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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Arizona
  6. ·
  7. Flagstaff

Flagstaff

Moderate
ArizonaUpdated Mar 25, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Flagstaff requires all short-term rental operators to obtain both an annual city permit ($100) and an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license. Regulations include a 10-person occupancy cap (2 adults per bedroom) and a requirement to notify neighboring properties of the rental operation.

Restriction level

Severity 8
Classification
Moderate
8
Severity

Why this classification

  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Flagstaff, you must first get a TPT license from the State of Arizona and then apply for a specific Short-Term Rental Permit from the City. You'll need to pay an annual $100 fee to the city and show proof of $500,000 in liability insurance. Flagstaff is strict about noise and occupancy, limiting you to 2 adults per bedroom with a hard cap of 10 people total. You are also required to send a notification to your immediate neighbors before you start hosting.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$100
Processing time10-14 business days

8 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1You MUST have an AZ TPT license before applying for the city permit.
  2. 2Notification to neighbors is a mandatory requirement, not a suggestion.
  3. 3The 10-person occupancy cap is a hard limit regardless of house size.
  4. 4Major platforms collect some taxes, but you are responsible for the 4.276% BBB tax if not handled by the platform.
  5. 5Permits must be renewed annually or they will automatically expire.
  6. 6Flagstaff strictly prohibits STR use in RVs, tents, or travel trailers.
  7. 7Failure to display your permit number on your listing can result in a $500 daily fine.
  8. 8The City of Flagstaff boundaries are distinct from Coconino County; verify you aren't in an unincorporated area.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility7 rules
  • Flagstaff: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Flagstaff, AZ: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Flagstaff, AZ: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements19 rules
  • Flagstaff STR warning: You MUST have an AZ TPT license before applying for the city permit.
  • Flagstaff STR warning: Major platforms collect some taxes, but you are responsible for the 4.276% BBB tax if not handled by the platform.
  • Flagstaff: Notification to neighbors is a mandatory requirement, not a suggestion.
Application process11 rules
  • Flagstaff extended permit requirement: A Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license is also required at $50/year
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Flagstaff charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).
Taxes3 rules
  • Arizona has a state sales tax of 5.6% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Flagstaff charges a BBB (Bed, Board and Beverage) Tax of 4.276%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms remit state/county/city TPT, but hosts remain liable for any BBB surcharges
Limits & restrictions6 rules
  • Flagstaff: The 10-person occupancy cap is a hard limit regardless of house size.
  • Flagstaff occupancy calculation: The maximum number of adults shall not exceed two (2) adults per bedroom. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Flagstaff requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan with emergency exits posted, Property must be free of health/safety violations.
Penalties4 rules
  • Flagstaff: Failure to display your permit number on your listing can result in a $500 daily fine.
  • Flagstaff, AZ: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions3 rules
  • Flagstaff: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Flagstaff exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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