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Local guide

Short-Term Rental Laws in Flagstaff, Arizona

Understand Flagstaff STR laws, the $250 annual license, neighbor notice, TPT, insurance, guest screening, fire safety, renewal, and July 2026 changes.

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Compliance layers

A Clear Answer, Then a Path Forward.

Critical Finding

See whether the property can operate now, what blocks it, and which exception may apply.

Address Context

Confirm zoning, current land use, jurisdiction, and the rules that actually govern the address.

Required Approvals

Get the permits, licenses, documents, inspections, and tax registrations needed before launch.

Recommended Path

Follow prioritized next steps, deadlines, renewal duties, and viable alternatives when rules change.

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

    Confirm the structure is approved as a dwelling before listing or remodeling it for transient use.

    Required

  • Newer ADU status

    If 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.

    Required

  • HOA and private rules

    Review applicable CC&Rs separately because the City does not enforce the association’s rental rules.

    Required

  • Residential use only

    Do not market the STR as an event venue, restaurant, retail space, banquet hall, or similar nonresidential use.

    Required

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

    Place the City notice within 10 feet of the primary entrance with the emergency contact, license number, parking, fire, waste, and prohibited-use information.

    Required

  • Display the license number

    Include the Flagstaff STR license number in every advertisement.

    Required

  • Screen the booking guest

    Run 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.

    Required

  • Maintain safety equipment

    Keep smoke alarms, applicable CO detectors, a 2-A:10-B:C extinguisher, and exit paths in the required condition.

    Required

  • Respond to fire restrictions

    At Stage 2 or higher, remove, disable, or lock qualifying open-flame devices; monitor when use can resume.

    Required

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.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Each qualifying property needs an annual City STR license and must meet the current state, tax, county, notice, safety, and operating requirements.

The annual non-refundable license fee is $250 as of July 1, 2026.

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.

The owner or designee must check the booking guest no later than 24 hours before each stay and retain the record for 12 months, unless the online marketplace performs the required check.