Occupancy Limits: Orem vs Spanish Fork
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Orem, UT and Spanish Fork, UT?
Orem and Spanish Fork have similar restriction levels.
Orem, UT
Utah County
Orem has historically prohibited short-term rentals (transient lodging under 30 days) in residential zones under a 2002 zoning ordinance, so no occupancy formula has applied to lawful residential STRs. The Orem City Council reviewed a draft STR text amendment in 2025 (Utah PMN posting 772697) discussing tiered caps such as two guests per bedroom up to a maximum of eight, but as of the most recent verified council discussion no STR occupancy ordinance had been formally adopted.
View full Orem rules →Spanish Fork, UT
Utah County
Spanish Fork regulates short-term rentals (STRs) through Spanish Fork City Code Chapter 19.89. STRs are strictly prohibited in single-family residential zones (R-1, RR, and F). They are only allowed by conditional use permit in specific zones - R-2-8, RM, Mixed Use, Neighborhood Commercial, and Residential Office - and in private developments such as Planned Unit Developments and condominium projects with a minimum of 8 units fronting on private streets. Spanish Fork has not codified a numeric guest cap; the dwelling's underlying International Building Code occupancy and the conditional use permit conditions control.
View full Spanish Fork rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Orem | Spanish Fork |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning Code | Orem City Code Ch. 22 | - |
| Residential STRs | Prohibited (2002 amendment) | - |
| Proposed Cap (draft) | 2/bedroom, max 8 (not adopted) | - |
| Adoption Status | No final STR ordinance | - |
| Contact | Development Services 801-229-7058 | Community Development (801) 804-4500 |
| Code Chapter | - | Spanish Fork City Code Ch. 19.89 |
| Permitted Zones (CUP) | - | R-2-8, RM, Mixed Use, Neighborhood Commercial, Residential Office |
| Prohibited Zones | - | R-1, RR, F (single-family) |
| PUD/Condo | - | 8+ units, all fronting private streets |
| Definition | - | Fewer than 30 consecutive days |
| Penalty | - | Up to 6 months / $1,000 ($5,000 corp); each day separate |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Orem FAQ
How many guests can stay overnight in an Orem short-term rental?
Orem has not codified an STR occupancy formula because the 2002 Chapter 22 zoning amendment prohibits transient lodging under 30 days in residential districts. A 2025 draft text amendment (Utah PMN 772697) contemplated a two-guest-per-bedroom formula with a maximum near eight, but no occupancy ordinance has been adopted. Confirm the property's zoning and the current code with Orem Development Services at (801) 229-7058 before relying on any number.
Are short-term rentals legal in Orem residential neighborhoods?
Historically no. Orem's 2002 zoning amendment listed transient lodging, hotels, tourist courts, and motels as prohibited uses in residential zones, so dwelling rentals of fewer than 30 days have not been a permitted residential use. The City Council was actively debating a new STR text amendment in 2025, but until that amendment is adopted and codified into Chapter 22, residential STR operation continues to risk zoning enforcement.
Spanish Fork FAQ
Can I run an Airbnb in a Spanish Fork single-family neighborhood?
No. Chapter 19.89 of the Spanish Fork City Code, as confirmed by the Planning Commission's Short-Term Rental Ordinance Proposed Text Amendment memo, expressly prohibits short-term rentals in the city's single-family residential zones (R-1, RR, and F). Operating without authorization is a misdemeanor under Sec. 19.89.190 and Sec. 1.08.020 with each day counted as a separate offense.
Where are short-term rentals allowed in Spanish Fork?
Spanish Fork allows short-term rentals only via conditional use permit in the R-2-8, RM, Mixed Use, Neighborhood Commercial, and Residential Office zones, and in qualifying private developments (Planned Unit Developments, condominium projects) with at least 8 units that all front on private streets. Confirm the property's zone with Community Development at (801) 804-4500 before applying.
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