HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislative Version Ordinance - 5/5/2026
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SALT LAKE CITY ORDINANCE 1
No. _____ of 2026 2
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(Amending the text of Title 5 of the Salt Lake City Code pertaining to short term rental business 4
licenses) 5
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An ordinance enacting Chapter 5.13 of the Salt Lake City Code pertaining to short-term 7
rental business licenses. 8
WHEREAS, the city desires to provide for reasonable regulation of short-term hospitality 9
uses; 10
WHEREAS, short-term rental businesses place unique administrative and enforcement 11
burdens on the city requiring a unique licensure process; 12
WHEREAS, the Salt Lake City Council has determined that the following ordinance 13
promotes the health, safety, and public welfare of the citizens of the city; and 14
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that adopting this ordinance is in the city’s 15
best interests. 16
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah: 17
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SECTION 1. Enacting Chapter 5.13 of the Salt Lake City Code. That Chapter 5.13 in 19
Title 5 of the Salt Lake City Code (Business Taxes, Licenses and Regulations), is hereby enacted 20
as follows: 21
CHAPTER 5.13 22
SHORT TERM RENTALS 23
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SECTION: 25
5.13.010: Definitions 26
5.13.020: License; Required for Short-Term Rentals 27
5.13.030: License; Application 28
5.13.040: License; Fees 29
5.13.050: License; Issuance Restrictions 30
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5.13.060: Investigation; By City 31
5.13.070: Issuance of License 32
5.13.080: Effect of License Issuance 33
5.13.090: Operational Standards 34
5.13.100: Enforcement 35
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SECTION 5.13.010: DEFINITIONS: 38
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For the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the following 40
definitions shall apply: 41
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BOOKING PLATFORM: Any marketplace, website, or application through which short-term 43
rentals are advertised or booked. 44
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DWELLING: See definition in 21A.62.040. 46
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GUEST: Any person who rents a short term rental. 48
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AGENT: Any person engaged in the business of offering, managing or handling the day to day 50
business of a short-term rental business on behalf of a licensee. 51
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LOCAL CONTACT PERSON: A person designated by the licensee who resides or has an office 53
within Salt Lake County and is available to respond to issues within two hours. 54
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PROPERTY OWNER: A person with record ownership of a property according to the Salt Lake 56
County Recorder’s Office. 57
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SHORT-TERM RENTAL (STR): A building or portion thereof constructed as a dwelling, where 59
lodging is offered for a fee for a period less than thirty (30) days. 60
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SECTION 5.13.020: LICENSE; REQUIRED FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS: 63
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A. License Required: It is unlawful for any person to operate, maintain, advertise, or allow the 65
use of any dwelling as a short-term rental within the city without first obtaining a valid, 66
unrevoked short term rental business license. 67
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B. One License Per Unit: A separate license shall be required for each dwelling unit used as a 69
short-term rental. 70
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C. Non-Transferability: A short-term rental license shall not be transferable between persons or 72
properties. Any change in ownership or control of the dwelling unit for which a short term rental 73
license has been issued shall require a new license application in accordance with this Chapter. It 74
shall be a violation of this Chapter to attempt to transfer a short-term rental license. 75
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SECTION 5.13.030: LICENSE; APPLICATION: 78
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An application for a short-term rental business license shall be made to the business licensing 80
division pursuant to Section 5.02.060. The requirements below shall be in addition to satisfying 81
the application requirements in Section 5.02.060. In the event of a conflict between this Section 82
and Section 5.02.060, this Section shall control. An application for a short-term rental business 83
license shall include: 84
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A. The address and description of the dwelling; 86
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B. Proof of ownership or legal authority for the licensee to operate the short-term rental at the 88
dwelling; 89
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C. The name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address of: 91
1. The person applying for the license (if different from the property owner); 92
2. The property owner; and 93
3. The local contact person; 94
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D. A certification that the dwelling complies with applicable building, fire, and safety codes 96
shown on a checklist provided by the city; 97
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E. Local Contact Affidavit: An affidavit from the local contact person identified in the license 99
application attesting that such local contact person: 100
1. Is designated for service of process; 101
2. Can be contacted 24 hours per day according to the contact information provided in the 102
application, including by text message; 103
3. Is authorized by the licensee to take remedial action and to respond to any violation of Salt 104
Lake City Code; 105
4. Maintains a residence or office located in Salt Lake County; and 106
5. Will respond to take remedial action for any violation of Salt Lake City Code within two 107
hours of being contacted by the city. 108
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F. Landlord or Homeowners’ Association Consent: If the dwelling is subject to a rental 110
agreement, or the rules of a homeowners’ association, condominium association, or similar 111
governing body, the licensee shall provide written documentation demonstrating that the owner, 112
landlord, and/or applicable association has consented to the use of the dwelling as a short-term 113
rental. 114
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G. The signature of the of the licensee agreeing to comply with applicable ordinances and to 116
authorize inspections as provided in this Chapter. 117
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SECTION 5.13.040: LICENSE; FEES: 120
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The license fee for a short-term rental shall be established by the Salt Lake City consolidated fee 122
schedule. The license required by this Chapter shall be renewed annually and the license fee shall 123
be payable annually. 124
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SECTION 5.13.050: LICENSE; ISSUANCE RESTRICTIONS: 127
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A. No license shall be issued without submission of a complete application as required by 129
Section 5.13.030 and payment of the license fee as required by Section 5.13.040. 130
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B. No license shall be issued or renewed unless the licensee designates a local contact person 132
available twenty four (24) hours per day. If a local contact person resigns from such role then the 133
associated license shall be suspended until a new local contact person is designated by the 134
licensee. 135
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C. Multi-Family Buildings; License Limits: Buildings containing ten (10) or fewer dwelling 137
units are limited to one (1) license per building. Buildings containing more than ten (10) 138
dwelling units may only receive licenses for up to 10% of the units. For illustration purposes, if a 139
building compromises 30 dwelling units, then a short term rental business license may only be 140
issued for three (3) units. 141
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D. License Limit Per Licensee: No licensee, whether acting individually or in concert with 143
others, shall be issued directly or designate any third party to hold more than one (1) short-term 144
rental business license within the city. For purposes of this subsection, “person” includes any 145
individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, or other legal entity, and 146
any entity under common ownership or control shall be considered a single person. Agents are 147
ineligible for short-term rental business licenses unless they are the bona fide property owner or 148
otherwise have the sole right of occupancy to a dwelling unit. 149
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E. Nuisance-Based Ineligibility: No license shall be issued or renewed for any short-term rental 151
if the property, property owner, or licensee (if different from the property owner) is subject to an 152
unresolved or active nuisance citation issued pursuant to Chapter 11.18. 153
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F. Zoning Restrictions: Subject to subsection C, no business license shall be issued or renewed 155
for a short-term rental located on property unless such property is zoned MU2, MU3, MU5, 156
MU6, MU8, MU11, M1, M1-A, D1, D2, D3, D4, GMU, RP, BP, A, or JRF. 157
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G. Other Outstanding Code Violations or Registrations: No short-term rental business license 159
shall be issued or renewed for any property currently subject to regulation under Chapter 18.48 160
(Dangerous Buildings) or for which there are outstanding citations for unresolved violations of 161
Titles 18 or 21A of the Salt Lake City Code. 162
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SECTION 5.13.060: INVESTIGATION; BY CITY: 165
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A. An application for a license, or renewal thereof, may be referred for approval to the fire 167
department or building services division. Upon such referral the directors of such departments, or 168
their designees, shall determine, based on the self- certification provided under Subsection 169
5.13.030.D and any other relevant information, if an inspection is needed to determine whether 170
or not the dwelling at issue complies with the self-certification standards established by the city. 171
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B. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the city from performing inspections 173
triggered by cause or complaint. The city shall have discretion to determine what constitutes 174
cause or complaint sufficient to trigger an inspection by the city. 175
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C. Whenever it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce any provisions of this chapter, or 177
whenever the city has reasonable cause to believe a violation exists in any building or upon any 178
premises which makes such building or premises unsafe, dangerous or hazardous, the city's duly 179
authorized representative may, after making reasonable efforts to obtain permission of the 180
property owner or licensee, enter a residential property or premises to inspect it or to perform 181
any other duties imposed by this chapter. 182
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D. It shall be a violation of this Chapter to refuse an inspection required by this Section. 184
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SECTION 5.13.070: ISSUANCE OF LICENSE: 187
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The business licensing division shall approve or deny the application for a short-term rental 189
license after receiving recommendations from applicable departments and determining that an 190
application complies with each and every provision of this Chapter and all other relevant 191
provisions of Title 5. 192
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SECTION 5.13.080: EFFECT OF LICENSE ISSUANCE: 195
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The issuance of a short-term rental license shall not: 197
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A. Legalize the creation of any dwelling; 199
B. Legalize any unlawful use or structure; or 200
C. Establish any legal nonconforming use. 201
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SECTION 5.13.090: OPERATIONAL STANDARDS: 204
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A. Occupancy Limits: Maximum occupancy shall be in accordance with fire and building code 206
requirements. 207
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B. Parking Requirements: Each short-term rental shall provide a minimum of one (1) off-street 209
parking stall for the exclusive use of occupants of the short-term rental. Such parking space shall 210
comply with all applicable zoning and design standards, including the location of the off street 211
parking stall as required by 21A.44. 212
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C. Minimum Stay Requirement: No short-term rental shall be rented, leased, or otherwise 214
occupied for a period of less than two (2) consecutive nights by the same guest. 215
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D. Annual Rental Night Cap: No short-term rental shall be rented, leased, or otherwise occupied 217
for more than two hundred (200) nights within any annual license period. 218
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E. Noise and Nuisance: The licensee shall ensure compliance with all applicable noise, waste, 220
and nuisance regulations. 221
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F. License Number Identification: The licensee shall include the short-term rental business 223
license number issued by the city in any advertisement, listing, or other promotion of the short-224
term rental including on any booking platform. Such license number shall be displayed in a 225
conspicuous location within the advertisement. 226
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G. Posting Requirements: In a form provided by the city the licensee shall post within the short 228
term rental and in a conspicuous location on or near the front door to the short term rental (1) the 229
license number issued by the city for the short term rental, and (2) a telephone number that 230
receives text messages and an email address of the local contact person. 231
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H. Recordkeeping: Licensees shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with 233
the requirements of this Chapter, including the number of nights the short-term rental is occupied 234
each license period, and shall provide such records to the City upon request. 235
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I. Response by Local Contact Person: The local contact person shall be available and respond 237
within two hours of being contacted by the city to remedy issues at a short term rental. 238
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J. Building Standards: The short term rental property shall be maintained in accordance with the 240
self-certification standards published by the city. 241
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K. Taxes: All applicable transient room taxes shall be collected and remitted. 243
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L. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Section is grounds for enforcement pursuant to 245
Section 5.13.100. 246
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SECTION 5.13.100: ENFORCEMENT: 249
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A. Except as set forth in Subsection A1, violations of this Chapter shall be subject to the 251
penalties set forth in Chapter 5.88. 252
1. For a violation of Section 5.13.020, civil penalties of $1,000 shall accrue every seven (7) 253
calendar days. 254
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B. The City may revoke or suspend a license for repeated violations. 256
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C. Three-Strike Suspension – Nuisance Violations: If a short-term rental is the subject of three 258
(3) verified violations of applicable noise, nuisance, parking, or other operational standards 259
within any twelve (12) month period, the city may suspend the short-term rental business license 260
for the remainder of the license period. For purposes of this section, a “verified violation” means 261
a violation confirmed by the city through investigation, citation, or other enforcement action. 262
Upon suspension, the short-term rental shall not be rented, advertised, or occupied for 263
compensation during the suspension period. The city shall provide written notice of suspension 264
to the license holder, including the basis for the suspension and the effective date. 265
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D. Escalation – Permanent Revocation: 267
1. If a short-term rental business license is suspended pursuant to Subsection C of this section 268
for three (3) consecutive license periods, or portions thereof, the city may revoke the license. 269
2. Upon revocation: 270
a. The dwelling at which the short term rental was conducted and the licensee shall be 271
ineligible for a new short-term rental business license for a period of not less than three (3) years; 272
and 273
b. Any subsequent application shall be treated as a new application subject to all applicable 274
requirements in effect at the time of application. 275
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E. Effect of Suspension or Revocation: 277
1. During any period of suspension or revocation, the short-term rental shall not be operated, 278
advertised, or offered for occupancy. 279
2. Any operation in violation of this Subsection E shall constitute a separate violation for each 280
day of noncompliance. 281
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F. Other Remedies Not Limited: The suspension and revocation provisions of this Section are in 283
addition to, and not in lieu of, any other enforcement remedies available to the city under this 284
title or other applicable law, including those set forth in general business licensing enforcement 285
provision. 286
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SECTION 5.13.110: APPEAL: 289
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Any enforcement actions taken by the city pursuant to this Chapter may be appealed pursuant to 291
Chapter 2.75. 292
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SECTION 2. Effective Date. That this ordinance shall take effect on July 1, 2026, 295
pursuant to publication requirements outlined in Utah Code sections 10-3-711 and 10-3-713. 296
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this ______ day of ______________, 297
2026. 298
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______________________________ 302
Alejandro Puy, Council Chair 303
ATTEST: 304
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______________________________ 306
Keith Reynolds, City Recorder 307
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Transmitted to Mayor on _______________________. 309
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Mayor's Action: _______Approved. _______Vetoed. 312
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______________________________ 315
Erin Mendenhall, Mayor 316
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______________________________ 319
Keith Reynolds, City Recorder 320
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Bill No. ________ of 2026. 323
Published: ______________. 324
Short Term Rental Business License 325