Tempe, AZ
Tempe is a major East Valley college, technology, and innovation center anchored by Arizona State University, with Arizona landlord-tenant law supplemented by a City rental-housing code, Maricopa County rental registration, designated residential parking areas, City-operated waste services, detailed noise standards, and Maricopa County dog licensing.
Essential Relocation Checkpoints in Tempe
Key administrative tasks and local utility setup when moving to Tempe, Arizona:
Use Arizona ARLTA for Ordinary Residential Tenancies
Covered residential rental relationships in Tempe are governed primarily by the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10. Tempe separately enforces its local Rental Housing Code and property-maintenance requirements.
Register Rental Units with the Maricopa County Assessor
Tempe’s current landlord guidance states that all rental units must be registered with the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. This should not be described as a separate City-wide landlord registration program.
Know Arizona’s Security-Deposit Limit
Arizona law generally prohibits a landlord from demanding or receiving security exceeding one and one-half months’ rent, although a tenant may voluntarily prepay more rent when it is not being treated as security.
Tempe Has Local Cooling and Heating Standards
Tempe’s Rental Housing Code requires every rental unit to have tenant-controlled heating capable of maintaining at least 70°F and cooling capable of maintaining no more than 82°F with air conditioning or 88°F with evaporative cooling in habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.
Check Whether the Address is in a Residential Permit Parking Area
Residential Permit Parking applies only in designated Tempe areas. A resident outside a designated area does not automatically need a residential permit simply because the property is near Arizona State University or a light-rail station.
Know the Current Residential Parking Permit Allocation
In designated residential permit areas, each household receives one free vehicle permit per year and one free visitor pass per property. Additional resident permits currently cost $5 each per calendar year.
Use the Weekly Trash and Recycling Schedule
Tempe provides once-weekly curbside or alley trash collection for single-family homes and weekly recycling. Containers must generally be out by 6:00 AM on collection day and removed by 8:00 PM the same day.
Bulk Trash and Green Organics Are Different
Tempe residential solid-waste customers receive bulk-trash and green-organics collection every other month. This service is separate from weekly household trash and recycling.
Apply the Actual Chapter 20 Noise Standards
Tempe Chapter 20 uses measured community-noise standards. Residential property has a 55 dBA limit from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM and 45 dBA from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM for the applicable regulated noise sources.
License Dogs Through Maricopa County
Maricopa County requires dogs 3 months and older to be licensed when they meet the County residency requirement. Licenses are renewed annually and require current rabies vaccination.
Short-Term Rentals Have Their Own License
Tempe requires a separate Short-Term Rental License for properties rented for 29 days or less. Each unit requires its own license, application, and payment, and the City can impose substantial penalties for operating without the required license.
Municipal Regulations at a Glance
Arizona (AZ)
City of Tempe
Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10)
Rental units must be registered with Maricopa County Assessor’s Office
1.5 months’ rent
82°F maximum with AC / 88°F maximum with evaporative cooling
70°F minimum
Weekly for eligible single-family curbside/alley service
Weekly
Every other month
Every other month
One free vehicle permit + one free visitor pass per designated household
3 months and older
Annual
Housing & Rental Regulations in Tempe
1. Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
Most covered residential rental relationships in Tempe are governed by the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10. The statute addresses rental agreements, landlord and tenant duties, security, access, essential services, termination, and remedies.
2. Security Deposit Maximum
A.R.S. §33-1321 generally prohibits a landlord from demanding or receiving security in excess of one and one-half months’ rent. A tenant may voluntarily pay more rent in advance when the additional amount is not being treated as security.
3. Security Deposit Return
Arizona law generally requires the landlord to provide an itemized list of deductions and any remaining balance within 14 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession, subject to the statutory inspection and claim process.
4. Landlord Access
Under A.R.S. §33-1343, a landlord generally must give at least two days’ notice before entering a rental dwelling, except in an emergency or when notice is impracticable, and entry must occur at reasonable times. The statute also prohibits abuse of the right of access or entry used to harass the tenant.
5. Tempe Rental Housing Code
Tempe imposes local rental-housing standards covering heating, cooling, hot water, electrical service, lighting, landscaping, and other property conditions. These local standards operate alongside Arizona landlord-tenant law.
6. Heating Standard
Every Tempe rental housing unit must have tenant-controlled heating capable of safely heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and flushing toilet rooms to at least 70°F.
7. Air-Conditioning Standard
Every Tempe rental housing unit with required cooling must have tenant-controlled cooling capable of safely cooling habitable rooms, bathrooms, and flush-toilet rooms to no more than 82°F when using conventional air conditioning.
8. Evaporative Cooling Standard
For rental units cooled by evaporative cooling, Tempe’s current Rental Housing Code permits a maximum of 88°F in the specified habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. This 88°F figure is a Tempe-specific local standard and should not be replaced with Phoenix’s 86°F evaporative-cooling rule.
9. Hot Water Standard
Tempe requires rental housing to have properly installed and maintained hot-water service capable of furnishing reasonable quantities of hot water at a minimum temperature of 110°F.
10. Property Landscaping
Tempe’s current landlord guidance requires landscaping in yard areas visible to the public. Property owners should also comply with the City’s nuisance and property-enhancement requirements concerning vegetation, debris, and exterior conditions.
11. County Rental Registration
Tempe’s official Renting in Tempe guidance identifies unregistered rentals as a landlord issue and directs owners to register rental units with the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. The County registration should not be confused with a Tempe-issued rental license.
12. Short-Term Rental Licensing
A Tempe property rented for 29 days or less requires a City Short-Term Rental License before listing or renting. Each unit needs its own application and license, and the City warns that operating without the required license can lead to penalties of up to $1,000 per month.
13. Short-Term Rental Compliance
Tempe’s STR licensing program requires information such as the Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax license and property details. The City publishes a current list and map of licensed short-term rentals and accepts non-emergency complaints about unlicensed or noncompliant properties.
Street Parking & Permit Rules in Tempe
1. Designated Residential Permit Parking
Tempe requires residential parking permits only in established residential permit parking areas. These areas are created through a neighborhood request, petition, parking survey, and City review process.
2. 2026 Residential Permit Allocation
Each household in a designated residential permit parking area is entitled to one free vehicle permit each year and one free visitor pass for the property. Additional vehicle permits are currently $5 each per calendar year.
3. Permit Display
Tempe’s current program places the vehicle permit on the driver’s-side rear bumper or, for vehicles without a rear bumper, on the driver’s-side lower corner of the rear window.
4. Permit Eligibility
Applicants need proof of residency and vehicle registration for a new participating vehicle. The City accepts qualifying documents such as a current driver’s license, utility bill, bank statement, or other approved evidence of residence.
5. More Than Three Permits
A request for more than three permits at one address triggers City staff review of occupancy requirements. Additional permits are not automatically granted until the City confirms that the residence satisfies applicable occupancy requirements.
6. ASU and Light-Rail Parking Pressure
Tempe considers requests for residential permit parking in neighborhoods affected by Arizona State University, Valley Metro Light Rail, and Streetcar activity. However, proximity to ASU does not automatically create a permit zone; the formal City process and posted signs determine whether permits are required.
7. Multifamily Exclusion from RPP Consideration
Tempe states that large multifamily developments and apartment buildings larger than a fourplex are not considered for the residential permit parking program because building-code requirements are intended to provide sufficient off-street parking for residents and guests.
8. Oversized-Vehicle Permits
Tempe separately issues permits for oversized vehicles and loads that affect public streets or right-of-way. A normal residential parking permit does not authorize storage or movement of oversized equipment in the public right-of-way.
9. Street Sweeping
Tempe sweeps arterial streets weekly and residential streets once a month. Residents should keep vehicles out of the street-sweeping path during their assigned week.
Trash, Recycling & Waste Collection
1. Weekly Trash Collection
Tempe provides once-weekly curbside or alley trash collection to residents in single-family homes. The assigned collection day is address-specific.
2. Weekly Recycling
Eligible residential recycling is collected once per week. Recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue recycling container rather than inside bags.
3. Container Setout
Trash and recycling containers must generally be placed at the curb or designated driveway/alley location by 6:00 AM on collection day and removed by 8:00 PM the same day.
4. Recycling Preparation
Tempe accepts commonly recyclable paper, glass, aluminum, steel cans, cardboard, and qualifying plastic bottles, jars, and jugs. Recyclables must be reasonably clean, dry, empty, and loose inside the blue container.
5. Bulk Trash Every Other Month
Tempe residential solid-waste customers receive bulk-trash collection every other month. The 2026 schedule is divided into collection areas identified A through H, with the exact collection week depending on the property’s area.
6. Green Organics Every Other Month
Green organic material is collected separately from bulk trash every other month and is processed for composting. Only homeowners who perform their own yard work may place green-organic material out for this collection; landscapers may not place material for City collection.
7. Bulk and Organics Setout
Bulk trash and green organics must be placed by 6:00 AM Monday of the scheduled collection week and no earlier than 10 days before that week. The piles must be kept four feet apart and four feet from solid-waste containers, hydrants, utility boxes, and gas meters.
8. Bulk Volume Limit
The combined bulk/green-organics material is limited to 10 cubic yards for the collection event. Construction and demolition debris, dirt, concrete, asphalt, railroad ties, and other prohibited materials are excluded.
9. Extra Bulk Pickup
Residents who need disposal outside their scheduled every-other-month collection can request a special bulk or green-organics pickup for a fee through Tempe 311.
10. Monthly Transfer Station Benefit
Tempe residents can dispose of up to 1,000 pounds of qualifying material once per month at the Sky Harbor Regional Transfer Station at no additional charge, subject to the facility’s accepted-material and identification requirements.
Quiet Hours & Noise Ordinances
1. Tempe Chapter 20 Noise Code
Tempe Chapter 20 prohibits unnecessary, excessive, and annoying noise and establishes measured community-noise standards. The applicable limit depends on the zoning classification of the receiving property and the time of day.
2. Residential Daytime Standard
For applicable residential noise, Tempe’s Chapter 20 standard is 55 dBA from 7:00 AM through 10:00 PM. Noise measured at the property line or affected area should not exceed the applicable standard.
3. Residential Nighttime Standard
For applicable residential noise, the nighttime standard is 45 dBA from 10:00 PM through 7:00 AM. This is more useful and precise than describing the rule simply as “quiet hours.”
4. Commercial Standards
Tempe uses higher community-noise standards for commercial property: generally 65 dBA from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM and 55 dBA from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
5. Industrial Standards
Industrial properties are subject to still higher community-noise limits, generally 70 dBA during 7:00 AM–10:00 PM and 60 dBA during 10:00 PM–7:00 AM.
6. Boundary Between Zoning Districts
When the noise measurement location lies on a boundary between two zoning districts, Tempe’s code applies the lower applicable noise standard.
7. Amplified Sound and Special Sources
Chapter 20 contains additional provisions for special noise sources, including sound-amplification equipment and other activities that may create excessive sound. A measured noise-limit violation and a nuisance complaint can therefore involve different provisions.
8. Construction and Off-Hours Work
Construction and other work outside normal permitted hours can require an Off Hours Work application through Tempe. The City’s permit system specifically lists an Off Hours Work permit alongside residential parking and oversized-vehicle permits.
9. Nuisance Parties
Tempe separately addresses nuisance parties and gatherings. A noisy ASU-area party can create police or nuisance-party enforcement concerns even when the complaint is not resolved solely by applying the ordinary residential dBA table.
10. Noise Complaints
Residents can report noise or nuisance concerns through Tempe’s appropriate complaint and enforcement channels. The type of noise, its location, time, duration, and whether it comes from a property, vehicle, construction site, or gathering can affect which provision applies.
Pet Licensing & Animal Ordinances
1. Dog License at 3 Months
Maricopa County requires every dog 3 months or older to be licensed when the dog resides in the County for at least 30 consecutive days during a calendar year.
2. Annual Renewal
Maricopa County dog licenses must be renewed annually. The license term is based on the most current rabies-vaccination certificate on record even when the vaccination itself remains valid longer.
3. Current Rabies Vaccination
Dogs must have a current rabies vaccination to apply for or renew the County license. The vaccination certificate must contain the required owner, animal, vaccination, veterinarian, and vaccine-duration information.
4. Current Licensing Fees
Maricopa County currently lists $22 for spayed or neutered dogs and $55 for unaltered dogs, with a $10 senior rate for qualifying altered dogs when the owner is 65 or older.
5. License Tag
The County issues a license tag with the first license and instructs owners to keep it attached to the dog’s collar as proof of licensing. The current County program uses DocuPet to manage licensing accounts and optional tag designs.
6. Late Fees
Late licensing fees currently accrue every 30 days at $3 per month for an altered dog and $6 per month for an unaltered dog, subject to County rules and any temporary waiver programs.
7. Cats
Maricopa County does not currently require cats to be licensed in the same way as dogs. County guidance expressly states that cats are not required to be licensed.
8. City and County Animal Rules
Dog licensing is a Maricopa County requirement, while Tempe separately enforces City animal, nuisance-party, property-maintenance, and zoning provisions. Residents should check both levels when an animal issue involves noise, property conditions, or other City-code concerns.
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Relocation Navigation
Frequently Asked Relocation Questions
1. Does Tempe have a rental housing registration program?
Tempe’s current landlord guidance states that all rental units must be registered with the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. Tempe also has its own Rental Housing Code governing conditions such as heating, cooling, hot water, electrical service, and landscaping.
2. What temperature must a Tempe rental maintain?
Tempe requires tenant-controlled heating capable of reaching at least 70°F. Required cooling must maintain no more than 82°F with conventional air conditioning or 88°F with evaporative cooling in the rooms covered by the City’s Rental Housing Code.
3. Do all Tempe residents need a residential parking permit?
No. Residential Permit Parking applies only to designated permit areas. In an established area, each household receives one free vehicle permit and one free visitor pass, with additional permits currently costing $5 each per calendar year.
4. How often does Tempe collect trash and recycling?
Eligible single-family residential customers receive weekly trash and weekly recycling collection. Bulk trash and green organics are collected separately every other month.
5. What are Tempe’s residential nighttime noise limits?
For applicable residential sources under Chapter 20, the nighttime community-noise standard is 45 dBA from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The daytime residential standard is 55 dBA from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Other source-specific rules and zoning standards can also apply.
6. At what age must a dog be licensed in Tempe?
Maricopa County requires dogs 3 months of age and older to be licensed when they satisfy the County residency requirement. Licenses are renewed annually and require a current rabies vaccination.