🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Maricopa County, AZ
Maricopa County Tightens the Rules on Short-Term Rentals
Maricopa County Advances Zoning Changes to Regulate Short-Term Rentals
Maricopa County is shaking up its zoning ordinance, and short-term rentals are right at the center of the conversation. At a stakeholder meeting on August 28, county officials laid out plans that will soon reshape how residents can use their properties — with new restrictions designed to balance flexibility with neighborhood stability.
One of the biggest updates ties directly to accessory dwelling units (ADUs). These smaller, secondary living spaces — think casitas, backyard cottages, or converted garages — are being welcomed under the revised ordinance as a way to expand affordable housing. But here’s the catch: if you want to list an ADU as a short-term rental, you’ll need to live on the same property. That’s right — no absentee landlords turning granny flats into mini-hotels. County leaders hope this “owner-on-site” requirement will help curb complaints about noise, overcrowding, and a revolving door of strangers in quiet neighborhoods.
The move aligns with state law, which already sets ADU size limits (no larger than 75% of the main house or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller). By syncing local rules with state guidelines, officials say they’re keeping things simple and consistent across Arizona. They also point out that other nearby municipalities have gone down this path, giving Maricopa a blueprint to follow while still tailoring the rules to local needs.
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What makes this update different is the emphasis on community involvement. The county isn’t just rolling out the new zoning ordinance in silence — residents have until September 12, 2025, to share their thoughts through an open questionnaire. This feedback window is being pitched as a critical step to make sure the voices of homeowners, renters, and neighbors all factor into the final rules.
At its heart, the new ordinance is about threading the needle: creating more housing choices while making sure short-term rentals don’t erode the character of local communities. Officials say they want ADUs to serve families first — whether that means a home for an aging parent or a college grad moving back — while still leaving room for homeowners to make extra income through responsible STR hosting.
If all goes as planned, the draft of the updated zoning ordinance will be out in the next few weeks. For now, the clock is ticking for residents to weigh in. Whether you’re a host, a neighbor, or someone just curious about what this means for your street, Maricopa County wants to hear from you.
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