Arizona cities are using a new state law to crack down on short-term rentals like Airbnb

Several towns in the Valley are taking advantage of a new state law that allows them to place restrictions on short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo.

• Governor Doug Ducey signed the legislation in July and came into force two months ago.

Driving the news: Mesa, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale enacted new short-term rental regulations in the past month. Tempe held public meetings last week to seek input on a proposal its city council is considering.

Details: The law allows municipalities to crack down on short-term rentals used as party homes.

• Cities can now require owners of short-term rentals to be licensed, for a one-time fee of up to $250, and to have liability insurance of at least $500,000.
• Landlords must notify their neighbors before offering their properties for short-term rental.
• Permits can be suspended for up to 12 months for three health, safety, noise, nuisance or other violations in a one-year period, and fined for lesser violations. They can also be suspended for criminal activity.

Why is this important: Short-term rentals are hugely popular and important for tourism, but the failure of cities to regulate them or crack down on bad actors was problematic and fueled opposition in some cities.

Yes, but: Scottsdale officials told the Arizona Republic the law is still don’t give them the authority they need effectively regulate the industry.

To note : Arizona hosts the Super Bowl in February and countless Valley residents are should help meet the demand to find accommodation by renting their properties.

Catch up fast: Ducey signed a law in 2016 prohibiting cities from banning short-term rentals or adopting their own restrictions and regulations.

What they say : “I think for the industry it’s probably hard to ignore the issues with the party houses, the neighborhood nuisance issues,” Tom Savage, legislative director for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, told Axios. who supported the new law. “Complaints had been piling up since the 2016 law was passed.”

The other side: The short-term rental industry supported the new Ducey law signed this year.

• John Choi, then Airbnb spokesman, said in a press release that the new law was “proof that elected officials and community stakeholders can come together to craft fair and effective short-term rental rules. that address community concerns and preserve short-term economic benefits”. -term rentals.”