What zoning rules apply to STRs in Provo?

Strict owner-occupancy requirement: You cannot operate an STR in a residential zone if you do not live there.

What are the key requirements for Provo hosts?

Off-street parking: You must provide one off-street parking space per STR unit in addition to required residential parking.

What should Provo hosts know about basement apartments are allowed only?

Basement apartments are allowed only if the house remains owner-occupied.

What violations should Provo hosts avoid?

Advertising an unlicensed STR is a code violation even if no bookings occur.

Provo

Strict

UtahUpdated Apr 15, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 12, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Provo allows short-term rentals primarily in residential zones if they are owner-occupied, requiring a city business license and safety compliance.

Restriction level

Severity 73

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
Safety standards required
No night cap
Low permit fee

In plain English

What this means for you

In Provo, you can rent out your home or a portion of it for less than 30 days only if you live in the home as your primary residence. You must obtain a Short-Term Rental Business License from the city and ensure the property meets fire and safety codes. Non-owner-occupied rentals are generally restricted to specific commercial or high-density zones.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$5,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Strict owner-occupancy requirement: You cannot operate an STR in a residential zone if you do not live there.
2Off-street parking: You must provide one off-street parking space per STR unit in addition to required residential parking.
3Basement apartments are allowed only if the house remains owner-occupied.
4Advertising an unlicensed STR is a code violation even if no bookings occur.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Provo allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Accessory Apartment, Basement Apartment.
Provo limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Provo prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles, Tents, Commercial storage units.

Requirements14 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Provo: 1. Strict owner-occupancy requirement: You cannot operate an STR in a residential zone if you do not live there. 2. Off-street parking: You must provide one off-street parking space per STR unit in addition to required residential parking. 3. Basement apartments are allowed only if the house remains owner-occupied. 4. Advertising an unlicensed STR is a code violation even if no bookings occur.

Application process8 rules

Provo STR permit - Step 1: Zoning Verification. Check the Provo City Interactive Zoning Map to ensure your property is in a zone that permits STRs (most residential zones require owner-occupancy). Time: 1 day.
Provo STR permit - Step 4: Pass Fire Inspection. Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Provo Fire Department to ensure compliance with egress and alarm codes. Time: 1 week. Cost: 25.

Fees & costs1 rule

Provo charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Provo charges a Transient Room Tax of 0.056%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit Utah state and county taxes.
Utah has a state sales tax of 0.075% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

Provo: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Provo limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Provo enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Provo occupancy calculation: Subject to IBC/IFC standards; usually limited by family definition or 2 persons per bedroom plus 2.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Provo requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in bedrooms, Visible address numbers, Working plumbing and heating.

Penalties2 rules

Provo: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Provo enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: $1000 fine. Daily fine: $250 per day. Maximum fine: 5000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Provo

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Check the Provo City Interactive Zoning Map to ensure your property is in a zone that permits STRs (most residential zones require owner-occupancy).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Owner-Occupancy Proof

Gather documents proving the property is your primary residence, such as a voter registration card or tax returns.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Voter registration
Utility bills
Driver's license

Step 3

Complete Business License Application

Submit the Provo City Rental Dwelling Business License application via the online portal.

1-2 weeks$50

Documents needed

Affidavit of Owner-Occupancy
Certificate of Insurance

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Provo Fire Department to ensure compliance with egress and alarm codes.

1 week$25

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

Provo

Strict

UtahUpdated Apr 15, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 12, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Provo allows short-term rentals primarily in residential zones if they are owner-occupied, requiring a city business license and safety compliance.

Restriction level

Severity 73

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
Safety standards required
No night cap
Low permit fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$5,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Strict owner-occupancy requirement: You cannot operate an STR in a residential zone if you do not live there.
2Off-street parking: You must provide one off-street parking space per STR unit in addition to required residential parking.
3Basement apartments are allowed only if the house remains owner-occupied.
4Advertising an unlicensed STR is a code violation even if no bookings occur.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Provo allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Accessory Apartment, Basement Apartment.
Provo limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.
Provo prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles, Tents, Commercial storage units.

Requirements14 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Provo: 1. Strict owner-occupancy requirement: You cannot operate an STR in a residential zone if you do not live there. 2. Off-street parking: You must provide one off-street parking space per STR unit in addition to required residential parking. 3. Basement apartments are allowed only if the house remains owner-occupied. 4. Advertising an unlicensed STR is a code violation even if no bookings occur.

Application process8 rules

Provo STR permit - Step 1: Zoning Verification. Check the Provo City Interactive Zoning Map to ensure your property is in a zone that permits STRs (most residential zones require owner-occupancy). Time: 1 day.
Provo STR permit - Step 4: Pass Fire Inspection. Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Provo Fire Department to ensure compliance with egress and alarm codes. Time: 1 week. Cost: 25.

Fees & costs1 rule

Provo charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Provo charges a Transient Room Tax of 0.056%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit Utah state and county taxes.
Utah has a state sales tax of 0.075% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

Provo: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Provo limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Provo enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Provo occupancy calculation: Subject to IBC/IFC standards; usually limited by family definition or 2 persons per bedroom plus 2.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Provo requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in bedrooms, Visible address numbers, Working plumbing and heating.

Penalties2 rules

Provo: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Provo enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: $1000 fine. Daily fine: $250 per day. Maximum fine: 5000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Provo

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Check the Provo City Interactive Zoning Map to ensure your property is in a zone that permits STRs (most residential zones require owner-occupancy).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Owner-Occupancy Proof

Gather documents proving the property is your primary residence, such as a voter registration card or tax returns.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Voter registration
Utility bills
Driver's license

Step 3

Complete Business License Application

Submit the Provo City Rental Dwelling Business License application via the online portal.

1-2 weeks$50

Documents needed

Affidavit of Owner-Occupancy
Certificate of Insurance

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Provo Fire Department to ensure compliance with egress and alarm codes.

1 week$25

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

Zoning Verification

Prepare Owner-Occupancy Proof

Complete Business License Application

Pass Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Provo?

3Are there residency requirements for hosts in Provo?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Provo?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Prepare Owner-Occupancy Proof

Complete Business License Application

Pass Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Provo?

3Are there residency requirements for hosts in Provo?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Provo?

Disclaimer