Can utility rate increases be passed on to Arizona residents?

Under §33-1413(I), a landlord may be entitled to a rent increase to compensate for actual utility rate increases (along with insurance and taxes), substantiated to the tenant in writing. This is general information, not advice about a specific bill.

Mobile home utilities and submetering in Arizona

Q: Can an Arizona park charge more than the city rate for trash or sewer?

No. Arizona Revised Statutes §33-1413.01 provides that charges for waste removal or sewer services may not exceed the prevailing single-family residential charge, fee, or rate set by the political subdivision or provider.

Q: Can an Arizona park bill separately for trash and sewer?

Yes. Section 33-1413.01 allows a landlord to charge separately for removal of waste, garbage, rubbish, refuse and trash and for sewer services — subject to the cap at the prevailing residential rate.

When an Arizona mobile home park bills residents for utilities and related services, the Mobile Home Parks Act puts clear limits on certain charges — most notably a cap on waste and sewer charges tied to the local residential rate. This is general information about how the law works; for a specific bill, consider consulting a licensed attorney in Arizona.

What the statute says

Arizona Revised Statutes §33-1413.01, "Utility charges; waste, garbage and rubbish removal charges," permits separate billing for certain services:

A landlord may charge separately for removal of waste, garbage, rubbish, refuse and trash and for sewer services.

And it caps those charges:

Any charges for removal or sewer services may not exceed the prevailing single family residential charge, fee or rate for these services levied by the political subdivision or provider.

For utility rate increases more broadly, §33-1413(I) lets a landlord seek a rent increase to compensate for actual rate increases for utilities, which must be substantiated to the tenant in writing.

How it works in general

Arizona's rule ties these charges to outside benchmarks rather than letting a park set them freely. Trash and sewer charges may be billed separately but cannot exceed what the political subdivision or provider charges single-family residences for the same services. Where a rent increase reflects higher utility rates, the landlord must substantiate the actual cost increase in writing under §33-1413(I).

Common scenarios

General examples Arizona park residents commonly encounter:

A separate trash or sewer charge appears on the bill. The §33-1413.01 cap at the prevailing residential rate is the reference point.
A rent increase is attributed to higher utility rates. Section 33-1413(I) calls for written substantiation of the actual cost.
A resident compares the park's charge to the city's published rate. That comparison is exactly what the cap is built around.

Other authorities that may apply

The political subdivision or utility provider sets the underlying residential rates the cap refers to. The written rental agreement describes how utilities are billed, and the broader Chapter 11 governs the tenancy. Federal rules can apply to particular utility programs. The statute caps and conditions these charges; the provider's rates supply the benchmark.