The St. George City Council held a work meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2026, to discuss options for owner-occupied short-term rentals. The meeting, which began at 3 p.m., focused on various regulatory considerations and did not include a vote.
According to a November 2 report, the discussion packet presented several questions regarding how owner-occupied rentals might be regulated. Options included requiring the owner to be present during a stay or making the home the owner's primary residence. The council also considered which portions of a home could be rented, such as individual rooms, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or a basement or second story.
Other regulatory options under consideration included parking requirements and permit limitations. Options for parking included following current code, requiring one off-street space per bedroom, or allowing on-street parking for bedrooms with a maximum occupancy of two. To manage the number of rentals, the council looked at potential permit caps or buffers, citing examples such as Sandy's limit of two permits per 100 homes or Hurricane's 300-foot buffer.
The discussion included a review of pros and cons for the proposed rental categories. Supporters noted that short-term rentals provide supplemental income for homeowners and offer flexibility for managers with a vested interest in the property. Conversely, concerns were raised regarding neighborhood impacts, the difficulty of enforcement, the introduction of commercial uses into residential areas, and the potential reduction of long-term housing availability.
Current city code requires a business license for rentals and only allows short-term rentals in designated areas, specifically prohibiting rentals of less than 28 days in single-family zones.
The meeting agenda for November 5, 2026, also included several other items for the regular 5 p.m. meeting. These included a public hearing for budget amendments regarding Resolution 2026-023R and a professional services agreement for the SR-7 Exit 5 Interchange valued at $440,777.56. Additionally, the council addressed a hillside permit for the Desert Haven area and a fee waiver for the Daughters of the American Revolution's Wreaths Across America event.
The regular meeting included discussions on various contracts, including a crack seal bid to Superior Asphalt LC for $157,300 and a merchant card services contract with State Bank of Southern Utah. The council also addressed four easement vacations for several subdivisions, including Rilassante at Divario and The Palms of St. George.
