Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-2148
Retaliatory conduct prohibited; eviction
Operative Text
A. Except as provided in this section, a landlord shall not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for eviction after any of the following: 1. The tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation that applies to the premises and that materially affects health and safety. 2. The tenant has complained to the landlord of a violation under this chapter. 3. The tenant has organized or become a member of a tenants' union or similar organization. 4. The tenant has filed an action seeking relief pursuant to section 33-2107 or has filed any other action against the landlord in an appropriate court. B. If the landlord acts in violation of subsection A of this section, the tenant is entitled to an amount equal to two months' periodic rent and twice the actual damages sustained by the tenant and has a defense in action against the landlord for eviction, unless the landlord proves good cause for the landlord's action. C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, a landlord may bring an action for eviction if either of the following occurs: 1. The violation of an applicable building or housing code was caused primarily by lack of reasonable care by the tenant or another person in the tenant's household or who was on the premises with the tenant's consent. 2. The tenant is in default in rent. The filing of an action does not release the landlord from liability pursuant to section 33-2141, subsection B.
Arizona law under A.R.S. § 33-2148 prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who report housing code violations, complain about conditions covered by the landlord-tenant chapter, join a tenants' union, or file a legal action against their landlord. Retaliation is defined to include raising rent, cutting services, or initiating or threatening eviction proceedings. When a landlord is found to have violated this anti-retaliation rule, the tenant may be entitled to two months' periodic rent plus twice their actual damages, and may raise retaliation as a defense in an eviction proceeding — unless the landlord can demonstrate a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for the action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under A.R.S. § 33-2148, compliant property operators document all rent increases, service changes, and eviction decisions with clear, contemporaneous business records that reflect legitimate, non-retaliatory reasons — such as a tenant's failure to pay rent or a code violation caused by the tenant's own lack of reasonable care. Operators generally ensure that any adverse action taken after a tenant complaint or legal filing can be supported by objective evidence predating or independent of the protected activity. Because the statute places the burden on the landlord to prove good cause, maintaining thorough records of lease terms, maintenance history, and payment status is a standard practice for operators seeking to demonstrate compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
A.R.S. § 33-2148 gives tenants in Arizona meaningful protection against landlord actions — such as rent hikes, service reductions, or eviction threats — that follow protected activities like reporting a health-and-safety code violation, complaining to the landlord about conditions, joining a tenants' organization, or filing a court action. If a tenant believes a landlord has acted in violation of this section, they may be entitled to two months' periodic rent plus twice their actual damages, and may raise retaliation as a defense if an eviction case is brought against them. Tenants who believe their rights under § 33-2148 have been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, a legal aid office, or the governmental agency responsible for housing code enforcement to understand 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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