Critical Finding
See whether the property can operate now, what blocks it, and which exception may apply.
Local guide
Tempe Short-Term Rental Laws
Tempe STR rules for 2026: $250 annual license, TPT, county registration, insurance, guest screening, tax, renewal, and official sources.
- 100+ U.S. cities
- Official sources
- Address used only for local rules
Compliance layers
A Clear Answer, Then a Path Forward.
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.
Decision rule
Tempe STR status: the answer first
Tempe requires an annual city short-term rental license for each property rented for fewer than 30 days. The standard annual fee is $250 per property, reduced to $187.50 for a license issued July 1 or later, and the license expires January 1.
The Tempe license applies only to property inside city limits. It sits on top of an Arizona TPT license and Maricopa County rental registration; none of those three records substitutes for the others.
Tempe identifies residential rentals for fewer than 30 days—including rooms, guest houses, apartments, condominiums, and corporate housing—as short-term rentals subject to the city license.
Annual city license required
Allowed after the Tempe license, Arizona TPT, county registration, insurance, and contact duties are complete.
Warning
What is materially different in Tempe
These are the local facts that change eligibility, cost, or workflow.
- Annual fee
- $250, or $187.50 if issued July 1 or laterThe fee is per property or unit and non-refundable.
- Insurance
- At least $500,000 liability coveragePlatform coverage may qualify when it meets the city threshold.
- Guest screening
- Booking guest check within 24 hours before every stayUse the national sex-offender website and retain the result for 12 months unless the platform performs the qualifying check.
- Emergency response
- 30 minutes for dispatched public-safety complaintsNon-emergency complaints require response within 24 hours.
- Tax rate published by city
- 14.07% combinedTempe lists 1.8% hotel, 5.0% additional hotel, and 7.27% state/county.
Address and property eligibility
Complete these checks before paying a non-refundable fee or accepting a reservation.
Eligibility gate 1
Confirm the parcel is within Tempe and the stay offered is fewer than 30 days.
RequiredEligibility gate 2
Register the rental with the Maricopa County Assessor; Tempe publishes a $1,000 penalty for failure to do so.
RequiredEligibility gate 3
Check HOA, deed, lease, building, and property-use restrictions separately.
Required
Required approvals and records
Keep each account or approval separate so one receipt is not mistaken for full authorization.
- Arizona TPT license
- Use Tempe region code TE, county code MAR, and the applicable lodging business codes.
- County registration
- Upload proof of Maricopa County Assessor rental registration.
- Insurance
- Upload proof of $500,000 coverage or qualifying platform coverage.
- Tempe license
- Apply per property, pay the applicable annual fee, and renew by December 31.
A workable Tempe compliance sequence
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.
Confirm the address and rental period
Document that the property is inside Tempe and the proposed stays are under 30 days.
Complete state and county prerequisites
Obtain TPT and Maricopa County rental registration records first.
Prepare insurance and contacts
Collect the $500,000 coverage evidence and owner, designee, and 24-hour emergency-contact details.
Submit the Tempe license
Use the city licensing workflow and pay $250 or the published post-July 1 amount.
Notify neighbors after approval
Send the license number and emergency-contact information to the required nearby properties or same-floor units.
Build the stay-level screening record
Run and retain the required guest check unless the booking platform performs it under the ordinance.
Lodging tax and marketplace handling
Treat registration, collection, filing, and marketplace reporting as separate checks.
Tempe publishes a 14.07% combined lodging rate: 1.8% city hotel tax, 5.0% city additional hotel tax, and 7.27% Arizona/Maricopa transient lodging tax. Marketplace-only operators still need a TPT license and the city instructs them to report gross receipts with the applicable online-marketplace deduction.
Collection and filing are different duties
Record who collects each tax on each channel, who files the return, and what evidence supports exemptions or marketplace deductions.
Warning
Operating rules and enforcement exposure
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.
Operating control 1
Display the Tempe license number on every advertisement.
RequiredOperating control 2
Keep the 24-hour contact available and meet the city’s complaint-response windows.
RequiredOperating control 3
Complete the booking-guest screening no later than 24 hours before each stay and retain evidence for 12 months when the platform does not perform it.
RequiredOperating control 4
Maintain $500,000 liability coverage and guest compliance with noise, nuisance, parking, occupancy, and trash rules.
Required
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally start a new short-term rental in Tempe?
Allowed after the Tempe license, Arizona TPT, county registration, insurance, and contact duties are complete. The Tempe license applies only to property inside city limits. It sits on top of an Arizona TPT license and Maricopa County rental registration; none of those three records substitutes for the others.
What is the first Tempe requirement to verify?
Confirm the parcel is within Tempe and the stay offered is fewer than 30 days.
What does the local short-term rental license cost?
$250, or $187.50 if issued July 1 or later. The fee is per property or unit and non-refundable.
Does a booking platform finish the tax work for a Tempe host?
Tempe publishes a 14.07% combined lodging rate: 1.8% city hotel tax, 5.0% city additional hotel tax, and 7.27% Arizona/Maricopa transient lodging tax. Marketplace-only operators still need a TPT license and the city instructs them to report gross receipts with the applicable online-marketplace deduction. Verify every channel rather than assuming platform collection closes the owner account.
When should the Tempe STR rules be checked again?
Tempe's official sources were checked on August 11, 2026 and this city guide is scheduled for review by 2026-11-09. Recheck sooner after a local notice, court decision, fee change, ownership change, or portal update.