What This Statute Says
A.R.S. § 42-11130 exempts property owned by public library organizations and used for library purposes. The exemption supports both government and qualifying nonprofit libraries.
Property that is not used or held for profit, that is owned by an organization the mission of which is to provide supplemental financial support to public libraries and that qualifies as a charitable organization and is recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code is exempt from taxation if the property is used predominantly for those purposes.
A.R.S. § 42-11130Public libraries and certain nonprofit libraries hold their property tax-free. The statute pairs with the broader educational exemption in § 42-11104 to keep informational and educational infrastructure off the tax rolls.
For donors planning a charitable bequest to a local library Friends group or library foundation, this exemption preserves the value of the gift.
When This Statute Comes Into Play
This statute typically becomes relevant in three situations. A property owner is reviewing an annual tax bill. An estate is being administered and the personal representative has to address ongoing property tax obligations. Or a charitable or nonprofit organization is claiming or maintaining an exemption. The statute is part of a larger framework in chapter 11 of title 42 and operates alongside the related sections cross-linked below.
What This Means for Arizona Families
Most families never think about Arizona property tax statutes until they are sitting at a closing table on an inherited home, reviewing an unexpected tax bill, or trying to claim an exemption for a surviving spouse. When that moment arrives, the rules in chapter 11 of title 42 are the framework you are working inside.
If you are holding real property in a revocable living trust, the trust structure does not by itself remove the property from the tax rolls. The exemption has to come from a specific statute. Our FAQ on what to do with property you inherit in Arizona covers the immediate practical questions, and our FAQ on probate timelines covers how a contested or stalled administration can affect tax filings and exemptions.
If you are administering an estate, the personal representative has a duty to keep property taxes current, to claim available exemptions where appropriate, and to maintain documentation in case the assessor reviews a claim later. Calendar the February exemption filing window each year for any property where a widow, widower, or disability exemption applies. Once the deadline passes, the saving for that year is usually lost.