With the end of the APA Utah Spring Conference in Kanab just a couple of weeks ago, this recent news story about the housing problems in Kanab, exacerbated by short-term rentals (STRs), again points out the never-ending debate over STRs and what to do about them.

The question of whether and how to allow local governments to regulate STRs has been kicking around on Capitol Hill for several years now.  The STR industry attempted in 2017 to get the legislature to pass a bill that would prohibit local regulation of STRs, but that effort predictably ran into a buzzsaw of local government officials who were getting earfuls from their residents about STRs in their neighborhoods.  In the end, the bill that was passed only prohibited enforcement of STR regulations with the sole evidence being advertising on websites.

Meanwhile, the concerns about STRs mushroomed all over the state: Springdale, St. George area, even on the Wasatch Front.  The issue is one that is prominent not just here, but around the nation as well, and in the STR industry.

Debate over how to regulate STRs continues and was fanned again with the passage of the ADU bill last year.  Many jurisdictions were concerned that ADUs would be turned into STRs, as evidenced in this story about a meeting between local officials and legislators.  This led to the filing of two bills during this year’s legislative session, HB372 – Short-Term Property Rental Amendments and HB407 – Short-Term Rental Enforcement Amendments.  Neither bill passed, however.  The big housing bill, HB462, originally had a provision that would have done away with this restriction, but it was ultimately removed from the bill.

The issue continues to grow.  Hurricane city just took action, a Cedar City ordinance change to allow ADUs led citizens to express fears they would be rented out, and is debated even in Logan.

This ain’t over, folks.  Watch for more on this.