1     
SHORT-TERM RENTAL AMENDMENTS

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: John Knotwell

5     
Senate Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill prevents a political subdivision from prohibiting the use of a short-term rental
10     website.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms; and
14          ▸     prevents a political subdivision from prohibiting an individual from listing or
15     offering a short-term rental on a short-term rental website.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     ENACTS:
22          10-8-85.4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23          17-50-338, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 10-8-85.4 is enacted to read:
27          10-8-85.4. Ordinances regarding short-term rentals -- Prohibition on ordinances
28     restricting speech on short-term rental websites.
29          (1) As used in this section:

30          (a) "Residential unit" means a residential structure or any portion of a residential
31     structure that is occupied as a residence.
32          (b) "Short-term rental" means a residential unit or any portion of a residential unit that
33     the owner of record or the lessee of the residential unit offers for occupancy for fewer than 30
34     consecutive days.
35          (c) "Short-term rental website" means a website that:
36          (i) allows a person to offer a short-term rental to one or more prospective renters; and
37          (ii) facilitates the renting of, and payment for, a short-term rental.
38          (2) Notwithstanding Section 10-9a-501 or Subsection 10-9a-503(1), a legislative body
39     may not:
40          (a) enact or enforce an ordinance that prohibits an individual from listing or offering a
41     short-term rental on a short-term rental website; or
42          (b) use an ordinance that prohibits the act of renting a short-term rental to fine, charge,
43     prosecute, or otherwise punish an individual solely for the act of listing or offering a short-term
44     rental on a short-term rental website.
45          Section 2. Section 17-50-338 is enacted to read:
46          17-50-338. Ordinances regarding short-term rentals -- Prohibition on ordinances
47     restricting speech on short-term rental websites.
48          (1) As used in this section:
49          (a) "Residential unit" means a residential structure or any portion of a residential
50     structure that is occupied as a residence.
51          (b) "Short-term rental" means a residential unit or any portion of a residential unit that
52     the owner of record or the lessee of the residential unit offers for occupancy for fewer than 30
53     consecutive days.
54          (c) "Short-term rental website" means a website that:
55          (i) allows a person to offer a short-term rental to one or more prospective renters; and
56          (ii) facilitates the renting of, and payment for, a short-term rental.
57          (2) Notwithstanding Section 17-27a-501 or Subsection 17-27a-503(1), a legislative

58     body may not:
59          (a) enact or enforce an ordinance that prohibits an individual from listing or offering a
60     short-term rental on a short-term rental website; or
61          (b) use an ordinance that prohibits the act of renting a short-term rental to fine, charge,
62     prosecute, or otherwise punish an individual solely for the act of listing or offering a short-term
63     rental on a short-term rental website.