Is Airbnb legal in Salt Lake City, UT?

Restricted

These rules are changing or in active litigation. Verify the current status directly before you rely on it.

Airbnb is restricted in Salt Lake City, UT

A 2026 ordinance requires a business license, a two-night minimum stay, a 200-night annual cap, and a local designee. STRs are confined to mixed-use, downtown, and commercial zoning districts, not general residential zones. Buildings of 10 or fewer units get one STR license; larger buildings can license up to 10 percent of units. Utah law bars a city from punishing a host solely for advertising a listing.

Salt Lake City STR ordinance (2026)View the ordinance

Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.

Key rules at a glance

Permit or registration

Required

Primary residence only

Not confirmed

Annual night cap

200 nights

Registration fee

See ordinance

How short-term rentals work in Salt Lake City

The first step in Salt Lake City is the city's permit or registration process; check the ordinance for the current fee. Factor the 200-night annual cap into any revenue projection. The status card above has the full detail on the current rules.

Non-owner investors can operate in Salt Lake City, but within the city's limits above. Read the ordinance closely before you buy, because permits, caps, or zoning can make a specific property ineligible.

At the state level, Utah splits short-term rental authority between the state and localities.

What it means for investors

An STR can still work in Salt Lake City, but the limits shrink the pool of eligible properties and add compliance cost. Underwrite conservatively and confirm the specific address qualifies before you commit.

Analyze a rental hereCheck long-term rent

Short-term rental rules elsewhere in Utah

Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Salt Lake City?

A 2026 ordinance requires a business license, a two-night minimum stay, a 200-night annual cap, and a local designee. STRs are confined to mixed-use, downtown, and commercial zoning districts, not general residential zones. Buildings of 10 or fewer units get one STR license; larger buildings can license up to 10 percent of units. Utah law bars a city from punishing a host solely for advertising a listing. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.

Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Salt Lake City?

Yes. Salt Lake City requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.

Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Salt Lake City?

The owner-occupancy rule for Salt Lake City was not confirmed here. Check the ordinance before assuming a non-owner-occupied STR is allowed.

Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Salt Lake City?

Yes. Salt Lake City caps rentals at about 200 nights a year for the relevant category (often unhosted or non-primary stays); hosted stays are frequently uncapped. Confirm which cap applies to your setup.

What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Salt Lake City?

Short-term rentals in Salt Lake City are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Utah and the city.