CITY RULES · SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Short-term rental rules in Salt Lake City, UT.

Regulator: Salt Lake City Finance, Business Licensing. Last checked: Oct 15, 2026. Checked against: review status and sources shown for each claim.

Informational guide, not legal advice. Review dates and sources appear beside individual claims. Unconfirmed research is separated below. Rules and property eligibility can change; confirm requirements with the city before acting.

How we review these rules

Checked against official source The linked official material supports this particular summary as of its review date.
City confirmation needed Official wording conflicts or leaves a property-specific question. Ask the city before relying on it.
Review pending Unconfirmed draft research, separated from the checked summaries and compliance checklist.

Guests: Good to know when booking or staying

These are host rules from the official sources that may show up in a listing or affect your stay.

Caps / limits: The city page states one license per licensee and one dwelling per license, with a 10% allowance for owners of larger buildings. The page says more than eleven units, but City Code 5.13.050(C) as we read it says more than ten. Confirm the threshold for your building with Business Licensing. City confirmation needed
The webpage says more than eleven units; the code says more than ten. Confirm the threshold with Business Licensing.
Sources: City licensing webpage ↗ · Code 5.13.050(C) — issuance restrictions ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Local contact: The local contact must have a Salt Lake County home or office, be reachable around the clock including by text, and take remedial action within two hours of city contact. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Notice in the unit: Display the city notice indoors and conspicuously on or near the front door, including the license and local contact details. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Sales and transient room tax: The state's October 1, 2026 table lists a combined transient-room rate of 15.52% for this city. This is a combined rate, not an extra tax to add to sales tax. Confirm the property's location code and transaction treatment before collecting. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Stay length: A stay must cover at least two consecutive nights. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Annual night cap: Both sources state a 200-night cap, but the city webpage says calendar year and Code 5.13.090(D) says annual license period. Ask Business Licensing which period governs before setting availability. City confirmation needed
The cited official sources use different counting periods.
Sources: Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Parking and occupancy: Provide at least one off-street stall reserved for STR occupants. Occupancy must comply with fire and building codes. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15

Homeowners: Permits, taxes, caps and pending changes

What the official sources say a host or owner needs in Salt Lake City, UT.

Licence required: Obtain a business license before advertising or accepting bookings. A separate license is required for each unit and cannot transfer between people or properties. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Where STRs are allowed: The city lists MU2, MU3, MU5, MU6, MU8, MU11, M1, M1-A, D1, D2, D3, D4, GMU, RP, BP, A and JRF. Check the exact property's zoning before applying. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Caps / limits: The city page states one license per licensee and one dwelling per license, with a 10% allowance for owners of larger buildings. The page says more than eleven units, but City Code 5.13.050(C) as we read it says more than ten. Confirm the threshold for your building with Business Licensing. City confirmation needed
The webpage says more than eleven units; the code says more than ten. Confirm the threshold with Business Licensing.
Sources: City licensing webpage ↗ · Code 5.13.050(C) — issuance restrictions ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Application: Provide owner and contact details, photo ID, authorization when applying for someone else, applicable HOA approval, and the city's safety certification and inspection consent. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Fines and enforcement: Code 5.13.100: operating or advertising without a licence carries civil penalties of $1,000 every seven calendar days. Three verified noise, nuisance, parking or other operational violations in 12 months can lead to suspension for the rest of the licence period; a licence suspended for three consecutive licence periods may be revoked, with no new licence for the dwelling or licensee for at least 3 years. Checked against official source
Sources: Code 5.13.100 — enforcement ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Local contact: The local contact must have a Salt Lake County home or office, be reachable around the clock including by text, and take remedial action within two hours of city contact. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Notice in the unit: Display the city notice indoors and conspicuously on or near the front door, including the license and local contact details. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Sales and transient room tax: The state's October 1, 2026 table lists a combined transient-room rate of 15.52% for this city. This is a combined rate, not an extra tax to add to sales tax. Confirm the property's location code and transaction treatment before collecting. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Utah state law: HB 256 (2025) provides a municipal process to request removal of listings that violate applicable licensing or zoning rules, identifying the listing URL and violation. It also addresses tax-enforcement referrals. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Stay length: A stay must cover at least two consecutive nights. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Annual night cap: Both sources state a 200-night cap, but the city webpage says calendar year and Code 5.13.090(D) says annual license period. Ask Business Licensing which period governs before setting availability. City confirmation needed
The cited official sources use different counting periods.
Sources: Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Parking and occupancy: Provide at least one off-street stall reserved for STR occupants. Occupancy must comply with fire and building codes. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15

Management clients: Compliance checklist

Items from the rules listed that need ongoing attention. We discuss applicable local rules with each owner before an arrangement begins, and the agreement sets out who is responsible for what.

Licence required: Obtain a business license before advertising or accepting bookings. A separate license is required for each unit and cannot transfer between people or properties. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Where STRs are allowed: The city lists MU2, MU3, MU5, MU6, MU8, MU11, M1, M1-A, D1, D2, D3, D4, GMU, RP, BP, A and JRF. Check the exact property's zoning before applying. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Caps / limits: The city page states one license per licensee and one dwelling per license, with a 10% allowance for owners of larger buildings. The page says more than eleven units, but City Code 5.13.050(C) as we read it says more than ten. Confirm the threshold for your building with Business Licensing. City confirmation needed
The webpage says more than eleven units; the code says more than ten. Confirm the threshold with Business Licensing.
Sources: City licensing webpage ↗ · Code 5.13.050(C) — issuance restrictions ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Application: Provide owner and contact details, photo ID, authorization when applying for someone else, applicable HOA approval, and the city's safety certification and inspection consent. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Fines and enforcement: Code 5.13.100: operating or advertising without a licence carries civil penalties of $1,000 every seven calendar days. Three verified noise, nuisance, parking or other operational violations in 12 months can lead to suspension for the rest of the licence period; a licence suspended for three consecutive licence periods may be revoked, with no new licence for the dwelling or licensee for at least 3 years. Checked against official source
Sources: Code 5.13.100 — enforcement ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Local contact: The local contact must have a Salt Lake County home or office, be reachable around the clock including by text, and take remedial action within two hours of city contact. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Notice in the unit: Display the city notice indoors and conspicuously on or near the front door, including the license and local contact details. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Sales and transient room tax: The state's October 1, 2026 table lists a combined transient-room rate of 15.52% for this city. This is a combined rate, not an extra tax to add to sales tax. Confirm the property's location code and transaction treatment before collecting. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Utah state law: HB 256 (2025) provides a municipal process to request removal of listings that violate applicable licensing or zoning rules, identifying the listing URL and violation. It also addresses tax-enforcement referrals. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Stay length: A stay must cover at least two consecutive nights. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Annual night cap: Both sources state a 200-night cap, but the city webpage says calendar year and Code 5.13.090(D) says annual license period. Ask Business Licensing which period governs before setting availability. City confirmation needed
The cited official sources use different counting periods.
Sources: Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15
Parking and occupancy: Provide at least one off-street stall reserved for STR occupants. Occupancy must comply with fire and building codes. Checked against official source
Sources: Official source ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15

Unconfirmed research notes (1)

These draft claims are not part of the checked guide or compliance checklist. The links are starting points for review, not confirmation of the claims.

Licence fee: The city fee schedule lists a base business-licence fee plus $342 per rental unit, payable annually. The city does not print a single total for short-term rentals; confirm the total with Business Licensing (801-535-6644). Review pending
The draft amount remains unconfirmed: the fee schedule could not be retrieved during this review. Confirm the total directly with Business Licensing.
Sources to review: City consolidated fee schedule ↗ · Code 5.13.040 — license fees ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15

NOT YET VERIFIED

What we have not confirmed for Salt Lake City, UT.

The exact total annual licence fee: the fee schedule gives a base fee line with no dollar figure for short-term rentals, plus $342 per unit (the Salt Lake Tribune reported $540 in total; the city does not print that figure) Not yet verified
Penalties for violations other than operating without a licence (they follow City Code chapter 5.88, which was not read) Not yet verified
Whether the multi-unit threshold is 10 units (city code) or 11 units (city web page); the two conflict Not yet verified
Whether your property's zone is permitted (check the city zoning map) Not yet verified
Any pending changes after Oct 2026 (a third-party article expects the council to review the 200-night cap and 2-night minimum; no city page confirms it) Not yet verified

Do not rely on anything in this list until it is confirmed on the official city page.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Read it from the city.

PROPERTY-SPECIFIC TAX CHECK

The county tourism assessment is not countywide.

The linked 2023 management plan describes a 2% assessment for lodging in specified areas: establishments with more than 35 rooms in West Valley City, Kearns, Sandy and Draper, plus lodging within Salt Lake City ZIP codes 84103, 84101 and 84111. This does not establish that an individual STR is assessed. Check the current county boundaries and assessed-property list before adding a charge.

County management plan, pages 3 and 10 ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Property applicability unconfirmed

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