1     
SHORT-TERM RENTAL ENFORCEMENT AMENDMENTS

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Gay Lynn Bennion

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies the authority of municipalities and counties to regulate short-term
10     rentals.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     authorizes municipalities and counties to regulate short-term rentals;
15          ▸     requires a court to impose a maximum fine for the repeated violation of a short-term
16     rental ordinance; and
17          ▸     makes technical changes.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          10-8-85.4, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 102
25          17-50-338, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 102
26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28          Section 1. Section 10-8-85.4 is amended to read:
29          10-8-85.4. Ordinances regarding short-term rentals.
30          (1) As used in this section:
31          (a) "Internal accessory dwelling unit" means the same as that term is defined in Section
32     10-9a-511.5.
33          (b) "Repeated violation" means violating an ordinance related to one or more
34     short-term rentals two or more times in a 12-month period.
35          [(b)] (c) "Residential unit" means a residential structure or any portion of a residential
36     structure that is occupied as a residence.
37          [(c)] (d) "Short-term rental" means a residential unit or any portion of a residential unit
38     that the owner of record or the lessee of the residential unit offers for occupancy for fewer than
39     30 consecutive days.
40          [(d)] (e) "Short-term rental website" means a website that:
41          (i) allows a person to offer a short-term rental to one or more prospective renters; and
42          (ii) facilitates the renting of, and payment for, a short-term rental.
43          (2) (a) A legislative body may:
44          (i) enact and enforce an ordinance to regulate the permissible uses and locations of
45     short-term rentals; and
46          (ii) impose a criminal penalty for a violation of a short-term rental ordinance in
47     accordance with Subsection 10-3-703(1)(a).
48          (b) Upon a conviction by a court for the repeated violation of an ordinance described in
49     Subsection (2)(a), the court shall order the maximum fine amount described in the ordinance
50     and may not waive or suspend the fine.
51          [(2)] (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), Section 10-9a-501, or Subsection
52     10-9a-503(1), a legislative body may not:
53          (a) enact or enforce an ordinance that prohibits an individual from listing or offering a
54     short-term rental on a short-term rental website; or
55          (b) use an ordinance that prohibits the act of renting a short-term rental to fine, charge,
56     prosecute, or otherwise punish an individual solely for the act of listing or offering a short-term
57     rental on a short-term rental website.
58          [(3)] (4) Subsection [(2)] (3) does not apply to an individual who lists or offers an
59     internal accessory dwelling unit as a short-term rental on a short-term rental website if the
60     municipality records a notice for the internal accessory dwelling unit under Subsection
61     10-9a-530(6).
62          Section 2. Section 17-50-338 is amended to read:
63          17-50-338. Ordinances regarding short-term rentals.
64          (1) As used in this section:
65          (a) "Internal accessory dwelling unit" means the same as that term is defined in Section
66     10-9a-511.5.
67          (b) "Repeated violation" means violating an ordinance related to one or more
68     short-term rentals two or more times in a 12-month period.
69          [(b)] (c) "Residential unit" means a residential structure or any portion of a residential
70     structure that is occupied as a residence.
71          [(c)] (d) "Short-term rental" means a residential unit or any portion of a residential unit
72     that the owner of record or the lessee of the residential unit offers for occupancy for fewer than
73     30 consecutive days.
74          [(d)] (e) "Short-term rental website" means a website that:
75          (i) allows a person to offer a short-term rental to one or more prospective renters; and
76          (ii) facilitates the renting of, and payment for, a short-term rental.
77          (2) (a) A legislative body may:
78          (i) enact and enforce an ordinance to regulate the permissible uses and locations of
79     short-term rentals; and
80          (ii) impose a criminal penalty for a violation of a short-term rental ordinance in
81     accordance with Subsection 10-3-703(1)(a).
82          (b) Upon a conviction by a court for the repeated violation of an ordinance described in
83     Subsection (2)(a), the court shall order the maximum fine amount described in the ordinance
84     and may not waive or suspend the fine.
85          [(2)] (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), Section 17-27a-501, or Subsection
86     17-27a-503(1), a legislative body may not:
87          (a) enact or enforce an ordinance that prohibits an individual from listing or offering a
88     short-term rental on a short-term rental website; or
89          (b) use an ordinance that prohibits the act of renting a short-term rental to fine, charge,
90     prosecute, or otherwise punish an individual solely for the act of listing or offering a short-term
91     rental on a short-term rental website.
92          [(3)] (4) Subsection [(2)] (3) does not apply to an individual who lists or offers an
93     internal accessory dwelling unit as a short-term rental on a short-term rental website if the
94     county records a notice for the internal accessory dwelling unit under Subsection
95     17-27a-526(6).