documents & Neighbor Notice
Valid Arizona TPT license showing each Mesa rental unit
RequiredThe current license must list every Mesa rental unit included in the city application.
Owner contact information
RequiredUse the deeded owner’s current legal and contact information.
Statutory-agent information, when applicable
Provide this record when the ownership structure requires a statutory agent.
Designated emergency-contact information
RequiredUse a monitored 24-hour contact who can respond to complaints and emergencies.
Property deed or title, if the City cannot independently verify ownership
Conditional evidence requested only when Licensing staff cannot verify ownership independently.
At least $500,000 in liability coverage or qualifying marketplace coverage
RequiredMaintain the state-required coverage or qualifying online-marketplace protection.
Neighbor notice containing the Mesa license number, rental address, and emergency contact
RequiredKeep the exact written notice and delivery evidence in the property record.
Mesa does not publish a mandatory notice form
Build a written notice containing the license number, rental address, and emergency contact. The City may request the notice copies and delivery evidence within 10 calendar days.
Taxes & County Registration
A valid Arizona TPT license is required for the Mesa license, and each Mesa rental unit must appear as a location. Short-term lodging remains taxable even though Arizona ended city TPT on residential stays of 30 days or more in 2025.
Mesa directs transient-lodging activity through ADOR using region code ME and the applicable lodging business-class codes. Residential rental registration with the Maricopa County Assessor is a separate property-record step.
Marketplace tax collection does not replace licensing
An online lodging marketplace may remit TPT for marketplace bookings, but Mesa still requires the property owner to maintain the TPT and city license records.
Renewal & Changes
Mesa sends a courtesy reminder, but the licensee remains responsible for filing on time. A missed 45-day deadline requires a new application rather than a late renewal.
- License term
- One year from issuance
- Renewal fee
- $250 per unit
- Submission deadline
- At least 45 days before expiration
- Transferability
- Not transferable to a new owner or location
Operating Compliance & Enforcement
Keep the owner and emergency-contact information current, retain the neighbor-notice record, maintain the required liability coverage, and follow generally applicable health, safety, nuisance, and property rules.
The city license is property- and owner-specific. Operating without it or continuing after a qualifying license action can lead to enforcement under Mesa City Code and Arizona law.
Sources
Review the Mesa licensing page, City Code, DIMES instructions, tax guidance, and county registration record used for this guide.
- 1A.R.S. § 9-500.39 — Vacation and short-term rental regulation
Arizona State Legislature
State-law limits on local STR regulation, permitted licensing requirements, neighbor notice, insurance, prohibited uses, and civil penalties.
- 2Short-Term Rental License
City of Mesa Licensing Office
Current Mesa licensing requirements, jurisdiction check, documents, $250 fee, annual renewal, neighbor notice, and contact information.
- 3Mesa City Code, Title 5, Chapter 15 — Short-Term Rentals
City of Mesa
Codified Mesa provisions for the STR license, application, emergency contact, neighbor notification, renewal, and enforcement.
- 4Explore Mesa Jurisdiction Map
City of Mesa
City mapping tool used to confirm whether an address is inside Mesa rather than another city or a Maricopa County island.
- 5DIMES Online Application Portal
City of Mesa
City-designated portal for Mesa short-term rental license applications and renewals.
- 6How to Apply for a Short-Term Rental License in DIMES
City of Mesa Licensing Office
Official illustrated DIMES guide covering account access, application type, address, owner and emergency-contact fields, acknowledgements, review, payment, and status tracking.
- 7Short-Term Lodging
Arizona Department of Revenue
TPT guidance for stays under 30 days, licensing, online lodging marketplaces, filing, and county rental registration.
- 8Transient Lodging Tax
City of Mesa
Mesa guidance for transient lodging tax reporting through ADOR, including region and business-class codes and the current city rate components.
- 9Rental Registration Frequently Asked Questions
Maricopa County Assessor’s Office
Guidance for registering a residential rental, checking registration status, and appointing a statutory agent when required.
Your Mesa STR Action Plan
Keep the city license, tax, county, insurance, notice, and renewal work in one property record.
Resolve the jurisdiction first
Save the City-limit result before starting a paid application.
Build one record per rental unit
Keep TPT, ownership, insurance, contacts, notice, license, and renewal evidence together.
Calendar the 45-day renewal point
Do not rely only on the courtesy reminder email.
Build a property-specific Mesa STR plan
Enter the address and Pine will organize jurisdiction, license, TPT, county, notice, insurance, and renewal work.
You’ll continue in Pine to review the checklist and add property details. Final government submissions remain under your control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are short-term rentals legal in Mesa?
Yes. A deeded owner may operate a qualifying STR after completing the Mesa license and the applicable Arizona, county, tax, notice, and operating requirements.
How much is a Mesa STR license?
Mesa lists a non-refundable $250 application fee per rental unit and a $250 annual renewal fee.
Does every Mesa mailing address need the city license?
No. A property on a Maricopa County island is outside Mesa jurisdiction even if the postal address says Mesa. Confirm the address in Explore Mesa.
When should a Mesa STR license be renewed?
The completed renewal and $250 fee must reach the Licensing office at least 45 days before the current license expires.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Regulations and agency procedures can change. Confirm the current requirement with the linked government office before operating or submitting an application.