Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1904
Inspections
Operative Text
A. In addition to any other statute or ordinance providing for the inspection of property, a city, town or county or the state may inspect the residential rental property if either of the following occurs: 1. A property owner fails to comply with the provisions of section 33-1902. The property is subject to immediate inspection until there is compliance. If the property is occupied, the inspecting authority shall request consent of the tenant before entering the interior of the structure. Except as otherwise provided by law, the right of inspection does not extend to the interior of a dwelling unit in a space rental mobile home park or recreational vehicle park that is not owned by a landlord unless the tenant is in possession of the dwelling unit or, if the dwelling unit is vacant or abandoned, the owner consents to the inspection. If the tenant refuses to consent to the entry, the inspecting authority has recourse to any remedy provided by law to secure entry. 2. A property has been designated as a slum property by a city, town or county or the state. The city, town, county or state may annually inspect a property designated as a slum property for three consecutive years. A city, town or county or the state shall establish the process by which a property is designated as a slum property. B. The property owner is responsible for the costs of an inspection that is conducted pursuant to this section. If the property that is inspected is a dwelling unit in a space rental mobile home park or recreational vehicle park that is not owned by a landlord, the owner of the dwelling unit is responsible for the costs of the inspection. C. On recording a penalty or inspection cost with the recorder's office in the county in which the property is located, the penalty or inspection cost is deemed to be an assessment and is prior to all other liens, obligations or encumbrances except for liens under title 12, chapter 7, article 12, prior recorded mortgages, restitution liens, child support liens and general tax liens. If the property that was inspected was a dwelling unit in a space rental mobile home park or recreational vehicle park that is not owned by a landlord, a lien shall not be recorded against the owner of the property other than the dwelling. The lien may be filed with the department of transportation and, if filed, has the same effect as otherwise provided for in this section. D. This section shall not affect any other statute or ordinance pertaining to inspection of property.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1904 authorizes cities, towns, counties, and the state to inspect residential rental properties under two circumstances: when a property owner has failed to register as required under § 33-1902, or when a property has been officially designated as a 'slum property,' in which case annual inspections may occur for up to three consecutive years. If the property is occupied, inspectors must first request the tenant's consent before entering the interior, though legal remedies exist to compel entry if consent is refused. The costs of any such inspection are the responsibility of the property owner, and unpaid penalties or inspection costs can be recorded as a lien that takes priority over most other encumbrances on the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under A.R.S. § 33-1904, compliant residential rental property operators generally maintain current registration under § 33-1902, since failure to do so triggers the right of government authorities to conduct immediate inspections. Operators who receive a slum-property designation should be aware that annual inspections may follow for three consecutive years, and that all inspection costs are billed to the property owner. Unpaid inspection fees or penalties recorded with the county recorder's office become a high-priority lien against the property, which can affect financing, title, and future transactions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
A.R.S. § 33-1904 provides tenants with a meaningful procedural protection: if an inspection is triggered—whether due to an owner's registration failure or a slum-property designation—the inspecting authority is required to request the tenant's consent before entering the interior of an occupied unit. Tenants have the right to refuse entry, though the inspecting authority may then pursue legal remedies to gain access. Tenants who have questions about an inspection notice or their rights during the process may find it helpful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or consult the relevant city, town, or county housing office for guidance.
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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