November 2026
 

Make holiday visits safe and neighbor-friendly 

With the holidays around the corner, Scottsdale encourages short-term rental owners and guests to understand and follow the city’s requirements. Whether hosting visitors or staying in a vacation rental, knowing the rules helps create a safe, enjoyable experience and supports the surrounding community. For information on permits, occupancy limits and other requirements for holiday rentals, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “vacation and short-term rentals.”

Keep short-term rentals clean and collection-ready 

Short-term rental owners and property managers are responsible for providing enough trash and recycling capacity for guest use and keeping waste from accumulating around the property. If containers regularly overflow, consider purchasing additional containers and paying the applicable monthly service fees based on the property’s size and occupancy. All waste must fit inside the appropriate container with the lid closed; trash, boxes and other materials left outside containers are not collected through regular service and may result in additional dumping and collection fees.  

Make sure someone reliably puts containers out on the correct collection day and returns them after service, and routinely check the property, especially after guest checkout, to prevent excess waste, odors and litter. Keep trash out of recycling containers, and make sure cardboard is empty, flattened and broken down before recycling; recycling should not be used as extra trash capacity. Clearly label containers and provide guests with basic disposal instructions, including where to place waste and what belongs in each container. 

For Solid Waste service information, additional container options and recycling guidelines, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “Solid Waste.” 
 

Protect guests and your property: Security camera guidelines 

Scottsdale allows cameras at short-term rental properties for safety and security, but there are important rules to protect guest privacy. Cameras must be clearly disclosed in rental listings, cannot be placed inside sleeping areas or bathrooms, and should only monitor permitted spaces like entrances or common areas. Following these guidelines helps hosts maintain trust, ensures guest comfort, and keeps your rental in compliance with city regulations. 

Stay ready to respond to short-term rental complaints and emergencies 

Scottsdale short-term rental owners must designate an emergency contact who is reachable by phone or email 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for both complaints and emergencies. Under Ordinance No. 4720, which took effect in September, the 24/7 reachability requirement now applies to complaints involving unlawful rental activity, disturbances, excessive noise or other disruptive activity, in addition to emergencies. When Scottsdale public safety personnel request an in-person response for an emergency, including a nuisance party or unlawful gathering, the designated contact must respond within one hour; an in-person response is not required for complaints alone.  

Owners are responsible for keeping their emergency contact information current with the city. Failure to maintain a reachable contact or meet response requirements may result in civil penalties of $250 to $1,000 per violation, while failing to provide current contact information may result in an administrative fine of up to $1,000 for each 30-day period. Owners can review requirements or update their emergency contact information at ScottsdaleAZ.gov by searching “short-term rentals” or by contacting Scottsdale Code Compliance at 480-312-2546.
 

Resources 

• Update a Scottsdale short-term/vacation rental license 

• Update a Neighborhood Notification & Liability Insurance Compliance Attestation 

• Scottsdale's Short Term Resource Center map 

• A Good Neighbor Guide for Scottsdale Visitors (PDF) 

• A Good Neighbor Guide for Owners and Managers of Short-Term Properties in Scottsdale (PDF) 

• Hiker Safety Card (PDF) 

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