Airbnb to block some Halloween stays in Arizona to prevent large parties

PHOENIX — Online vacation rental company Airbnb is taking steps to block some Halloween weekend stays in Arizona to prevent large, unauthorized parties.

Airbnb won’t allow one-night reservations over the holiday weekend for guests without a history of positive reviews, according to a press release.

Some local and last-minute two-night bookings will also be blocked. All guests who do make one- or two-night reservations over Halloween weekend will have to agree to an attestation form saying they understand Airbnb’s party ban.

Airbnb enacted similar restrictions for Halloween in 2020, New Year’s Eve and the July 4 holiday weekend.

Unauthorized parties dropped by 49% over Halloween and 51% on New Year’s Eve, according to the release.

“We also know that the great majority of guests are respectful of neighbors and treat their hosts’ homes with the utmost respect,” Airbnb said in the release.

“We believe this plan will help prevent large gatherings while supporting the type of safe, responsible travel that benefits guests, hosts and the neighborhoods they call home.”

Airbnb’s anti-party restrictions have been in place across the U.S. and Canada for almost a year.

Airbnb said it suspended or removed 50 listings in Arizona last year for complaints received regarding parties or other policy violations.

One of those complaints came when a teenager was wounded after gunfire was exchanged following a fight at a vacation rental house party in Scottsdale in July 2020.

SB 1379 , authored by Sen. J.D. Mesnard, would have given local cities the authority to enact fines and other penalties on hosts who violate the laws. The bill died in the House in April.

Short-term rentals remain a valuable tax asset for the state.

Airbnb said it generated about $87 million in taxes for the state of Arizona between 2017 and 2020.

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