Legal Status
Short-term rentals are allowed in Flagstaff, but a separate annual City license is required for each property before it is advertised or rented.
The rental must be a legally permitted dwelling unit. Ordinary homes, one-to-four-unit properties, condominiums, townhouses, guest houses, and rooms can qualify; unapproved accessory structures, tents, campers, and RVs do not.
Flagstaff updated Chapter 3-12 effective July 1, 2026. The current program adds insurance, booking-guest screening, fire-safety, posting, notice, and property-use requirements to the license workflow.
Flagstaff Rules at a Glance
- Legal status
- Allowed with annual city license
- License fee
- $250 per property
- City review
- 7 business days after a complete application
- Liability coverage
- $500,000 minimum or qualifying marketplace coverage
- Guest screening
- No later than 24 hours before each stay
- Neighbor notice
- Before first rental and after contact changes
- Emergency response
- Available by phone/text or on-site within 60 minutes when police request it
- License term
- One year
Confirm the Property Is Eligible
Legal dwelling status
RequiredConfirm the structure is approved as a dwelling before listing or remodeling it for transient use.
Newer ADU status
RequiredIf an ADU received a certificate of occupancy on or after September 14, 2024, confirm that the owner resides on the property as a primary residence.
HOA and private rules
RequiredReview applicable CC&Rs separately because the City does not enforce the association’s rental rules.
Residential use only
RequiredDo not market the STR as an event venue, restaurant, retail space, banquet hall, or similar nonresidential use.
The 2026 rules added more recurring work.
Let Pine separate one-time licensing from every-stay screening, fire-safety, notice, and renewal checks.
You’ll continue in Pine to review the checklist and add property details. Final government submissions remain under your control.
License Process
- 1
Obtain the Arizona TPT license
Make sure the TPT record is active and includes the Flagstaff property location.
- 2
Prepare neighbor-notice recipients
Identify adjacent, across, diagonal, and same-floor recipients and record the written delivery method.
- 3
Submit the online application
Provide the owner, designee, emergency contact, TPT, notice-plan, lawful-presence, and required attestation information.
- 4
Complete City review and payment
After review, use the secure payment link to pay $250; the City then emails the license after payment is confirmed.
- 5
Finish pre-rental setup
Notify neighbors, post the license and interior notice, publish the license number, and complete insurance and safety setup.
Operating Requirements After Licensing
Post the interior notice
RequiredPlace the City notice within 10 feet of the primary entrance with the emergency contact, license number, parking, fire, waste, and prohibited-use information.
Display the license number
RequiredInclude the Flagstaff STR license number in every advertisement.
Screen the booking guest
RequiredRun the required NSOPW check no later than 24 hours before the stay and retain the record for 12 months, unless the marketplace performs the check.
Maintain safety equipment
RequiredKeep smoke alarms, applicable CO detectors, a 2-A:10-B:C extinguisher, and exit paths in the required condition.
Respond to fire restrictions
RequiredAt Stage 2 or higher, remove, disable, or lock qualifying open-flame devices; monitor when use can resume.
Taxes & County Registration
The Flagstaff application requires the Arizona TPT license number and location code when applicable. Owners must ensure that direct or marketplace bookings are reported and remitted under current ADOR instructions.
Residential rental registration with the Coconino County Assessor is separate from the City STR license. The County’s notification form records the owner, property, and Arizona statutory agent when required.
Renewal & Record Changes
Use the online license account to renew and keep owner, designee, emergency-contact, TPT, notice, and property information current. Review the safety and posting requirements again before the next rental.
- License term
- One year from issuance
- Renewal fee
- $250
- Transferability
- Nontransferable and nonassignable
- Emergency contact change
- New neighbor notice within 10 days
Enforcement & Penalties
An unlicensed STR must cease operating. If the owner does not apply within 30 days after written notice, Chapter 3-12 authorizes a $1,000 monthly civil penalty in addition to other penalties.
A denial or suspension notice has a 10-calendar-day appeal window. An appeal does not automatically stay a suspension.
Violation level 1
First verified violation within 12 months: $500 enhanced civil penalty.
Violation level 2
Second verified violation within 12 months: $1,000 enhanced civil penalty.
Violation level 3
Third and later verified violations within 12 months: $3,500 enhanced civil penalty.
Changes Effective July 1, 2026
$250 annual fee
The former $185 fee increased to $250.
Insurance and guest screening
Coverage and booking-guest background-check duties now appear in Chapter 3-12.
Fire-safety package
Specific alarm, detector, extinguisher, egress, and Stage 2 fire-restriction duties took effect.
Updated posting and notice
The interior notice and neighbor-notification rules were revised.
Newer-ADU owner occupancy
The primary-residence condition applies when the property contains a qualifying newer ADU.
Sources
Review the current Flagstaff program page, Chapter 3-12, 2026 update, official portal, Arizona tax guidance, and Coconino County form 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 Rentals
City of Flagstaff Management Services
Current Flagstaff prerequisites, neighbor notice, application review sequence, $250 payment, annual renewal, and official portal links.
- 3Flagstaff City Code, Chapter 3-12 — Short-Term Rentals
City of Flagstaff
Current codified license, notice, insurance, background-check, safety, suspension, penalty, and hearing requirements, including Ordinance 2026-11.
- 4Short-Term Rental Ordinance Updates
City of Flagstaff
City summary of the July 1, 2026 fee, insurance, background-check, fire-safety, posting, notice, ADU, and prohibited-use changes.
- 5Flagstaff Short-Term Rental License Portal
City of Flagstaff
City-designated portal for new Flagstaff STR applications, account access, and renewals.
- 6Short-Term Lodging
Arizona Department of Revenue
TPT guidance for stays under 30 days, licensing, online lodging marketplaces, filing, and county rental registration.
- 7Residential Rental Notification Form
Coconino County Assessor’s Office
County Assessor form and statutory instructions for registering a residential rental property and recording an Arizona statutory agent when required.
Your Flagstaff STR Action Plan
Separate one-time licensing work from requirements that repeat for every stay, every renewal, or changing fire conditions.
Separate application from operations
Create one license packet plus recurring stay, safety, notice, and fire-status checklists.
Track the 2026 requirements explicitly
Do not reuse a pre-July 2026 checklist without adding insurance, screening, safety, and posting updates.
Keep evidence by property and stay
Store license, TPT, county, notice, safety, insurance, and guest-screening records with clear dates.
Build a property-specific Flagstaff STR plan
Enter the address and Pine will organize license, TPT, notice, insurance, safety, screening, 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 Flagstaff?
Yes. Each qualifying property needs an annual City STR license and must meet the current state, tax, county, notice, safety, and operating requirements.
How much is a Flagstaff STR license?
The annual non-refundable license fee is $250 as of July 1, 2026.
Does Flagstaff require an owner to live at the property?
Not for every STR. The primary-residence requirement applies when the property contains an ADU with a City certificate of occupancy issued on or after September 14, 2024.
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.