HOA says no Airbnb — what are my options?

Category: Getting Started

By: Emily Chen

Posted: 2026-02-17T19:39:32.234Z

I bought a condo in Scottsdale, AZ planning to Airbnb it. Arizona's state law says cities can't ban STRs, so I thought I was safe. WRONG. My HOA just sent me a letter saying short-term rentals under 30 days violate the CC&Rs and I need to stop or face $500/day fines. I've been hosting for 4 months and making $3,200/month. This is a huge blow. What are my options? Can the HOA actually enforce this? Has anyone fought this and won?

Reply by David Okafor:

Real estate attorney here (I handle STR disputes regularly). Gonna give it to you straight: yes, your HOA can enforce this even in Arizona. Arizona's SB1350 stops cities and counties from banning STR, but it specifically does NOT override private contracts like HOA CC&Rs. Your HOA is a private agreement you signed when you bought. Different ballgame. That said, you do have some options depending on the details: Look at the exact CC&R language first. "No rentals under 30 days" is pretty airtight. But if it just says "no commercial activity" that's more arguable. Also check WHEN that restriction was added — if it came after your purchase and the amendment process wasn't properly followed, you might have standing to challenge it. Realistically though? Your best move is probably to pivot to 30+ day stays. Furnished Finder (https://furnishedfinder.com) is great for traveling nurses and you'd be surprised how decent the income is. Lower than STR but way less turnover cost. You could also try attending HOA meetings and rallying other owners who want to STR. You need 67% to amend CC&Rs usually, which is a tough sell but not impossible in a condo complex where half the units are investments. Whatever you do, do NOT ignore that letter. HOA fines are real and they can lien your property.

Reply by James Wu:

I had the exact same situation in a Phoenix condo. Here's what I did: 1. Pivoted to 30+ day rentals on Airbnb and Furnished Finder 2. Targeted traveling nurses, corporate relocations, and remote workers 3. Revenue dropped from $3,500/mo to $2,700/mo but my turnover costs dropped to almost zero 4. Net profit is actually similar because I'm not paying $120/clean 6 times per month The 30-day minimum gets you around virtually ALL STR restrictions — city, HOA, and even most lease clauses. For Scottsdale specifically, the travel nurse market is strong because of Mayo Clinic, HonorHealth, and Banner Health systems nearby. List on Furnished Finder and you'll get steady inquiries.

Reply by Nolan Peters:

LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE: **Always read the CC&Rs before buying an investment property.** I lost $8,000 in HOA fines because I hosted for 6 months before they caught me. The fines were $200/day for 40 days before they paused it while I "came into compliance" (AKA stopped hosting). Now I have a checklist before buying any investment property: - ✅ Check city STR regulations - ✅ Check county regulations - ✅ Read HOA CC&Rs cover to cover - ✅ Check if CC&R amendments are pending - ✅ Talk to neighbors about STR attitudes - ✅ Verify STR insurance availability for the property type - ✅ Confirm mortgage allows rental activity That due diligence costs a few hours but saves thousands. The general guides at https://strspecialist.com/blog cover a lot of this pre-purchase research.