SAFFORD — The Safford City Clerk’s Office issued Thursday a notice for public hearing, where the City Council will take up the issue of vacation and short-term rental properties during a November meeting.
City staff is asking council approval to have city code comply with Arizona Revised Statutes on the issue.
State statute prohibits cities and towns from denying owners the right to use their property as a vacation or short-term rental. However, statute does allow cities and towns to regulate those rental properties.
A city or town can require a property to be brought up to fire and building code before being allowed to rent, and traffic control can be a factor in approval or denial of a permit.
Cities and towns can also deny a permit if the property is rented to house an adult-oriented business, housing of sex offenders or for use as a sober living facility.
Cities and towns can also require the property owner to notify of intent to rent to all adjacent property owners, property owners across the street and diagonal from the property intended to be rented.
Cities and towns may also require the property owner acquire a permit not to exceed $250, in order to use the property as a vacation or short-term rental, and display the permit number on each advertisement of each property available.
Cities and towns can also require property owners to maintain liability insurance of at least $500,000 for each rental property.
The public hearing will take place Monday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. in the Program Room of the Safford City-Graham County Library.
