Short-term rental ordinance

Every hearing and vote

1. May 26, 2026 · City Council

   Short-term rentals: dormancy rule, legacy status, fees and enforcement

   Discussed

   Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers proposed that an active short-term rental (STR) sit vacant five days a month, which he said still allows occupancy above 80 percent; City Attorney Steve Earl said the rule also guards against using an STR license to get around the three-unrelated-occupant limit (the draft STR ordinance would allow up to eight). Staff also proposed 'legacy status' for operators that can show operation, a city rental license, continuous listings and tax compliance before Jan. 1, 2025; the license would not transfer on sale and would be exempt from caps and a proposed 1,000-foot separation buffer. Staff estimated $141,000 to $210,000 a year for a planner and one or two enforcement officers, which spread over about 250 operators implies a fee of more than $100 (Lehi charges $190, Logan $575), and proposed a fee study by Lewis Roberts and Birmingham. A straw poll on a total prohibition drew support only from Council Members LaNae Millett and Crystal Muhlestein, short of the four votes needed. The rest of the council directed staff to draft two options for the June 23 work session: owner-occupied only, and owner-occupied plus a capped number of non-owner-occupied rentals. Members suggested owner presence during stays, a two-strikes violation policy, fines scaled to rental value, and a citywide cap of about 20 units or 1 percent of homes. No binding votes can be taken in a work session; the chosen draft would go to the Planning Commission before a council vote.

   • Option 1 (total prohibition) straw poll: Millett and Muhlestein in favor; did not reach four votes
   • Staff cost estimates: planner $75,000; enforcement officer about $65,000; one of each $141,000; one planner and two officers $210,000
   • Next step: two draft ordinances at the June 23, 2026 work session

2. September 8, 2026 · City Council

   Short-term rental framework: owner-occupied baseline

   Discussed

   Deputy City Attorney Summers laid out waypoints for an owner-occupied short-term rental license: stays of 24 hours to 30 days; at least 50 percent ownership and primary-residence proof; an affidavit that the owner lives there at least 10 months (304 days) a year; the owner present overnight during stays; a 24/7 local contact able to respond within 20 minutes; no events or parties; a license that expires on sale or transfer; license numbers on listings; and fines of $750 for a first violation and $1,000 after, the state maximum. Members debated revocation after two versus three strikes in 12 months. Council Member Millett urged enforcing the existing ban to return up to 500 units to long-term housing; Council Member Crystal Muhlestein shared concerns about housing being converted to investments; Council Member Quinn Mecham said owner-occupied rentals can help owners afford a mortgage. Density caps, quiet hours, parking and occupancy limits remain for a later session.

3. September 22, 2026 · City Council

   Short-term rentals, continued

   Pending

   Ninety-minute work session discussion led by Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers.