Confirm the Property
Verify the address, jurisdiction, property type, eligibility rules, and private restrictions.
Before you list
Tempe Short-Term Rental License
How to get a Tempe STR license: prerequisites, $250 fee, application steps, success checks, renewal, corrections, and official city sources.
- Property eligibility
- Official sources
- You control every submission
Approval path
One Property, One Ordered Path from Requirements to Renewal.
Prepare the Required Records
Bring the host, ownership, residence, tax, insurance, and supporting records into one file.
Follow 5 Ordered Stages
Work through the government sequence, then retain the submitted record and confirmation.
Verify and Maintain
Confirm the issued approval, publish required details, and track taxes, changes, and renewal.
Do this first
Outcome and first blocking condition
A complete Tempe license file combines four things that are easy to confuse: the TPT account, county rental registration, insurance evidence, and the city application. Approval then triggers neighbor notice and an ongoing stay-level screening record.
Expected outcome: a property-specific record that satisfies the current Tempe workflow and is ready for the operating controls listed below.
First blocking condition: Confirm the parcel is within Tempe and the stay offered is fewer than 30 days.
Annual city license required
Allowed after the Tempe license, Arizona TPT, county registration, insurance, and contact duties are complete.
Warning
Prerequisites to collect before filing
Use the same legal owner name and property address across every record.
Arizona TPT license with the Tempe rental location and applicable codes
RequiredMaricopa County Assessor rental-registration proof
RequiredProof of at least $500,000 liability coverage
RequiredOwner, designee, and 24-hour emergency-contact information
RequiredProperty/unit details and intended operating date
Required
How to complete the Tempe workflow
Each step includes a visible success result and a correction path.
Resolve the property record
Confirm the Tempe address, unit, legal owner, and under-30-day rental model. Success: All prerequisite records use the same owner and address. If blocked: Correct parcel, unit, or ownership mismatches before paying the city fee.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Finish TPT and county registration
Create the Arizona tax location and obtain the Maricopa County rental-registration proof. Success: Both prerequisite records are available for upload. If blocked: If a primary-residence exception is claimed at the county level, retain the evidence supporting it.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Assemble insurance and contact evidence
Document qualifying coverage and name the owner, designees, and 24-hour emergency contact. Success: The coverage amount and policy/platform evidence are current. If blocked: If platform coverage is relied on, confirm it applies to every channel used.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Submit and pay the Tempe application
Use the city license process and pay the fee applicable to the issue date. Success: The city returns an active license number. If blocked: If the application is incomplete, respond to the named item; do not advertise while review is pending.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot Complete post-approval duties
Notify required neighbors, place the license number on listings, and create the pre-stay guest-screening workflow. Success: Notice proof, listing screenshots, and screening records are retained. If blocked: If a marketplace performs screening, document that platform coverage before treating the city step as waived.
Official portal screenshot Official portal screenshot
What to maintain after approval or registration
Tempe publishes penalties up to $1,000 per month for operating without a license or failing to provide emergency-contact information. Three verified violations in 12 months—or one serious infraction—can support a suspension of up to 12 months; the city gives a 10-business-day appeal window for a denial or penalty.
Renew by December 31 because the license expires January 1
RequiredRetain each booking-guest screening record for 12 months when owner-performed
RequiredTest emergency-contact coverage for both the 30-minute and 24-hour response windows
Required
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit the Tempe short-term rental license before checking the address?
No. Confirm the parcel is within Tempe and the stay offered is fewer than 30 days. A submitted form or payment does not cure a jurisdiction or property-eligibility problem.
What is the clearest sign that the Tempe filing succeeded?
Notice proof, listing screenshots, and screening records are retained.
What should I do if the Tempe filing is returned?
Keep the same Tempe application record, correct the specific mismatch the agency identified, and retain the response. The first known blocker for this workflow is: Correct parcel, unit, or ownership mismatches before paying the city fee.
When should I recheck the Tempe short-term rental license instructions?
Recheck Tempe's instructions before payment, launch, and renewal. This short-term rental license workflow was verified on August 11, 2026 and is scheduled for review by 2026-11-09.