Executive overview: Short-term rentals with lease terms fewer than 30 days are not permitted within Salt Lake City’s residential zoning districts. Under Salt Lake City Municipal Code, such uses are treated as hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast uses, which are generally prohibited in residential zones. In short: under-30-day STRs in a standard dwelling unit or ADU in SLC residential areas are not allowed; viable alternatives are to operate a conventional lodging use in an appropriately zoned area or to rent for 30 days or more (a residential tenancy, not a short-term rental).

Allowed vs. Not Allowed: Quick Distinctions for Investors

• Salt Lake City (SLC)
  • Allowed: Hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast in zoning districts that permit lodging uses; rentals of 30 days or more (standard residential tenancy).
  • Not allowed: Under-30-day STRs in residential zones; under-30-day STRs in ADUs (ADUs are residential units and follow the same <30-day restriction).
• South Salt Lake City (SSL)
  • Allowed: Licensed STRs with owner-occupancy and specific caps and district limitations (R1, RM, MPMU, Downtown); under-30-day STRs are prohibited in ADUs.
• North Salt Lake (NSL)
  • Allowed: Licensed STRs with owner-occupancy; ADU STRs permitted with a separate ADU land-use permit; under-30-day STRs in ADUs are allowed only with that permit.

Use these distinctions when underwriting a property in the Salt Lake metropolitan area; jurisdictional rules vary substantially across city lines.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

Salt Lake City path (for lease terms under 30 days)

• Confirm zoning and land use
  • Under-30-day rentals are classified as hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast uses. Verify whether your property is in a zoning district that permits lodging uses. If not, the under-30-day STR use will not be permitted in a residential district.
  • Use the SLC online zoning map and associated land use tables to confirm whether “hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast” is allowed on the subject parcel.
  • If necessary, request an Administrative Interpretation from SLC Planning to document the land use determination in writing.
• Prepare a Development Review Team (DRT) application
  • The DRT meeting is recommended even if your use is allowed, to surface building code, fire code, parking, and operational requirements before proceeding.
  • Submit the DRT application to SLC Planning and attend the meeting.
• Secure business licensing and permits
  • If the use is permitted in the zoning district, apply for the required business license(s). Expect building/fire inspections and plan reviews if converting or expanding an existing structure to a lodging use.
  • Confirm sales tax transient room tax obligations through the Utah State Tax Commission and SLC Business Licensing.
• Ongoing compliance
  • Maintain occupancy and operational standards; comply with all applicable building, fire, life-safety, parking, and municipal code requirements. Violations can lead to civil enforcement, license suspension, or revocation.

Alternative paths within the metro area

• South Salt Lake City (SSL): A licensing regime exists for owner-occupied STRs, with caps (citywide and per block), occupancy limits, inspections, posting rules, and district restrictions. STRs are prohibited in ADUs.
• North Salt Lake (NSL): A licensing regime exists with owner-occupancy and parking standards; ADUs may be used for STRs with a separate ADU land-use permit; STRs may not exceed a maximum 30-day rental period.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Salt Lake City (for lodging uses, under 30 days)

• Administrative Interpretation (recommended)
  • Purpose: Written determination that the property can be used for a short-term rental (classified as hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast).
  • Obtain via SLC Planning.
• Development Review Team (DRT) meeting
  • Purpose: Coordinate planning, building, fire, parking, utilities, and any other applicable reviews.
• Business license(s)
  • Required if the property is in a zoning district that allows hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast uses.
  • Contact SLC Business Licensing to confirm application requirements and fees.
• Building permits and inspections
  • As applicable for conversion, remodeling, or new construction to meet building and fire code requirements for lodging.
• Zoning Verification Letter (optional but recommended for transactions)
  • Confirms the legal use and zoning compliance status of the property, often required by lenders.
• Operational documentation
  • Occupancy plans, parking layout, safety protocols, and any other materials identified in the DRT process.

South Salt Lake City (owner-occupied STRs; caps apply)

• STR business license application including:
  • Owner/applicant/property manager contact details
  • Property description and room-by-room use
  • Site plan showing required off-street parking
  • Number of rooms and maximum occupancy
  • FEIN or tax account number
  • 24/7 contact for owner/agent; agent must be able to respond on-site within 30 minutes
  • Signed compliance declaration
  • For R1/MPMU districts: sworn affidavit and proof of primary residency (utilities, voter registration, bank statements, vehicle registration, tax documents, insurance, payroll, etc.)
• Pre-license inspections
  • Building and Fire Marshal inspections required before issuance
• Posting requirements
  • Exterior nameplate sign with owner/agent contact, occupant load, license number
  • Interior license posting with parking, noise rules, trash pickup, license number, agent contacts, and emergency numbers
• Ongoing requirements
  • Maintain occupancy limits (two adults per bedroom; or eight related adults; or four unrelated adults; or ten total persons), parking, property maintenance, and noise compliance
  • Only one STR license per property; rentals limited to one renter party at a time
  • Sales tax and transient room tax account required; include tax number on the STR application
  • Online advertisement must display “legally permitted by South Salt Lake City” language with license number
• Caps and waitlist
  • Citywide cap of 200 STRs; maximum of two per block
  • If caps are met, applications are placed on a waiting list and reviewed annually

North Salt Lake (owner-occupied STRs; ADU STRs require a separate land-use permit)

• Land use permit for STR
• Business license for STR
• ADU land use permit (if renting an ADU as STR)
• Parking: one additional off-street space per two bedrooms in the STR
• Owner-occupancy requirement
• Maximum rental period of thirty (30) days

Specific Regulations: Salt Lake City, County, and State

Salt Lake City regulations

• Land use classification and zoning
  • Under-30-day rentals are treated as hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast uses; these lodging uses are generally not permitted in residential zoning districts.
  • Use the online zoning map and land use tables to determine if lodging uses are permitted on a given parcel.
• ADUs
  • Allowed in zoning districts that permit residential uses, subject to owner-occupancy (if the primary dwelling is single-family), and must be enrolled in the Good Landlord Program for long-term rentals.
  • Under-30-day rentals of ADUs are prohibited in residential zones because they are classified as lodging uses.
• Enforcement and citations
  • SLC has strengthened enforcement, including adopting data-gathering software to identify properties actually used as STRs; however, state law limits using online listings alone as evidence of violations.
• Parking and access
  • Off-street parking and access must meet code; in residential zones, certain parking placements are prohibited. Review the Residential Driveway Design Guide and applicable code sections before planning conversions.

Salt Lake County regulations

• Noise
  • Salt Lake County’s noise ordinance governs quiet hours; owners/agents are responsible for ensuring guests comply. SSL references the county noise rules in its STR requirements; similar expectations apply regionally.

State of Utah law

• Constitutional limitation on enforcement
  • State code prohibits local governments from punishing individuals solely for listing or offering a short-term rental on a short-term rental website. This affects how SLC and other local governments can investigate and enforce STR violations.

South Salt Lake City STR regulations (metropolitan context)

• Owner-occupancy requirement (primary residence within 30 miles for R1/MPMU)
• STRs prohibited in ADUs
• Occupancy caps and definitions
• Citywide and per-block license caps; waiting list system
• Pre-license inspections (building and fire)
• Posting requirements (interior and exterior)
• Parking standards
• Responsible party and 24/7 response expectations
• Sales tax and transient room tax obligations; online advertisement disclosures
• For the complete legal framework, see South Salt Lake Ordinance 2025-05 STRs.

North Salt Lake STR regulations (metropolitan context)

• Owner-occupancy requirement
• One STR per property
• Parking standards
• Maximum rental period of 30 days
• ADU STR allowed only with an ADU land-use permit
• Land use permit and business license required

Local Authority Contacts and Short-Term Rental Offices

Salt Lake City

• Planning Division (land use, zoning, administrative interpretation, DRT)
  • Phone: 801-535-7700
  • Email: planning@slc.gov
• Building Services (permits and inspections)
  • Phone: 801-535-7938
  • Permits and Licensing information: slc.gov/permits/
• Business Licensing (business licenses, transient room tax coordination)
  • Phone: 801-535-7721

South Salt Lake City

• Planning & Business Licensing (STR licenses)
  • Phone: 801-483-6063, ext. 5
  • Email: planning@sslc.gov
  • Business License Official/Specialist: 801-483-6063, ext. 3; businesslicense@sslc.gov

North Salt Lake City

• Community Development (land use permit and business license)
  • Phone: 801-335-8700

Salt Lake County Health Department

• Noise ordinance inquiries
  • Website: saltlakecounty.gov/health/noise

State of Utah

• Utah State Tax Commission (sales tax and transient room tax)
  • Website: tax.utah.gov

Source Pages and Resources

• Salt Lake City Planning Frequently Asked Questions
  • Overview of short-term rental classification, ADUs, DRT, and administrative interpretation; links to zoning map and land use tables are included on the page.
  • Link: www.slc.gov/planning/frequently-asked-questions/
• Building Salt Lake news story: “Salt Lake City bulks up its enforcement on short-term rentals”
  • Details on enforcement tools, limitations under state code, and policy context for ADUs and STRs in SLC.
  • Link: buildingsaltlake.com/city-bulks-up-its-enforcement-on-short-term-rentals/
• South Salt Lake STR Handbook
  • Comprehensive guidance on eligibility, occupancy, inspections, application requirements, posting, parking, caps, waitlist, and operational standards; references Ordinance 2025-05 STRs and the Consolidated Fee Schedule.
  • Link: sslc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3230
• North Salt Lake STR License and Regulations
  • STR standards, owner-occupancy requirement, land use permit, and business license process; ADU STR permit requirements.
  • Link: www.nslcity.org/530/Short-Term-Rental-License

Notes for investors and operators

• Because the legal framework differs markedly by city, underwriting should confirm the jurisdiction line before purchase or lease. Many “SLC” addresses in the metro area are actually in neighboring cities such as South Salt Lake or North Salt Lake.
• For SLC properties: if your strategy relies on under-30-day rentals, verify early that the property sits in a zoning district allowing hotel/motel/bed-and-breakfast uses. If not, either pivot to a 30+ day tenancy model or acquire a property in an appropriately zoned area.
• For ADUs: in SLC, long-term rentals with owner-occupancy and Good Landlord Program enrollment are the compliant path; under-30-day STRs in ADUs are prohibited in residential zones.

This guide is intended to support investor due diligence and operational planning; always consult with city planning staff before acquiring or converting a property, as specific site conditions, code interpretations, and plan reviews can materially affect feasibility.