Surprise, Arizona Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Surprise Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
The City of Surprise currently does not have any regulations on short-term rentals.Business License Requirements
The license that would be needed is for the transaction privilege tax. See the Business License Resource for more information.Building and Housing Standards
The City of Surprise has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Contact the Building Safety Department for more information.Tourist and Local Taxes
Residential rentals are taxable at 2.2% for the City of Surprise (unless you meet the exemption below). The State or County does not tax residential rentals. You will need an Arizona TPT License to report the rental tax collected for the City of Surprise. Please note that you are only applying for a city TPT license, so you will pay the fee that corresponds with that particular city. The fee for the City of Surprise is $10.Exemption: If you have less than 2 residential rentals within the State and no commercial rental properties within the state, you are not deemed to be in the rental business and are therefore exempt from the tax.
However, if your rental property is leased through a Property Manager, every residential rental property located in the City of Surprise is subject to tax. In addition, each property owner must have a tax license, regardless of the City of Surprise minimum number of rentals.
Suppose you also own a commercial rental anywhere in the State. In that case, every residential rental property in the City of Surprise is subject to tax, regardless of the minimum number of rentals.
If you rent out for short-term or vacation rentals (less than 30 days), then the activity falls into the hotel/motel/transient lodging classification. The combined rate is 13.99% for the State/County and City of Surprise.
Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the City of Surprise for more information.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating5.8
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Competition
4.4 -
Real Estate Cost
6.5 -
STR Regulations
N/A -
Seasonality
2.4 -
Rental Rates
9.7
Surprise, Arizona Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 143,148
- STR License Required
- Yes
- Tourist Season
- County
- Maricopa
- Airports
- Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Want to learn more about Surprise?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Surprise rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Surprise rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Surprise.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Surprise guests.
Interested in other Arizona cities?
Check out the Arizona Airbnb rules directory
What makes Surprise a great place to invest?
- Surprise, Arizona is a vibrant and growing city located in the northwest valley of Phoenix, that offers visitors a wide variety of activities and attractions.
- One of the main draws to Surprise is the Surprise Stadium, which is the spring training home for the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers and offers visitors the chance to see their favorite baseball teams in action.
- For outdoor enthusiasts, Surprise offers several parks and recreational areas, such as the Surprise Community Park, which offers visitors a variety of activities, including playgrounds, sports fields, and walking paths.
- Surprise also has a rich cultural scene, with several museums, art galleries, and historical sites, such as the Surprise History and Heritage Museum, which showcases the city's history and heritage through interactive exhibits, artifacts and photographs.
- Additionally, Surprise is a great destination for families with its several entertainment options, such as the Aquatic Center, which features a lazy river, water slides, and a kids' splash pad, and the Surprise Farms Community Park, which offers visitors a playground, skatepark, and a dog park.
Surprise Nearby Cities
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9 miles away
- Rating: 5.9
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14 miles away
- Rating: 6.0
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Surprise?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Surprise has decreased -10% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $236, which is lower than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$442,390
-10% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$236
-9% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$2,023
0% YoY
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Surprise, Arizona
Common terms for Surprise short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Surprise has a description approximately 1,381 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 3,334 listings in Surprise, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Pool, Outdoor, Backyard, Family, Spring Training, Patio, Beautiful, Golf course, Game, and Perfect.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Surprise?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Surprise involve Adventure Activities, the Health Spa, Hiking, Outlet Shopping, and Casinos. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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Adventure Activities
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Health Spa
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Hiking
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Outlet Shopping
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Casinos
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Zoo
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Museums
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Swimming
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Golfing
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Cycling
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Boating
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Mountain Biking
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Surprise, including State Farm Stadium, Desert Diamond Arena, Westgate Entertainment District, Desert Diamond Arena, and Desert Diamond Casino - West Valley. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Regional Landmark
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Peoria Sports Complex
Included on 55% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Arrowhead Towne Center
Included on 50% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Desert Diamond Casino - West Valley
Included on 47% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Westgate Entertainment District
Included on 46% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Desert Diamond Arena
Included on 46% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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State Farm Stadium
Included on 45% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Camelback Ranch
Included on 43% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Surprise Stadium
Included on 42% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Surprise Stadium
Included on 41% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix
Included on 40% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Desert Diamond Casino - West Valley
Included on 40% of listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Desert Diamond Arena
Included on 39% of listings
What’s the weather like in Surprise, Arizona?
The weather is generally warmer than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 86°, while the average low is about 61°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 8 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Surprise are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
44° Low 67° High
Spring
March through May
58° Low 85° High
Summer
June through August
79° Low 104° High
Fall
September through November
61° Low 86° High
Cities Near Surprise
Surprise, Arizona, is located in Maricopa County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
