Guide · Cost to run
What it costs to run a Scottsdale short-term rental.
Scottsdale's license fee is low and the city does not cap permits. The costs that add up are the stacked lodging taxes, the insurance and the penalties for missing a step.
The short answer
Four numbers to know
| City license | $250 a year per property Applies to rentals under 30 days. The city says the fee goes entirely to licensing costs. |
|---|---|
| Lodging taxes | About 13.97% combined State, Maricopa County and two Scottsdale taxes stack. A zero return is due even in months with no bookings. |
| Insurance | At least $500,000 liability Can be held directly or through an online booking platform. |
| Unlicensed penalty | $1,000 minimum for a first offense A second offense is a misdemeanor with a $2,000 minimum. |
Fixed cost
What the license costs
The columns show how many booked nights, at an example nightly rate before tax, cover the license (examples, not forecasts).
| Item | Amount | Nights at $150 | Nights at $250 | Nights at $400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual license, per property | $250 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
Source: City of Scottsdale information for owners and operators, page last updated July 31, 2026, read October 7, 2026. Not included: the Arizona transaction privilege tax license, Maricopa County registration, insurance premiums, pool barrier work and required notices.
Guest-paid, but it shapes your price
The tax stack on a stay
An illustration: 3 nights at $300 is a $900 rental price. At the combined rate, tax comes to about $125.73.
| Tax | Rate | On the $900 example |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona state transaction privilege tax (lodging) | 5.5% | $49.50 |
| Maricopa County | 1.77% | $15.93 |
| Scottsdale hotel/motel transaction privilege tax | 1.7% | $15.30 |
| Scottsdale additional transient lodging tax | 5.0% | $45.00 |
| Total | 13.97% | $125.73 |
This is a simplified illustration on the base rental price. Scottsdale lists its own two taxes at 1.7% and 5.0%; the state and county parts come from Arizona Department of Revenue rate tables and can change each July 1, so confirm them before you price. Platforms such as Airbnb may collect some of these taxes on their bookings. List Scottsdale as a region code on your state tax license.
The steps
What you need before the first guest
| 1. State tax license | Arizona TPT license first You need the number to apply for the city license. |
|---|---|
| 2. City license | $250, one per property Plus neighbor notice within 30 days of getting it, with a 24-hour emergency contact. |
| 3. County registration | Maricopa County Assessor It is illegal to rent before the property is registered. |
| 4. On-site notice and rules | Posted notice, pool barriers, no commercial events Occupancy is capped at six adults, and repeat violations can lead to suspension. |
Full sourced rules, with evidence for each line, are on the Scottsdale market page. The Phoenix page shows how a neighboring city compares.
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