Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 9-1302
Individual property inspections
Operative Text
A. For individual residential rental properties the city or town may conduct interior inspections if an exterior inspection of the property reveals or if the property is found to have any of the following: 1. Conditions that materially affect the health and safety of the occupants as prescribed by section 9-1303. 2. A significant level of crime associated with the property. 3. A documented history of building code violations. 4. The owner repeatedly fails to comply with building code enforcement requirements imposed by the city or town. 5. There is probable cause that the residential rental property is not in compliance with the city's building code. 6. A complaint is received from or consent for inspection is given by the owner of record, agent or property manager, a lawful resident or a lawful tenant of the residential rental unit. B. If the city or town determines pursuant to subsection A of this section that an interior inspection is reasonably necessary and the property's tenant has vacated, the city or town may require an additional inspection and approval by the city or town before a new occupancy is permitted. C. Before entry the city or town shall receive consent of the owner of record or a lawful tenant or on issuance of a warrant. D. This section does not limit the authority of a city or town to: 1. Perform an exterior inspection of any property in the city or town's jurisdiction at any time. 2. On receipt of a complaint or consent from the owner or lawful tenant, perform an interior inspection of any property in the city or town's jurisdiction. 3. Perform interior, exterior or construction job site inspections of new construction before issuance of a certificate of occupancy. 4. Perform interior or exterior inspections of illegal construction that occurred without a required building permit. 5. Perform an interior inspection of any property during an emergency or natural disaster. E. A city or town may designate any of its departments to perform all or part of the duties granted to the city or town pursuant to this chapter.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 9-1302 sets out the specific circumstances under which a city or town may conduct interior inspections of individual residential rental properties. Triggers include observable health and safety concerns, significant crime activity, documented code-violation histories, repeated owner non-compliance, probable cause of code violations, or a complaint or consent from an owner, agent, or tenant. Before entering, the municipality must obtain consent from the owner of record or a lawful tenant, or secure a warrant. Exterior inspections, however, may be conducted at any time without these prerequisites.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under A.R.S. § 9-1302, a compliant property owner or manager generally maintains the exterior and interior of a rental property in a condition that avoids triggering the inspection criteria listed in the statute, such as health and safety deficiencies, code violations, or crime associations. Operators who respond promptly to building code enforcement requirements reduce the risk of repeated non-compliance findings that could lead to interior inspections. When a unit becomes vacant following a city or town determination that an interior inspection was necessary, the property may be subject to an additional inspection and approval before new occupancy is permitted under subsection B.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
A.R.S. § 9-1302 gives tenants a recognized role in the inspection process: a complaint filed by, or consent given by, a lawful tenant is itself a valid basis for a city or town to conduct an interior inspection of a residential rental unit. Tenants also retain the right to withhold consent to entry, meaning a municipality must either obtain that consent or secure a warrant before entering under subsection C. Tenants who believe their unit has health, safety, or code issues may consider contacting their local municipal building or code enforcement department, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for information about available options.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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