Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-303
Discrimination by landlord or lessor against tenant with children prohibited; classification; exceptions
Operative Text
A. A person who knowingly refuses to rent to any other person a place to be used for a dwelling for the reason that the other person has a child or children, or who advertises in connection with the rental a restriction against children, either by the display of a sign, placard, written or printed notice, or by publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation, is guilty of a petty offense. B. No person shall rent or lease his property to another in violation of a valid restrictive covenant against the sale of such property to persons who have a child or children living with them nor shall a person rent or lease his property to persons who have a child or children living with them when his property lies within a subdivision which subdivision is presently designed, advertised and used as an exclusive adult subdivision. A person who knowingly rents or leases his property in violation of the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a petty offense.
Under A.R.S. § 33-303 et seq., Arizona law generally prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to prospective tenants solely because those tenants have children, and from advertising any restriction against children in connection with a rental. However, the law carves out exceptions: a landlord is not required to rent to families with children when doing so would violate a valid restrictive covenant tied to the property, or when the property is located within a subdivision that is currently designed, advertised, and operated as an exclusively adult community. Violations of either the general prohibition or the exception-related provisions can result in a petty offense classification under Arizona law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under A.R.S. § 33-303 et seq. generally ensure that their rental listings, signage, and advertising contain no language restricting occupancy based on the presence of children. Compliant operators also review whether their property is subject to a valid restrictive covenant or is situated within a legally qualifying adult-only subdivision before making any tenancy decisions that might otherwise appear to exclude families with children. Keeping documentation of any applicable subdivision designations or recorded covenants is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating compliance when questions arise.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
A.R.S. § 33-303 et seq. gives prospective and current tenants a basis to challenge a landlord's refusal to rent—or any advertising that signals a restriction—based solely on having children in the household. Tenants who believe they have encountered such discrimination may consider filing a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General's Civil Rights Division or a local fair housing organization, or raising the statutory violation as a defense or claim in a relevant legal proceeding. Consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Arizona fair housing law can help clarify which enforcement paths are available given the specific circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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