The Board of Supervisors of Coconino County recently passed an ordinance regulating investor-owned short-term vacation rentals. You can read the ordinance on the County Website under Community Development. Please note that the ordinance does not abrogate CC&Rs or private easements, and enforcement of these covenants remains the responsibility of property owners. Before renting out your property, please review these guidelines and contact Community Development with any questions.
Ordinance to regulate investor-owned short-term vacation rentals
The Ordinance to Regulate Investor-Owned Short-Term Vacation Rentals in Coconino County has been criticized by some residents and lawmakers. The measure does not address the many concerns that residents have. The state’s Governor, Doug Ducey, has threatened to veto many of these measures. Mesnard’s bill, however, avoids that debate by resting on a principle that applies to all short-term rentals.
In addition to regulating the short-term rental business, the Ordinance also limits the use of certain properties for adult-oriented activities. For example, short-term vacation rentals are not allowed to rent out rooms to sex offenders or to those in sober living facilities. The Ordinance also requires property managers to be available 24 hours a day and respond to complaints in a timely fashion. The Ordinance also requires that property managers post contact information and communicate with neighbors to respond to complaints promptly.
Impact of ordinance on Sedona’s tourism industry
Arizona has recently passed Senate Bill 1350, which seeks to protect residential property owners’ rights to rent their properties for short-term, “vacation” periods. This law will impact zoning ordinances in Sedona, Flagstaff, and Coconino County. In Sedona, some homeowners are renting out their homes year-round. While the legislation has caused a stir in the Sedona area, the debate rages on.
In the state of Arizona, short-term vacation rentals operate largely within residential neighborhoods, where they avoid commercial property taxes. The proposed legislation would create a local ordinance to regulate investor-owned property and define what constitutes commercial activity. If passed, this measure could affect the tourism industry in Sedona. Ultimately, however, the decision on this measure is up to the voters.