Moab Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

nightly rental license

Renewal: renewed annually on July 1st

Zoning restriction: No license shall be granted for a nightly rental operation unless allowed as a land use in the underlying zoning district(s) in which it operates.

Application Process

The application for a nightly rental license shall include all of the items outlined in Section 5.04.030. An inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department shall be required prior to issuance of a license

Tax Obligations

Collection: All nightly rental owners or property managers must collect and pay the applicable State transient room tax, State sales tax, City resort communities sales tax, City municipal transient rooms tax, and pay the City business license fee.

Filing: Sales and related tax returns are due the last day of the month after the filing period.

Rental Limits

Individual-stay rule: A maximum stay at a nightly rental by an individual or particular group shall not exceed thirty consecutive days.

Occupancy & Density Limits

Maximum occupancy of any nightly rental shall be ten persons at any one time. If, however, the property has a fire sprinkler system or other fire suppression system acceptable to the Moab Fire Chief, and the owner obtains written approval from the Fire Chief, a greater maximum occupancy may be approved by the City Treasurer.

Zoning & Restrictions

Except for accommodations for qualifying participants under Sections 17.06.020 and 17.24.020(A) and bed and breakfast facilities and guest apartments that comply with Chapter 17.70 or 17.71, the short-term rental of dwellings is prohibited in the following zones: A-2, C-1, C-3, C-5, FW, I-1, R&D-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RA-1, and all other zones where short-term rentals are not listed as a permitted use

Safety

• Each sleeping room must be equipped with smoke and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors.
• The nightly rental must meet all applicable building, health and fire codes for the intended use.
• An inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department shall be required prior to issuance of a license

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Any owner and/or property manager of a dwelling within the City of Moab who allows or permits occupation of said dwelling as a nightly rental, as defined herein, without having first obtained a business license in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The fine for a Class A misdemeanor shall be imposed for each day that the violation continued or continues to be committed. In the event of civil enforcement, the City may recover its reasonable attorney fees and court costs against the violator.

Compliance Checklist

1. Meet the safety requirements
   • Each sleeping room must be equipped with smoke and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors.
   • The nightly rental must meet all applicable building, health and fire codes for the intended use.
   • An inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department shall be required prior to issuance of a license
2. Apply for the permit
   • $250.00
   • How to apply: The application for a nightly rental license shall include all of the items outlined in Section 5.04.030. An inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department shall be required prior to issuance of a license
3. Register for tax
   • Register with Utah State Tax Commission
4. Collect and remit tax
   • Filing schedule: Sales and related tax returns are due the last day of the month after the filing period.
   • How the tax is collected: All nightly rental owners or property managers must collect and pay the applicable State transient room tax, State sales tax, City resort communities sales tax, City municipal transient rooms tax, and pay the City business license fee.
5. Renew your permit
   • $52.00
   • Renewal period: renewed annually on July 1st

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run a short-term rental in Moab?

Yes.

Permit: nightly rental license

How to apply: The application for a nightly rental license shall include all of the items outlined in Section 5.04.030. An inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department shall be required prior to issuance of a license

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Moab?

Initial fee (nightly rental license): $250.00

Renewal fee (nightly rental license): $52.00

Renewal period (nightly rental license): renewed annually on July 1st

Does Moab limit rental days or stay length?

Maximum stay length: A maximum stay at a nightly rental by an individual or particular group shall not exceed thirty consecutive days.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Moab?

State sales & use tax: 4.85%

Local Sales & Use tax: 1.0%

County Option Sales Tax: 0.25%

Highway Tax: 0.30%

Rural Hospital Tax: 1.0%

Resort Community Tax: 1.60%

Add'l Transit Tax (County Hwy & Public Trans): 0.25%

State Transient Room Tax: 0.32%

Transient Room: 4.25%

Municipal Transient Room: 1.00%

Transient - Add: 0.50%

Tax authority: Utah State Tax Commission

Filing schedule: Sales and related tax returns are due the last day of the month after the filing period.

How the tax is collected: All nightly rental owners or property managers must collect and pay the applicable State transient room tax, State sales tax, City resort communities sales tax, City municipal transient rooms tax, and pay the City business license fee.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Moab?

Maximum penalty: Class A misdemeanor. The fine for a Class A misdemeanor shall be imposed for each day that the violation continued or continues to be committed.

Penalty: Any owner and/or property manager of a dwelling within the City of Moab who allows or permits occupation of said dwelling as a nightly rental, as defined herein, without having first obtained a business license in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The fine for a Class A misdemeanor shall be imposed for each day that the violation continued or continues to be committed. In the event of civil enforcement, the City may recover its reasonable attorney fees and court costs against the violator.