Stop Chasing Violations. Start Enforcing Smarter.
How Scottsdale Built a Proactive STR Enforcement Program
At a Glance
Jurisdiction
City of Scottsdale, Arizona, Municipal Government / Police Department
Program Lead
Katie Wolkin, Police Aide, Scottsdale Police Department — Dedicated STR Police Unit
Context
One of the fastest-growing STR markets in the Southwest. Renowned for golf resorts, luxury spas, and nightlife — drawing thousands of summer visitors and a rapidly expanding STR inventory.
Products
Rentalscape
Key Outcomes
1,300+
STR citations issued in just one year
2,800+
STR properties with pools identified and monitored
Proactive
Enforcement — violations prevented before they escalate
01 - The Challenge
More listings, more parties, more pressure
Scottsdale, Arizona is renowned for its golf resorts, luxury spas, desert experiences, and nightlife, drawing thousands of summer visitors each year. With rising tourism comes a swelling inventory of STRs, many featuring summer amenities like private pools and air conditioning. While these offer vacationers relief from the desert heat, they also create unique challenges for local officials around safety codes and unauthorized parties.
To protect residents and maintain order, Scottsdale launched a dedicated STR Police Unit focused on party prevention, pool safety, and licensing compliance. As the city's STR footprint expanded rapidly, enforcement efforts began to strain under the volume.
Reports of unsafe pool conditions, missing safety barriers, and large gatherings at unlicensed properties were increasing. Traditional enforcement methods couldn't keep pace with the speed or scale of the problem.
"We use Rentalscape non-stop… I'm always looking at it, all day long. Rentalscape lets us spot illegal rentals, cross-check pool safety, and match listings to social media promotions. That's huge for prevention."
The team needed more than just visibility, they needed a way to proactively prevent incidents, streamline communication, and quickly flag high-risk properties across multiple departments.
02 - The Solution
From reactive to predictive enforcement
Scottsdale implemented Rentalscape, powered by Deckard Technologies, to bring clarity and control to short-term rental management. With enforcement-grade data at their fingertips, officers transformed how they identify, investigate, and act on violations.
What the STR Police Unit Can Now Do
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Match booking calendars to social media |
Officers cross-reference booking calendars with social media flyers to identify illegal party promotions before events take place — stopping violations before they start.
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Scan listing images for safety compliance |
Listing photos are reviewed to detect properties lacking pool fences or other required safety features — enabling proactive outreach before inspections.
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Flag unlicensed operators instantly |
Registration data is automatically cross-referenced with active listings to surface unlicensed operators — eliminating the manual back-and-forth that slowed enforcement.
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Centralized interdepartmental workflows |
Findings are shared with planning and licensing teams through a single platform — replacing fragmented communication with coordinated, city-wide action.
"We've created a playbook for party prevention, starting with school officers monitoring campuses, then tracking posts, verifying listings, and shutting down events before they start."
03 - Results
A new standard for data-driven compliance in the Southwest
In just one year, Scottsdale transformed its STR enforcement from a reactive, manually-driven operation into a proactive, data-powered program. The results speak for themselves.
1,300+
STR citations issued in a single year
2,800+
STR properties with pools identified across the city
Multi-dept
Coordination strengthened across police, planning, and licensing
As one of the fastest-growing STR markets in the Southwest, Scottsdale now leads by example in data-driven compliance — using Govtech innovation to protect its communities from safety risks and unlicensed activity.
04 - Advice for Other Jurisdictions
Lessons from the field
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Anticipate growth and prepare for peaks |
STR numbers will rise, especially in tourist destinations. Plan ahead for seasonal surges with the right tools and staff in place before peak season hits.
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Proactivity over reactivity |
Maintain detailed, up-to-date records. Document incidents clearly and capture screenshots for evidence. A well-documented case is the foundation of effective enforcement.
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Monitor emerging channels |
Party organizers move fast, and so should you. Keep tabs on digital platforms as they shift rapidly, and use tools that can surface activity across every channel, not just the major rental platforms.
05 - What's Next
Your jurisdiction can lead by example, too
Scottsdale showed what's possible when a city stops chasing violations and starts preventing them. The tools exist. The results are proven.
Learn More About Rentalscape
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