Mesa will set rules for short-term rental owners

Mesa, Ariz. — Editor’s note: The video above was shown on a previous broadcast.

Mesa is the last town in the valley to crack down on its short-term rental market after a push by the Arizona legislature and rental companies to stop rentals from being a public nuisance in local communities.

“[The new ordinance] gives specific requirements to landlords and sets out the penalties for those who allow parties, parking issues and other code violations that get out of control,” Mayor John Giles said.

The order, which is due to come into effect on February 1, sets out many new requirements for owners of short-term rentals, including:

• Short-term rental owners must acquire a new Mesa license
• Contact details of the local person responsible for responding to emergencies and complaints
• Notify neighbors that the property will be used for short term rentals
• Obtaining minimum liability insurance
• Numerous prohibitions on how landlords can use the property, including housing sex offenders, selling alcohol or illegal drugs, and other special events
• Creates new possible civil penalties against offending owners

Mesa joins other Valley cities, including Glendale, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, in issuing short-term rental orders after Governor Doug Ducey signed new state law in July giving cities the power to rent them. TO DO.

Rental companies have also implemented new policies to discourage parties from happening at their properties. Airbnb, for example, last year banned 6,000 people for breaking the new rules. However, that hasn’t seemed to slow down bookings in the Valley.

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