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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Utah
  6. ·
  7. St. George

St. George

Moderate
UtahUpdated Feb 10, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in St. George are strictly regulated and only permitted in specific zones or developments where STR use was explicitly approved during the platting process. Operating an STR in a standard residential zone (like R-1) is generally prohibited, and the city actively enforces these restrictions with fines starting at $750.

Restriction level

Severity 26
Classification
Moderate
26
Severity

Why this classification

  • Moderate permit fee: $300
  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in St. George, you first need to make sure your specific neighborhood allows it—most residential streets do not. If your property is in an approved zone, you must apply for a $300 business license and pass a fire safety inspection. You also need to show proof of $500,000 in liability insurance and provide a 24/7 local contact who lives within 15 miles. St. George does not allow you to rent out ADUs, basements, or casitas for short-term stays; only the main dwelling unit in approved areas can be licensed.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$300
Processing time30-60 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Most residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3) prohibit STRs unless the specific project was approved for it on the final plat.
  2. 2Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), casitas, and basements cannot be used as short-term rentals.
  3. 3The fine for operating without a license is a steep $750 per day.
  4. 4A local contact must be available 24/7 and be able to respond to the property within 15 minutes if needed.
  5. 5St. George limits total occupancy to 10 people regardless of home size, unless specific additional fire requirements are met.
  6. 6You must include your business license number in all online advertisements/listings.
  7. 7A standard business license is required even if you only rent the property out once a year.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility7 rules
  • St. George does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • St. George: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • St. George prohibits STRs in the following property types: Standard R-1/R-2 residential single-family homes, Mobile homes, Agricultural zones.
Requirements14 rules
  • St. George STR warning: Lot size must be 2+ acres for STR consideration in residential zones, AND you must have 100% written consent from neighbors within 300 feet.
  • St. George STR warning: You must post a sign inside the unit with manager info, max occupancy, and trash collection days.
  • St. George STR warning: A local contact person must be available 24/7 and respond within 2 hours.
Application process7 rules
  • St. George STR permit - Step 4: Pass Fire & Safety Inspection. Schedule and pass a health and safety check by the city building/fire inspector. Time: 1 week.
  • St. George STR permit - Step 1: Verify Zoning Eligibility. Check if your property is in a PD (Planned Development) zone that explicitly allows nightly rentals. Most residential zones are prohibited. Time: 1 day.
Fees & costs2 rules
  • St. George charges a registration fee of $150 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $50 (Inspection fee typically included in initial application; $50 for ADU license if applicable.).
  • St. George: Lot size must be 2+ acres for STR consideration in residential zones, AND you must have 100% written consent from neighbors within 300 feet.
Taxes3 rules
  • St. George charges a Transient Room Tax of 1%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the State and County portions; hosts must ensure the 1% City portion and total 12.32% is accounted for via the Utah State Tax Commission.
  • Utah has a state sales tax of 4.85% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions2 rules
  • St. George limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • St. George enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • St. George requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Local property manager reachable 24/7, Signage inside unit with manager contact and trash days, Weekly cleaning service required while occupied.
Penalties2 rules
  • St. George: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions2 rules
  • St. George exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
  • St. George: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. George

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Check if your property is in a zone that specifically allows short-term rentals. In St. George, STRs are generally limited to specific Planned Development areas or projects where the plat specifically identifies STR use.

1-3 daysFree
Documents needed
  • Zoning map
  • Final plat map
Official resource
Step 2

Obtain State Sales Tax ID

Register with the Utah State Tax Commission to obtain a sales tax number for lodging tax collection.

7-14 daysFree
Official resource
Step 3

Submit Business License Application

Complete the Short-Term Residential Rental application with the Finance Department, including the property management plan and insurance proof.

2-4 weeks$300
Documents needed
  • Proof of $500k insurance
  • Site/Floor plans
Official resource
Step 4

Pass Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the St. George Fire Department.

1-2 weeksFree

Frequently asked questions

5 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

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