Tempe set to regulate short-term rentals

Independent media

This week, the City of Tempe will begin asking community members for their input on possible local regulations for short-term rental properties that would be among the strictest in the state if enacted.

The Tempe City Council directed during its Oct. 27 work study session that city staff conduct a public consultation process on a proposed ordinance to amend the city’s code, according to a statement from city ​​press. If ultimately passed by council, owners of short-term rental properties should:

• Require an annual regulatory permit of $250
• Provide proof of a valid sales tax license and proof that the rental is registered with the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office
• Notify all adjacent residential properties, directly and diagonally across the property of their emergency contact details. Responses to complaints would be required from the landlord within one hour for complaints where the police are dispatched or 24 hours for non-urgent complaints.
• Maintain liability insurance of at least $500,000
• Perform a sex offender background check for every person who books a rental – and possibly everyone who stays at the property.
• Require display of local regulatory permit or license number on advertisements

Proposed penalties for violations include:

• Suspension of a license for up to 12 months for three verified city code violations in a 12 month period or one verified violation, which could be a crime committed on the property, physical injury, death wrongful act, sexual offences, using the property for an event that would otherwise require a permit and more
• Impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per month on the owner if the owner or person designated by the owner fails to apply for a regulatory permit or license within 30 days of receiving written notice of non-compliance. compliance.
• Impose a civil penalty, based on a scale of the number of violations from $500 to $3,500.

Residents will have several opportunities to give their opinion.

From November 3 through November 30, any member of the community can visit tempe.gov/forum to take an online survey about the proposed regulations.

Two public meetings will also be held: a virtual meeting at noon on Monday, November 14 and an in-person meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16 at the Escalante Multi-Generational Center, 2150 E Orange St. There will be two public hearings on the ordinance at regular Tempe City Council meetings on Dec. 15 and Jan. 5.

The move comes after a shooting occurred at an Airbnb rental property over the weekend.

Several shots were fired outside a house in the Northwest Tempe neighborhood that was being used as a short-term rental in the early morning hours of October 29. No one was injured, according to police. A big party was organized on the spot. Two people were arrested on unrelated charges. The incident is being investigated by the Tempe Police Department. For questions or if you have information about the incident, contact Tempe Police at 480-350-8311. Tempe Police will coordinate a neighborhood meeting for residents who wish to discuss the incident and safety issues. Details are forthcoming.

The Arizona legislature has previously blocked cities and towns from banning short-term rentals within their borders under threat of withholdings from state-shared revenue that communities rely on and rely on. are entitled under state law. Recently, the Arizona State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1168, which gave cities additional tools, but not full regulatory control. Until that time, cities had few tools other than maintaining a registry of short-term rental properties, which Tempe established.

“We are taking all available measures to protect our neighborhoods and preserve their character,” said Mayor Corey Woods. “Cities and towns must be able to govern at the most appropriate local level, but historically our hands have been tied in our efforts to protect neighborhoods. If we are allowed to do so, I would welcome regulations that go even further than our proposed ordinance, but it will be a positive step in the right direction if adopted.