Rental Rules by City / Arizona / Payson
Payson short-term rental rules & tax calculator
📋 The Basics
- Can I rent my place short-term here?
- Yes, with a permit
- Do I need a permit?
- Yes, with a $250 annual town STR license.
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 15.48%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Get AZ TPT license.
- Register with Gila County.
- Apply to the town.
- Pass fire inspection.
⚠️ Biggest risk: $500 guest penalties.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: Arizona state + Gila County TPT (lodging) 6.6% + Payson TPT (hotels) 3.88% + Payson additional hotel/motel tax 5% = 15.48%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. 15.48% total per AZ DOR TPT table (Oct 2026: codes 025, 044, 144).
What Airbnb collects: Verify in payouts which taxes your platform remits.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| License | Annual STR license: $250 per property per year (non-refundable). |
|---|---|
| Before applying | AZ TPT license and Gila County Assessor rental registration; town business license if you own 3+ properties. |
| Requirements | 24-hour emergency contact, $500,000 liability insurance (or platform coverage), commercial trash service, neighbor notice, permit number on listings. |
| Inspection | Fire inspection within 90 days of license approval. |
| Guests | Sex-offender background check on guests within 24 hours of every booking. |
Items marked "Verify with the city" could not be confirmed from an official source; call the office listed before relying on them.
Sources
Free tools
Free "Is my rental legal?" checklist · Free tourist tax calculator
Rules can change
Payson's rules, its tax rates and platform policies can change through a council vote, a new state law or a court ruling, often with little notice to hosts. We re-check this page monthly; subscribers get notified. Stay Compliant for $4.99/mo.
Want it done for you?
Get a personalized STR Compliance Check ($49) for your exact address in any US city: the permits, registrations and tax accounts you need, with official sources, delivered by email in 48 business hours. Not legal advice.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund PolicyHow we verify.
Stay Compliant: $4.99/month
Rules, tax rates and Airbnb/Vrbo policies can change without warning, and hosts who miss a change can be fined. Get alerts when your city, county or state changes, deadline reminders, a pending-bill watch list and a monthly host brief (even in quiet months: "we checked on [date]; no changes"). Compare plans.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund Policy.
Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 26, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.