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Scottsdale Approves Short-Term Rental Ordinance

By October 28, 2022January 18th, 2023No Comments

By Melissa Rosequist | Daily Independent

Owners and operators of short-term rentals within the city of Scottsdale have until Jan. 8, 2023, to register for a license to operate.

The new date comes after Scottsdale City Council unanimously adopted an updated ordinance Oct. 25 for its short-term rentals ordinance to better align with new state laws.

In September, Assistant City Manager Brent Stockwell and council held a study session meeting on the new short-term rental ordinance, which set the proposed license date to be Dec. 24. However, the deadline to apply for a license was extended 15 days, to Jan. 8, based on feedback. It allows additional time for applications to be received and processed by city staff after the holidays.

The resurgence in short-term rental policy changes comes after the Arizona Legislature approved Senate Bill 1168 last spring. That law gave municipalities more guardrails to regulate the properties.

SB 1168 became effective Sept. 24, and it allows local governments to require short-term rentals to obtain and maintain a local regulatory permit or license, which can be denied or suspended for limited reasons.

Stockwell has led the charge on crafting the city’s short-term rental ordinance. The process included a 12-member working group that met during 2021.

Stockwell estimates there are about 4,300 short-term rental properties currently operating in Scottsdale.

On Oct. 25, Stockwell walked council through the new ordinance up for approval, including having various members of city departments speak to the need for certain provisions — such as trash collection, recycling and public safety.

The newly approved Scottsdale ordinance includes requirements for a regulatory license, public health and safety, trash and garbage and life safety purposes.

The regulatory license requirement goes into effect Jan. 8, 2023, and applies to all short-term rentals in Scottsdale.

“All short-term rentals will have to have a license to operate in the city; they will have to cease operating if they do not have a license,” Stockwell said.

The city’s application portal is anticipated to be ready for short-term rental operators on Monday, Nov. 28.

A license fee is set at $250, and city staff is to review and approve licenses within seven days.

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