Short-Term Rentals in Provo, UT

If you live in Provo or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Provo has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Every Provo short-term rental license application must include a parking plan, reviewed and approved by administrative staff, showing the dwelling meets the zone's minimum parking requirements before a license can issue.

Key details: Governing section: Provo City Code 6.33.030(2). Review authority: Administrative staff. Standard applied: Zone's minimum parking requirement. Max occupancy per unit: 10 individuals (6.33.030(3)). Multifamily STR cap: 10% of building's units.

Operating without an approved parking plan on file, or a plan that no longer matches the property, is grounds to deny, suspend, or revoke the short-term rental license under 6.33.040 and 6.33.080, punishable per Section 1.03.010(1).

Insurance Requirements

Provo requires every short-term rental license applicant to submit proof of liability insurance for each licensed dwelling as part of the license application, on top of state sales tax registration and a federal EIN.

Key details: Governing section: Provo City Code 6.33.030(9). Requirement: Proof of liability insurance per dwelling. Filed with: Short-term rental license application. Also required: State sales tax license, federal EIN. License condition: No issuance/renewal without it (6.33.040).

Applying, operating, or renewing without current proof of liability insurance on file is grounds to deny, suspend, or revoke the short-term rental license under 6.33.040, 6.26.070, and 6.26.080, as incorporated by 6.33.060.

Host Platform Liability

Provo requires hosting platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo to report every local listing twice a year and bars them from completing a booking for any property that is not licensed under Chapter 6.33 at the time the platform collects its fee.

Key details: Governing section: Provo City Code 6.33.070. Disclosure frequency: Semiannual, to the City. Booking rule: No booking fee on unlicensed unit. Compliance presumption: Online-only platforms following (1)-(2). Carve-out: Administrative subpoena duty still applies.

A hosting platform that completes a booking for an unlicensed Provo property, or fails to file the required semiannual listing disclosure, is enforced under Section 1.03.010(1), Provo City Code, per 6.33.080, and remains subject to administrative subpoena under Chapter 3.12.

Compared to other cities, Provo takes a harder line on host platform liability. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Occupancy Limits

Provo does not set a separate per-guest STR occupancy cap, but it sharply limits STR location: they are allowed only in eight commercial/mixed-use zones, and in multifamily buildings in those zones STR use is capped at 10% of the total dwelling units.

Key details: Building Cap: STR use capped at 10% of dwelling units in a multifamily building. Permitted Zones: DT1, DT2, SC3, GW, WG, FC1, FC2, PIC only. Code Chapter: Provo City Code Ch. 6.33; 6.33.060 (Other Rental Dwelling Requirements).

Exceeding the 10% per-building STR cap, or operating an STR in a non-permitted (e.g., residential) zone, is a zoning violation enforceable through Provo's code-enforcement process and may trigger a city request to remove the listing under Utah Code 10-8-85.4.

Compared to other cities, Provo takes a harder line on occupancy limits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Provo requires a short-term rental business license under Provo City Code Chapter 6.33; the city only permits STRs in eight commercial and mixed-use zones, not in residential or agricultural zones. Utah Code 10-8-85.4(4) expressly authorizes the city to require this license.

Key details: Code Section: Provo City Code 6.33.020 (License Required). Application Fee: $125 short-term rental business license. Permitted Zones: DT1, DT2, SC3, GW, WG, FC1, FC2, PIC only. State Authority: Utah Code 10-8-85.4(4).

Operating an STR without the required Chapter 6.33 business license, or operating outside a permitted zone, is a code violation subject to Provo's code-enforcement process and, where business-license or zoning requirements are violated, to a city request that the hosting platform remove the listing (Utah Code 10-8-85.4(5)-(6)).

This is one of the stricter rules in Provo's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Provo is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Provo, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Provo's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.