New laws could affect neighborhood density, Airbnbs in Scottsdale. Here’s how
Patrick Breen/The Republic
Two new state laws that Scottsdale leaders have called an “attack” on the community will kneecap the city’s ability to do everything from limiting short-term rentals to preventing apartment complexes from cropping up in the new year, even as residents revolt against development.
They are expected to dramatically reshape the character of Scottsdale’s suburban neighborhoods and lead to an uptick in multifamily housing.
The new statutes are called “preemption” laws. That means the Arizona Legislature passed them earlier this year to take regulatory power away from local governments like Scottsdale’s City Council, chipping away at city policies that may have been on the books for decades.
One impacts Scottsdale’s ability to curtail what homeowners can build on their property, while the other strips the City Council’s power to reject apartment projects in certain areas.
