Thinking about turning your home in The Refuge into a vacation rental? You are not alone. Arizona allows short stays, but Lake Havasu City rules and your HOA can shape what is actually possible. In this guide, you will learn exactly what is allowed, what permits and notices you need, how taxes work, and how The Refuge’s HOA can affect your plans. Let’s dive in.
Short-term rental basics in The Refuge
Short-term rentals are legal in Arizona if stays are under 30 days and you follow local rules. State law sets the baseline and lets cities regulate health, safety, permits, and nuisance issues under A.R.S. 9-500.39.
In Lake Havasu City, you must have a vacation-rental permit and meet operational standards. You must also comply with Arizona tax rules and Mohave County rental registration. Finally, your HOA can add private restrictions. For Refuge owners, it is best to think in three layers you must satisfy: state taxes and registration, city permit and rules, and any HOA restrictions.
Lake Havasu City permit requirements
Lake Havasu City’s vacation-rental program requires a permit per property before you advertise or accept bookings. The city outlines the process on its Vacation Rentals page and in Chapter 5.20 of the code.
What you must submit
- Owner and property details, plus a 24-hour emergency contact who will answer and respond to issues.
- Proof of an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license.
- Evidence of liability insurance of at least $500,000 in the aggregate, or proof of equal or greater platform coverage.
- An attestation that you will notify neighbors as required and follow all safety and operational rules.
The city issues or denies a complete application within seven business days. The permit is good for one year. The city lists the current annual fee as $250 per property on its program page and the code authorizes a fee structure in Chapter 5.20.
Operational rules you must follow
- Post required guest information at or before check-in, including an evacuation map, trash schedule, parking, quiet hours, and emergency contacts, as outlined in Section 5.20.050.
- Keep working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and provide fire extinguishers.
- Ensure your emergency contact is reachable 24/7 and responds promptly to complaints.
- Follow noise, disorderly conduct, and trash timing rules (trash should not be out more than 12 hours before pickup).
- Display your permit or TPT number in advertisements when required by city code.
Neighbor notification before the first stay
Before you host your first guest, you must notify adjacent and diagonally opposite neighbors and provide the city an attestation that you did so. The city details this in Section 5.20.050. If your emergency contact changes, update the city within 14 days per Section 5.20.040.
Taxes and county registration
Short stays under 30 days are taxable under Arizona’s transient lodging rules. Register for a TPT license and use the correct business codes as described in the Arizona Department of Revenue’s guidance for short-term lodging. ADOR also explains how online lodging marketplaces may collect and remit certain taxes.
Bookings of 30 days or more can be treated differently for tax purposes, so confirm how you classify each reservation with ADOR’s TPT overview before you set pricing and policies.
In addition, Mohave County requires rental property registration with the County Assessor. Complete the county’s form for residential rentals as explained on the Mohave County Assessor rental registration page.
HOA rules in The Refuge
Your HOA can be the deciding factor. Under Arizona law, owners may use a home as a rental unless the recorded declaration prohibits it. The enforceability of any restrictions depends on what the CC&Rs say and how amendments were adopted, as reflected in A.R.S. 33-1806.01. Because this is a nuanced area, review The Refuge’s recorded CC&Rs and rules and confirm current policies with the HOA manager. Arizona legal commentary discusses how and when HOA limits on short-term rentals can be enforced; see this overview on whether HOAs can restrict VRBO-style rentals (legal analysis).
In practice, even if the city issues a permit, your HOA can still enforce private rules on minimum lease length, guest registration at the gate, parking, amenity access, and fines for violations. Make sure you understand and follow both.
Before-you-list checklist
- Register for an Arizona TPT license and note the correct short-term lodging reporting codes. Keep any platform tax remittance records. Refer to ADOR’s short-term lodging guidance.
- Gather documents: TPT license number, insurance proof for at least $500,000 aggregate, owner and emergency contact information.
- Apply for the Lake Havasu City vacation-rental permit and pay the annual fee. The program page is here: Lake Havasu City Vacation Rentals. Code details are in Chapter 5.20.
- Complete neighbor notifications before your first booking, then keep your attestation for city review as required by Section 5.20.050.
- Register the property with the Mohave County Assessor’s office using the county’s rental registration.
- Confirm Refuge HOA rules, including any minimum lease length, guest gate procedures, parking, and amenity use.
Day-to-day standards once you start hosting
- Follow occupancy limits referenced by the city, which align with the 2018 IPMC Section 404, and any stricter HOA caps. See the city’s Vacation Rentals page.
- Maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and keep fire extinguishers accessible. Keep inspection records where applicable as required by Section 5.20.050.
- Enforce quiet hours, trash timing, and parking rules in your house manual. Make sure your 24/7 contact responds quickly to complaints per city code.
- Include your TPT number in advertisements and know which taxes your platform collects versus what you must remit. See ADOR’s short-term lodging guidance.
Penalties and enforcement
Arizona law and the city code allow civil fines and even suspension or revocation of a rental permit for verified violations or repeated nuisance issues. The statute that authorizes local regulation also outlines escalating penalties and suspension options for serious or repeated violations. Review A.R.S. 9-500.39 and the city’s Chapter 5.20 so you know the stakes and respond quickly to any complaints.
Ready to rent your Refuge home the right way? If you are buying with rental income in mind, selling an existing STR, or weighing HOA and city requirements before you list, we can help you plan with confidence and connect you to the right local resources.
Reach out to The Denovan Group for local guidance that puts your goals and our community first.
FAQs
Are short-term rentals allowed in The Refuge specifically?
- Arizona allows short stays under 30 days, but you must meet Lake Havasu City’s permit and operating rules and follow any Refuge HOA restrictions that may limit or prohibit short-term leasing. See A.R.S. 9-500.39, Chapter 5.20, and A.R.S. 33-1806.01.
What does the Lake Havasu permit cost and how fast is it?
- The annual permit fee is currently listed as $250 per property, and the city must issue or deny a complete application within seven business days. See the city’s Vacation Rentals page and Chapter 5.20.
What insurance does Lake Havasu require for short-term rentals?
- You must show liability insurance covering at least $500,000 in the aggregate for the rental, or proof that each booking is covered by equal or greater primary liability insurance through a platform per Chapter 5.20.
What taxes apply to Refuge rentals under 30 days?
- Short stays are taxable under Arizona’s transient lodging classification; register for a TPT license, use the correct reporting codes, and list your TPT number in ads. Review ADOR’s short-term lodging guidance and confirm how 30-day or longer bookings are treated using ADOR’s TPT overview.
Do I have to notify neighbors before hosting my first guest?
- Yes. Before your first rental, notify adjacent and diagonally opposite neighbors and provide the city an attestation, as outlined in Section 5.20.050.
Who can serve as the 24/7 emergency contact and what is required?
- You or a designee must be reachable by phone at all times and respond promptly to issues; update the city within 14 days if the contact changes per Section 5.20.040 and follow operational duties in Section 5.20.050.
