What should Garden City hosts know about new license applications are only?

New license applications are ONLY accepted between Jan 1st and April 30th each year.

What are the key requirements for Garden City hosts?

Emergency contact must live within 15 minutes of the property.

What are the key requirements for Garden City hosts?

Parking on public rights-of-way or adjacent properties is strictly prohibited; all guest vehicles and trailers must fit on the owner's property.

What should Garden City hosts know about occupancy is strictly based on?

Occupancy is strictly based on sleeping area square footage (100 sq ft per 2 people).

Garden City

Moderate

UtahUpdated Mar 26, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Garden City requires a Short-Term Rental Business License, with new applications only accepted annually between January 1st and April 30th.

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

If you want to rent your property for less than 30 days in Garden City, you must obtain a specific STR business license. New licenses are only processed in the first four months of the year, and you must have a local emergency contact who can reach the property within 15 minutes. Your occupancy will be strictly limited based on the square footage of your sleeping areas and available on-site parking.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1New license applications are ONLY accepted between Jan 1st and April 30th each year.
2Emergency contact must live within 15 minutes of the property.
3Parking on public rights-of-way or adjacent properties is strictly prohibited; all guest vehicles and trailers must fit on the owner's property.
4Occupancy is strictly based on sleeping area square footage (100 sq ft per 2 people).

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Garden City allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Lockout Unit.
Garden City: Parking on public rights-of-way or adjacent properties is strictly prohibited; all guest vehicles and trailers must fit on the owner's property.
Garden City does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements13 rules

Garden City: New license applications are ONLY accepted between Jan 1st and April 30th each year.
Garden City: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Garden City STR warning: New license applications are ONLY accepted between Jan 1st and April 30th each year.

Application process9 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Garden City: Step 1: Register with Utah State Tax Commission - Obtain a Utah State Sales Tax number registered to Rich County and the Town of Garden City. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://tap.tax.utah.gov/TaxExpress/ Step 2: Prepare Required Documentation - Create a scaled site plan showing all on-site parking spaces and a scaled floor plan showing all sleeping areas and room dimensions. Documents needed: Scaled Site Plan, Scaled Floor Plan. Estimated time: 3-5 days. Step 3: Submit Application (Jan 1 - Apr 30) - New applications are only accepted during this window. Submit the application form with proof of ownership and insurance to the Town Clerk. Documents needed: Proof of Ownership, Proof of Insurance, Business License Application. Estimated time: 1-2 days. Cost: 50. More info: https://gardencityutah.gov/forms Step 4: Schedule Inspections - The property must be inspected by the Garden City Building Inspector and the Garden City Fire Chief to ensure compliance with health and safety codes. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. Step 5: Town Council Review - The application is reviewed and approved by the Town Council after all requirements and inspections are met. Estimated time: 2-4 weeks.

Fees & costs1 rule

Garden City charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Garden City charges a Transient Room Tax of 0.0657%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state and county TRT, but owners must ensure Garden City specific resort taxes are covered.
Utah has a state sales tax of 0.0485% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Garden City enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Garden City limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Garden City occupancy calculation: 2 persons per 100 square feet of sleeping area (excluding children under 3). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Garden City requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Building Inspector inspection required, Fire Chief inspection required, Emergency lighting in halls/stairs, Notice adjacent to front door with owner/agent contact and parking rules.

Penalties2 rules

Garden City enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $300 fine. Second offense: Variable. Third offense: Variable. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Garden City: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

Garden City: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Garden City exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Garden City

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Register with Utah State Tax Commission

Obtain a Utah State Sales Tax number registered to Rich County and the Town of Garden City.

1-2 weeksFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Required Documentation

Create a scaled site plan showing all on-site parking spaces and a scaled floor plan showing all sleeping areas and room dimensions.

3-5 daysFree

Documents needed

Scaled Site Plan
Scaled Floor Plan

Step 3

Submit Application (Jan 1 - Apr 30)

New applications are only accepted during this window. Submit the application form with proof of ownership and insurance to the Town Clerk.

1-2 days$50

Documents needed

Proof of Ownership
Proof of Insurance
Business License Application

Official resource

Step 4

Schedule Inspections

The property must be inspected by the Garden City Building Inspector and the Garden City Fire Chief to ensure compliance with health and safety codes.

1-2 weeksFree

Step 5

Town Council Review

The application is reviewed and approved by the Town Council after all requirements and inspections are met.

2-4 weeksFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Garden City

Moderate

UtahUpdated Mar 26, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Garden City requires a Short-Term Rental Business License, with new applications only accepted annually between January 1st and April 30th.

Restriction level

Severity 18

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1New license applications are ONLY accepted between Jan 1st and April 30th each year.
2Emergency contact must live within 15 minutes of the property.
3Parking on public rights-of-way or adjacent properties is strictly prohibited; all guest vehicles and trailers must fit on the owner's property.
4Occupancy is strictly based on sleeping area square footage (100 sq ft per 2 people).

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Garden City allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Lockout Unit.
Garden City: Parking on public rights-of-way or adjacent properties is strictly prohibited; all guest vehicles and trailers must fit on the owner's property.
Garden City does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.

Requirements13 rules

Garden City: New license applications are ONLY accepted between Jan 1st and April 30th each year.
Garden City: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Garden City STR warning: New license applications are ONLY accepted between Jan 1st and April 30th each year.

Application process9 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Garden City: Step 1: Register with Utah State Tax Commission - Obtain a Utah State Sales Tax number registered to Rich County and the Town of Garden City. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://tap.tax.utah.gov/TaxExpress/ Step 2: Prepare Required Documentation - Create a scaled site plan showing all on-site parking spaces and a scaled floor plan showing all sleeping areas and room dimensions. Documents needed: Scaled Site Plan, Scaled Floor Plan. Estimated time: 3-5 days. Step 3: Submit Application (Jan 1 - Apr 30) - New applications are only accepted during this window. Submit the application form with proof of ownership and insurance to the Town Clerk. Documents needed: Proof of Ownership, Proof of Insurance, Business License Application. Estimated time: 1-2 days. Cost: 50. More info: https://gardencityutah.gov/forms Step 4: Schedule Inspections - The property must be inspected by the Garden City Building Inspector and the Garden City Fire Chief to ensure compliance with health and safety codes. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. Step 5: Town Council Review - The application is reviewed and approved by the Town Council after all requirements and inspections are met. Estimated time: 2-4 weeks.

Fees & costs1 rule

Garden City charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Garden City charges a Transient Room Tax of 0.0657%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state and county TRT, but owners must ensure Garden City specific resort taxes are covered.
Utah has a state sales tax of 0.0485% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Garden City enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Garden City limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Garden City occupancy calculation: 2 persons per 100 square feet of sleeping area (excluding children under 3). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Garden City requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Building Inspector inspection required, Fire Chief inspection required, Emergency lighting in halls/stairs, Notice adjacent to front door with owner/agent contact and parking rules.

Penalties2 rules

Garden City enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $300 fine. Second offense: Variable. Third offense: Variable. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Garden City: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

Garden City: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Garden City exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Garden City

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Register with Utah State Tax Commission

Obtain a Utah State Sales Tax number registered to Rich County and the Town of Garden City.

1-2 weeksFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Required Documentation

Create a scaled site plan showing all on-site parking spaces and a scaled floor plan showing all sleeping areas and room dimensions.

3-5 daysFree

Documents needed

Scaled Site Plan
Scaled Floor Plan

Step 3

Submit Application (Jan 1 - Apr 30)

New applications are only accepted during this window. Submit the application form with proof of ownership and insurance to the Town Clerk.

1-2 days$50

Documents needed

Proof of Ownership
Proof of Insurance
Business License Application

Official resource

Step 4

Schedule Inspections

The property must be inspected by the Garden City Building Inspector and the Garden City Fire Chief to ensure compliance with health and safety codes.

1-2 weeksFree

Step 5

Town Council Review

The application is reviewed and approved by the Town Council after all requirements and inspections are met.

2-4 weeksFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Register with Utah State Tax Commission

Prepare Required Documentation

Submit Application (Jan 1 - Apr 30)

Schedule Inspections

Town Council Review

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Garden City?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Garden City?

3What are the occupancy limits for Garden City rentals?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Garden City?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Register with Utah State Tax Commission

Prepare Required Documentation

Submit Application (Jan 1 - Apr 30)

Schedule Inspections

Town Council Review

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Garden City?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Garden City?

3What are the occupancy limits for Garden City rentals?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Garden City?

Disclaimer