Arizona Housing Resources & Tenant Rights

Arizona sets its rental rules at the state level under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ARLTA, A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10). Tenant protections are limited and the eviction timeline is fast: nonpayment gets only a 5-day notice, and a court hearing can come within days. Arizona has no rent control, and state law preempts cities and towns from adopting it. There is no statewide source-of-income protection either, but Phoenix and Tucson ban voucher (source-of-income) discrimination by local ordinance. The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) is the state housing agency, and the Department of Economic Security (DES) runs utility assistance and eviction-prevention programs. This page covers the statewide rules, the eviction timeline, and links to every Arizona city we cover.

Public Housing & Vouchers in Arizona

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are run by local authorities — the City of Phoenix Housing Department, the City of Mesa Housing Authority, and others — while the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) administers a statewide voucher program for areas without a local PHA and oversees project-based Section 8 contracts covering thousands of units. ADOH also allocates Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — search HUD’s LIHTC database or read how to find LIHTC housing.

Apply to several authorities at once — you are not limited to your home city. Use HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA and how to apply for Section 8 guides. City-specific waitlist status is on the city pages below.

Rent Control & Source of Income

Arizona has no rent control, and under A.R.S. 33-1329 the state reserves that power to itself — cities and towns cannot cap rents. There is no statewide source-of-income protection, so in most of Arizona a landlord can legally decline a Housing Choice Voucher. Two cities are the exception: Phoenix (enforced by its Equal Opportunity Department) and Tucson (Ordinance 11959) prohibit refusing a tenant because of a voucher or other lawful source of income, and the state has not preempted them. Part of using a voucher here is finding landlords who already participate — ask your PHA for its participating-landlord list and read our source-of-income protections guide.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Arizona

If you are behind on rent or cannot cover this month, these are the main channels:

• Local rental assistance — Arizona’s statewide pandemic rental program (ERAP) has ended, so current help is local; the Arizona Department of Housing lists open rental-assistance and eviction-prevention options at housing.az.gov, and dialing 211 routes you to what is available near you
• Dial 211 to be routed to whatever local rental and prevention funds are open near you, and to your regional Coordinated Entry for shelter and rapid re-housing
• LIHEAP / utility help through DES lowers heating and cooling bills — vital in Arizona heat, and it frees up cash for rent. See utility assistance programs
• Community Action Agencies, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and St. Vincent de Paul provide one-time emergency assistance across the state

See our emergency rental assistance guide for the national picture.

Arizona Tenant Law: Key Protections at a Glance

Security deposits

Under A.R.S. 33-1321, a landlord cannot demand more than one and one-half months’ rent as a deposit (including any prepaid rent). After you move out and request it, the landlord has 14 business days to return the deposit with an itemized list of deductions. You have the right to be present at a move-out inspection if you ask. See how to recover your security deposit.

Eviction process & how long it takes

Arizona’s process is fast, and self-help eviction (lockouts, removing belongings, shutting off utilities) is illegal under A.R.S. 33-1367. The sequence:

• 5-day notice for nonpayment, or a 10-day cure notice for a lease violation (5 days for a health/safety breach)
• Special detainer action filed in justice or superior court; you are served a summons
• Hearing within days — Arizona courts set the eviction hearing quickly after filing, so do not wait. Appear and bring your lease, receipts, and photos
• Judgment and writ of restitution: if the landlord wins, the court issues a writ and a constable carries out the eviction shortly after

An uncontested Arizona eviction can finish in about two to three weeks from the notice. Because the timeline is short, get help the same day you receive a notice — AZLawHelp.org and read how to avoid eviction and understanding landlord notices.

Other Housing Programs in Arizona

• Public housing — government-owned affordable apartments run by local authorities; the public-housing waitlist is separate from the Section 8 list
• LIHTC (tax-credit) apartments — privately owned, income-restricted units allocated by ADOH; search HUD’s LIHTC database for your county
• HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; ask your VA medical center or see how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Emergency Housing Vouchers & rapid re-housing — for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness; access through Coordinated Entry by calling 211
• Eviction prevention — if you are behind, our eviction prevention hub explains what to do before your court date

Major Arizona Cities We Cover

City pages carry local PHA waitlist status, named rental-assistance programs, and shelter contacts:

• Phoenix affordable housing resources
• Mesa affordable housing resources
• Tucson affordable housing resources

Where to Get Help in Arizona

Free legal aid: AZLawHelp.org connects renters to Community Legal Services, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, and DNA People’s Legal Services.

State housing agency: Arizona Department of Housing for vouchers, LIHTC, and programs; DES for rental and utility assistance.

Find your local PHA: HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA guide.

211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for rental help, shelters, and utility assistance.

HUD fair housing: file at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination or call 1-800-669-9777.

Next Steps

Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool routes you to the right mix of Arizona programs in about two minutes based on whether your need is an emergency or long-term.

Because Arizona evictions move fast, do not wait if you have a 5-day notice: contact AZLawHelp.org the same day and read eviction prevention.