Salt Lake City STR Rules Bring $1,000 Weekly Fines

Key Takeaways

Salt Lake City hosts now need a license to operate or advertise a short-term rental
Unlicensed operators can be fined $1,000 for every seven days they remain out of compliance
The rules include a two-night minimum stay, a 200-night annual limit and new caps in multifamily buildings

Salt Lake City short-term rental hosts now need a license to operate or advertise their properties, and ignoring the new rule could get expensive fast.

Under an ordinance that took effect July 1, unlicensed operators can be fined $1,000 for every seven days they remain out of compliance, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

The licensing system is a first for Utah’s capital city and gives officials a clearer way to track Airbnb and Vrbo listings operating within city limits.

It also comes with several new limits for hosts.

Reservations must be at least two nights, and each property can be rented for no more than 200 nights per year.

City officials said the two-night minimum is intended to discourage one-night stays tied to parties, noise and other neighborhood complaints.

The rules get more restrictive in multifamily properties. Buildings with 10 units or fewer can have only one licensed short-term rental, while larger buildings are limited to 10 percent of their total units.

Salt Lake City hosts face new licensing rules and fines

Hosts must post their license number on every online listing and name a local contact who lives in Salt Lake County.

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That person must be able to reach the property within two hours when the city receives a complaint, giving officials someone nearby to contact when problems arise.

Accessory dwelling units still cannot be used as short-term rentals, even as the city considers making it easier for homeowners to build more of them.

The ordinance also does not expand where vacation rentals are allowed. Short-term rentals remain largely confined to downtown, Central City, the Granary District and other commercial or mixed-use areas.

That means the biggest change is not a new map for hosts. It is a more formal enforcement system for properties already operating in areas where short-term rentals are permitted.

Properties with unresolved nuisance violations can be denied a license. Repeated problems can also lead to a suspension or revocation, adding another layer of risk for hosts who fail to respond to complaints.

The city’s three-strike policy applies to verified violations involving noise, parking, trash and other disturbances.

For operators who are already following zoning rules, the path forward is relatively straightforward: apply for a license, post the number on every listing and make sure a local contact is ready when guests need help or neighbors raise concerns.

For anyone operating without approval, however, the city now has a fine large enough to make waiting an expensive strategy.