Salt Lake City, UT Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Salt Lake City, UT, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License required
- Yes, before any STR use
- Stay length triggering rule
- Under 30 days
- Licenses per unit
- One per dwelling unit
- Transferable
- No
- Unlicensed operation penalty
- $1,000 per 7 days
Summary
Salt Lake City requires a short-term rental business license before any dwelling can be advertised or rented for stays under 30 days.
It is unlawful for any person to operate, maintain, advertise, or allow the use of any dwelling as a short-term rental within the city without first obtaining a valid, unrevoked short term rental business license.
B. One License Per Unit: A separate license shall be required for each dwelling unit used as a short-term rental.
C. Non-Transferability: A short-term rental license shall not be transferable between persons or properties. Any change in ownership or control of the dwelling unit for which a short term rental license has been issued shall require a new license application in accordance with this Chapter. It shall be a violation of this Chapter to attempt to transfer a short-term rental license. (Ord. 38-26, 2026)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City code makes it unlawful to operate, maintain, advertise, or allow use of any dwelling as a short-term rental without a valid, unrevoked short-term rental business license from the business licensing division. A separate license is required for each dwelling unit, licenses cannot be transferred between owners or properties, and a change in ownership triggers a new application. Applications go through section 5.02.060 plus STR-specific requirements including proof of ownership, a local contact person within two hours' response time, and a building/fire/safety compliance certification.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license draws civil penalties of $1,000 accruing every 7 days under chapter 5.88; three verified nuisance violations in 12 months can trigger suspension, and repeated suspensions can lead to license revocation with a 3-year ban on reapplying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Salt Lake City STR license if I sell the property?
What happens if I operate an unlicensed short-term rental in Salt Lake City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
How Salt Lake City compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle short-term rental permits.