Orem, UT Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Occupancy rule
- Single-family dwelling occupied 'by one single family' only (Orem 22-6-2(F))
- Guest definition
- Stay under 30 days, pay no rent, not a legal address (Orem 22-2-1)
- State STR definition
- Occupancy for fewer than 30 consecutive days (UCA 10-8-85.4(1)(e))
- Code Section
- Orem City Code 22-2-1, 22-6-2(F)
Summary
Orem City Code 22-6-2(F) restricts a single-family dwelling to occupancy 'by one single family,' and the 22-2-1 definition of 'family' counts only guests who stay under 30 days and pay no rent, which effectively bars paid nightly rentals rather than setting a head-count cap. Utah's STR definition (UCA 10-8-85.4(1)(e)) is any unit offered 'for occupancy for fewer than 30 consecutive days.'
"Short-term rental" means a residential unit or any portion of a residential unit that the owner of record or the lessee of the residential unit offers for occupancy for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
Full Breakdown
Orem regulates residential occupancy through its definition of 'family' rather than a numeric guest cap for rentals. Orem City Code 22-2-1 defines 'Family' as, among other groups, an individual living alone; relatives of one designated occupant plus up to two unrelated non-paying persons; or up to three unrelated individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit. Critically, the code adds: 'The definition of family includes up to two guests if the guests live and cook together with the family in a single dwelling unit and do not pay rent...
' Because a paying short-term renter falls outside every branch of the 'family' definition, occupancy of a home by paying nightly guests is not allowed in residential zones. '
Violations & Fines
Occupying a residential dwelling with paying nightly guests beyond the limits of the 'family' definition is a zoning violation under Orem City Code 22-6-2(F), enforced by the Neighborhood Improvement Team with penalties under Orem City Code 1-1-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can stay in an Orem home?
What counts as a short-term rental under Utah law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orem
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle occupancy limits.