HomeMy Public PortalAboutORD-CC-2019-11CITY OF MOAB ORDINANCE 2019-11
AN ORDINANCE MODIFYING MOAB MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 5,
CHAPTER 5.6 7, PERTAINING TO NIGHTLY RENTALS
The following findings describe the intent and purpose of this ordinance:
a. From time to time the City amends its ordinances to remove outdated provisions
or improve its operations.
b. State law changes, along with changes in what kinds of businesses are operating
in Moab, necessitate changes to Moab City Code Title 5 Business Licenses and
Regulations.
c. Revisions were made to this section on February 26, 2019 and since that time an
area requires clarification.
d. The City finds that these changes are necessary and appropriate.
Therefore, the City of Moab:
1. Amends Title 5 as described in the attached document.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Moab City Council on this 14ts day of May, 2019.
SIGNED:
Emily S. Niehaus, Mayor
1
ATTEST:
Sommar Johnson, Recorder
Ch. 5.67 Nightly Rental Licenses J Moab Municipal Code Page 1 of 6
Chapter 5.67
NIGHTLY RENTAL LICENSES
Sections:
5.67.010 Definitions.
5.67.020 Licenses --Required.
5.67.025 License fee.
5.67.030 Application.
5.67.040 Renewal --Term.
5.67.050 Grounds for denial.
5.67.060 Appeal of denial.
5.67.065 Assignment prohibited, application upon transfer.
5.67.070 License revocation, grounds.
5.67.080 Revocation procedure, right to cure.
5.67.090 Penalties.
5.67.100 General operating standards.
5.67.010 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter:
A. "Agent" means any legally authorized entity acting on behalf of a property owner, including
but not limited to a property manager, a property management company, an executor of the
owner's estate, or other legal fiduciary.
B. "Nightly rental," also called "short-term rental," means:
1. The use, occupancy, rent or lease, for direct or indirect remuneration, of a structure or
any portion thereof, constructed for single household or multi -household occupancy, or of
any other residential property, or residential property within a commercial building, for a
term of thirty consecutive days or less.
2. The commercial use, by any person, of residential property, or residential property
within a commercial building, for hostel, hotel, inn, lodging, motel, resort or other transient
lodging uses, where the term of occupancy, possession or tenancy of the property is for a
term of thirty consecutive days or less.
The Moab Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 18-22, passed December 11, 2018.
Ch. 5.67 Nightly Rental Licenses I Moab Municipal Code Page 2 of 6
3. For the purposes of this section, "remuneration" means compensation, money, rent, or
other bargained -for consideration given in return for occupancy, possession or use of real
property.
4. For purposes of this section, "nightly rentals" shall include bed and breakfasts. (Ord. 18-
15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.020 Licenses --Required.
A. No person shall operate or engage in any nightly rental activity within the City of Moab
without first obtaining and maintaining a valid nightly rental business license as required by
Chapter 5.04.
B. Each owner of property within the City of Moab that is being used as a nightly rental must
obtain a nightly rental license. An owner may allow his or her agent to apply for and obtain the
nightly rental license; however, the license shall be in the property owner's name, and filed
under the property owner's name in the City license records.
C. An individual owner who owns multiple nightly rental properties must obtain a separate
license for each nightly rental property, and may list up to four (4) nightly rental property
Iocations on one license application. A nightly rental business license fee will be assessed for
each property location. Sales tax for each location must be reported and remitted to the Utah
State Tax Commission as per current state regulations and requirements. Property managers
and property management companies may not include multiple nightly rental properties in one
license.
D. If an owner of a nightly rental is using a D.B.A., that D.B.A. must be registered with the
Utah Department of Commerce.
E. The owner shall be the licensee, but the property manager or local representative, if
applicable, shall be deemed the responsible party for purposes of operating standards and
management standards. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
The Moab Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 18-22, passed December 11, 2018.
Ch. 5.67 Nightly Rental Licenses I Moab Municipal Code Page 3 of 6
5.67.025 License fee.
From time to time, the City Council may establish license fees for nightly rentals operating
within the City limits. Fees shall be based on the total number of bedrooms in each nightly
rental. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.030 Application.
A. The application for a nightly rental license shall include all of the items outlined in Section
5.04.030. Sales tax registration, reporting and remittance for each location must in accordance
with current Utah State Tax Commission regulations and requirements B. The applicant must
show that the facility meets minimum performance standards as specified below in general
operating standards.
B. The applicant must show that the facility meets minimum performance standards as specified
below in general operating standards.
C. An inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department shall be required
prior to issuance of a license and as often as necessary for enforcement of this chapter. The plans
and the property itself must be approved by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health
Department prior to issuance of a license. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.040 Renewal --Term.
The license for a nightly rental property shall be renewed annually on July 1st, if all the
conditions required at the time of the initial approval remain unchanged. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.050 Grounds for denial.
An application for a nightly rental license may be denied for any of the grounds listed in Section
5.04.040, or for a failure to fulfill any of the application requirements. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
The Moab Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 18-22, passed December 11, 2018.
Ch. 5.67 Nightly Rental Licenses J Moab Municipal Code Page 4 of 6
5.67.060 Appeal of denial.
An appeal of a denial of a nightly rental business license shall follow the appeals procedure
specified in Section 5.04.050. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.065 Assignment prohibited, application upon transfer.
A. No license issued under this chapter may be assigned or transferred to any person or entity
not named therein; nor shall any license be assigned or transferred to another nightly rental
property, whether owned by the named licensee or by another person or business entity.
B. Upon the sale, conveyance, or transfer of a nightly rental property, the new owner or
transferee shall, within ten business days of completion of the conveyance or sale, apply for a
new nightly rental license, if he/she intends to operate a nightly rental on the premises. (Ord. 18-
15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.070 License revocation, grounds.
A nightly rental license may be revoked for any of the grounds listed in Section 5.04.080, or for
a violation of any of the operating standards or management standards set forth below. (Ord. 18-
15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.080 Revocation procedure, right to cure.
The revocation procedure and appeal process shall follow the procedures outlined in Section
5.04.090. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.090 Penalties.
A. Any owner and/or property manager of a dwelling within the City of Moab who allows or
permits occupation of said dwelling as a nightly rental, as defined herein, without having first
obtained a business license in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a
The Moab Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 18-22, passed December 11, 2018.
Ch. 5.67 Nightly Rental Licenses I Moab Municipal Code Page 5 of 6
Class A misdemeanor. The fine for a Class A misdemeanor shall be imposed for each day that
the violation continued or continues to be committed
B. Any other violation of this chapter may be punishable, at the election of the City, as a Class
A misdemeanor, as defined under the Utah Code, or by civil action to enjoin or abate the
violation. The fine for a Class A misdemeanor shall be imposed for each day that the violation
continued or continues to be committed. Proof of a violation of this section shall be sufficient to
obtain an injunction. In the event of civil enforcement, the City may recover its reasonable
attorney fees and court costs against the violator. (Ord. 18-15 § 2, 2018)
5.67.100 General operating standards.
Nightly rentals may be allowed where the applicant can show evidence of compliance with the
standards and procedures outlined below, and where there is minimal impact on adjacent
properties and neighborhoods.
A. No license shall be granted for a nightly rental operation unless allowed as a land use in the
underlying zoning district(s) in which it operates.
B. The nightly rental must meet all applicable building, health and fire codes for the intended
use.
C. A maximum stay at a nightly rental by an individual or particular group shall not exceed
thirty consecutive days.
D. Maximum occupancy of any nightly rental shall be ten persons at any one time. If, however,
the property has a fire sprinkler system or other fire suppression system acceptable to the Moab
Fire Chief, and the owner obtains written approval from the Fire Chief, a greater maximum
occupancy may be approved by the City Treasurer.
E. Each sleeping room must be equipped with smoke and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors.
F. All nightly rental owners or property managers must collect and pay the applicable State
transient room tax, State sales tax, City resort communities sales tax, City municipal transient
rooms tax, and pay the City business license fee.
G. Water and sewer impact fees for nightly rentals shall be calculated pursuant to Chapter
13.25.
The Moab Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 18-22, passed December 11, 2018.
Ch. 5.67 Nightly Rental Licenses I Moab Municipal Code Page 6 of 6
H. Water and sewer rates for nightly rentals shall be calculated according to the rate formulas
contained in Chapter 13.24.
I. The owner or property manager shall provide information on current or past occupants to
police, emergency, or City personnel as requested. The owner or property manager shall respond
to complaints and concerns within one hour of any phone call or other notification. Failure of the
owner or property manager to respond in a timely manner may result in a violation and possible
fines to the owner and/or property manager, or revocation of the nightly rental license. (Ord. 18-
15 § 2, 2018)
The Moab Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 18-22, passed December 11, 2018.
Disclaimer: The City Recorder's Office has the official version ofthe Moab Municipal Code.
Users should contact the City Recorder's Office for ordinances passed subsequent to the
ordinance cited above.
City Website: moabcity.org
City Telephone: (435) 259-5121
Code Publishing Company
The Moab Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 18-22, passed December 11, 2018.