What Is St. George Considering for Short-Term Rentals? Quick Answer
The St. George City Council will discuss owner-occupied short-term rentals at a work meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 3 p.m. The packet lists options on owner presence, which part of a home could be rented, parking, and permit caps or buffers. It is a discussion, not a vote. The regular meeting is at 5 p.m.
This preview is based on the City Council's posted agendas and the work meeting packet. The packet is a slide deck of questions and examples. It does not state a staff recommendation, and nothing described here has been adopted.
What Options Does the Packet List?
The slides ask the Council four questions and list choices under each:
| Question | Options listed in the packet |
|---|---|
| 1. Owner occupancy requirements? | The home is the owner's primary residence; the owner is present during the stay |
| 2. What portion of the home could be rented? | A basement or second story; an accessory dwelling unit (ADU); individual rooms |
| 3. Parking? | Follow current code (one off-street space per bedroom); or allow on-street parking for bedrooms with a maximum occupancy of 2 |
| 4. Limit the number or add buffers? | Limit numbers (example: Sandy allows 2 STR permits per 100 homes in each neighborhood); or require buffers (examples: Hurricane at 300 feet, Logan at 750 feet) |
A pros-and-cons slide lists these points. In favor: supplemental income for homeowners, managers with a vested interest in the property, and flexibility to rent "if and when they can." Against: neighborhood impacts could still occur, enforcement would be tricky and could add code enforcement cases, it introduces a commercial use into residential neighborhoods, and it affects housing availability by removing long-term rental options.
What Are the Rules Today?
The city's code enforcement page says St. George only allows short-term rentals in designated areas and that rentals of less than 28 days are not allowed in single-family zones. The packet does not say how an owner-occupied category would fit with that rule, and the agenda item gives no draft ordinance language. The same page says a business license is needed to rent out a home.
Other Washington County cities are looking at the same question. Hurricane's Oct. 15 council agenda listed a discussion on short-term rental enforcement and compliance, and Ivins is holding a hearing the same night on an ADU rules rewrite that bars ADUs from being used as short-term rentals.
What Else Is on the Work Meeting Agenda?
- Utah Food Bank: a presentation.
- Animal control: proposed changes to city code. The packet includes excerpts of Chapter 5-2 (definitions and prohibited acts) but no marked-up changes, so we cannot say what would change.
- Blasting: a discussion of the Temporary Zoning Ordinance for blasting. The packet has no material on this item.
- FY28 budget: a process discussion. The packet lists a Feb. 4 City Council goals retreat, an April 8 budget retreat, the budget presented May 6, public hearings June 3 and June 17, and final adoption June 17. A Council survey opens Nov. 5 with responses due Nov. 12.
What Is on the 5 p.m. Regular Meeting Agenda?
The regular meeting is at City Hall, 61 South Main Street. It follows the October 22 meeting we covered in our Oct. 22 council report. Items include:
- FY2026-27 budget amendments: a public hearing on Resolution 2026-023R. The agenda says staff brings budget changes to the Council on a quarterly basis.
- SR-7 Exit 5 Interchange: a professional services agreement with Stanley Consultants for construction engineering management at a proposed cost of $440,777.56. Two proposals were received.
- Desert Haven hillside permit (Case 2026-HS-007): about 55 acres south of the Fort Pierce Wash along the Utah-Arizona border. The permit would allow disturbance of 20-30% and 30-40% slope areas. The Planning Commission recommended approval with no conditions, 6-0, on Oct. 13.
- Wreaths Across America: a fee waiver for the Daughters of the American Revolution's Dec. 19 event. Police would escort volunteers from Tonaquint Cemetery to St. George Cemetery starting around 11 a.m. Staff estimates the cost at $130 per officer per hour with a two-hour minimum and recommends waiving the fees for this and future events.
- Contracts: a crack seal bid to Superior Asphalt LC for $157,300 (eight bids); reuse crushing to Ground Worx Corp. for $120,281 (three bids); and a merchant card services contract with State Bank of Southern Utah to replace Wells Fargo, except for airport parking machines, with a stated savings of $3,150.
- Easement vacations: four public hearings (Ordinances 2026-083 through 2026-086) for easements at Rilassante at Divario, the Leslie Dunbar Trust subdivision, The Palms of St. George and Anasazi Hills at Entrada.
The regular meeting's open comment period gives each speaker three minutes. The agenda says speakers must be St. George residents, and comments on agenda items with public hearings should be given during those items. Written comments can be sent to publiccomments@sgcityutah.gov or the City Recorder at 61 South Main Street. See our St. George city guide for more.
What Is Not Yet Known?
- Whether staff will recommend any of the short-term rental options. The packet does not say.
- The text of the animal control and blasting changes.
- Outcomes. Both meetings are on Nov. 5, and the agendas are dated Oct. 30.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the St. George City Council short-term rental discussion?
The council's work meeting is Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 3 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room at 61 South Main Street. The regular meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the council chambers. The rental item is a discussion, not a vote.
What short-term rental options is St. George considering?
The packet lists options on owner occupancy (primary residence, owner present), which part of a home could be rented, parking, and caps or buffers. Examples include Sandy's 2 permits per 100 homes and Hurricane's 300-foot buffer. No recommendation is stated.
Are short-term rentals allowed in St. George single-family neighborhoods now?
The city's code enforcement page says short-term rentals are only allowed in designated areas and that rentals under 28 days are not allowed in single-family zones. The page also says a business license is needed to rent a home. Confirm details with the city.
What else is on the St. George council agenda Nov. 5?
Items include FY2026-27 budget amendments, a $440,777.56 agreement for SR-7 Exit 5 interchange construction engineering, the Desert Haven hillside permit on about 55 acres, a Wreaths Across America fee waiver, contracts and four easement vacations.
Sources: City of St. George, "Notice of Work Meeting of the City Council," Nov. 5, 2026; City of St. George, "Notice of Regular Meeting of the City Council," Nov. 5, 2026; City of St. George, City Council work meeting packet, Nov. 5, 2026; City of St. George, Code Enforcement FAQ; Hurricane City, City Council agenda, Oct. 15, 2026
