Washington City issues new ordinance for short-term rental properties

WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Washington City officials are cracking down on illegal short-term rentals with a new ordinance designed to improve safety.

With certain zones in the city approved for short-term rentals, the city council recently approved new requirements for these properties, including having a local point of contact in Washington County and stricter penalties for noncompliance.

This comes after city officials said some property managers exceed occupancy rules and avoid safety requirements. Jordan Hess with Washington City says recent legislation that was passed will allow them and other cities to better track illegal nightly rentals.

“We felt it was an appropriate time to kind of beef up our ordinance so that we reward those that are playing by the rules,” Hess continued. “But then there will be a penalty for those who skirt around the rules or just outright operate illegally.”

The city says the biggest reason for these changes is safety, as international building codes limit short-term rentals to 10 occupants unless the property has a fire suppression system.

The city emphasizes that the ordinance isn’t meant to discourage short-term rentals, but to make sure they follow the rules.

Under the new ordinance, property managers who accumulate more than three violations in a year could lose their business license. Violators have 30 days to address any issues before facing fines of up to $750 per day.