Short-Term Rental Laws in Moab, UT (2026)
Short-term rentals ('nightly rentals') are legal in Moab only with a city Nightly Rental Business License ($250 initial, $52 annual renewal) and only where zoning allows -- but residential short-term rentals are prohibited in all residential zones and the city removed new overnight accommodations from its zones in 2019, so operating is effectively limited to existing, grandfathered/licensed properties in commercial areas. Unlicensed operation is a Class A misdemeanor with civil fines up to $750 per day. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
⏳ Verification in progress — data compiled July 10, 2026, human review pending
Moab STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Nightly Rental Business License |
| Permit fee | $250 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~16.42% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | Licenses are administered by the City Treasurer; inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department is required before issuance 'and as often as necessary for enforcement of this chapter' (MMC 5.67.030). The license is non-transferable; a buyer of a nightly rental property must apply for a new license within 10 business days of closing. Owners/property managers must respond to complaints within one hour or risk fines and license revocation. Under Utah HB 256 (effective May 7, 2025), the city may use an online STR listing as evidence of a violation when it has additional supporting information, and may ask a listing website to remove a listing that violates licensing or zoning rules. |
| Current rules effective | 2024-06-11 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Moab stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Moab, UT — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Moab occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Utah combined sales & use tax (Moab rate, incl. 1.6% resort communities tax) (9.35%)· usually collected by platform | $42.08 |
| Grand County transient room tax (4.5%)· usually collected by platform | $20.25 |
| Utah state transient room tax (1.07%)· usually collected by platform | $4.82 |
| Moab municipal transient room tax (1.5%)· usually collected by platform | $6.75 |
| Total tax (16.42%) | $73.89 |
| Guest pays | $523.89 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Moab requires Nightly Rental Business License to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $250, renewed annual.
$250.00 initial application plus $52.00 annual renewal for 'Nightly rentals, 4 units or less' (Master Fee Schedule 3.50.050, current through Ord. 2025-08). Fee is assessed per property location; an owner with multiple nightly rental properties must obtain a separate license for each property but may list up to four locations on one application. Fee was raised from $116 initial/$26 renewal by Ord. 2023-06. Pre-license inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department is required.
Zoning & location rules
Residential short-term rentals (30 days or less) are prohibited in zones A-2, C-1, C-3, C-5, FW, I-1, R&D-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RA-1 and all other zones where short-term rentals are not listed as a permitted use (MMC 17.09.700, replaced by Ord. 2024-03). Exceptions: bed and breakfast facilities and guest apartments complying with Chapter 17.70 or 17.71, and 'accommodations for qualifying participants' operated by adaptive recreational service providers in the C-3 zone (added 2024). In 2019 the city removed new overnight accommodations from all zones; existing 'established overnight accommodations' shown on the Established Overnight Accommodations Map are legal, conforming uses that may make improvements but may not add new overnight accommodation units (e.g., MMC 17.27.020, C-4 zone). No license is granted unless nightly rental is an allowed land use in the underlying zone (MMC 5.67.100.A). Maximum occupancy is 10 persons per rental (more only with fire-suppression approval) and maximum stay is 30 consecutive days.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Utah combined sales & use tax (Moab rate, incl. 1.6% resort communities tax)Moab location code 10-011 combined rate effective July 1, 2026: 4.85% state + 1.0% local option + 0.25% county option + 0.30% highway + 0.25% transit + 1.0% rural hospital + 0.10% RAP + 1.60% resort communities = 9.35%. Airbnb/Vrbo collect and remit on their bookings; hosts must register with the Utah State Tax Commission and remit via TAP for direct bookings. | 9.35% | platform |
| Grand County transient room taxApplies to stays under 30 days; raised from 4.25% to 4.5% effective October 1, 2025 (new maximum allowed by 2025 HB 456). Platform-collected on Airbnb/Vrbo bookings; host remits on direct bookings. | 4.5% | platform |
| Utah state transient room taxStatewide TRT raised from 0.32% to 1.07% effective July 1, 2025 under 2025 HB 456 (0.32% 'initial rate' plus new 0.75% 'secondary rate'; bill effective date July 1, 2025). Utah Tax Commission charts show Moab SR at 0.32% on April 1, 2025 and 1.07% on July 1, 2025. Platform-collected on Airbnb/Vrbo bookings. | 1.07% | platform |
| Moab municipal transient room tax1.0% municipal TRT plus 0.5% additional municipal TRT. Total transient-room rate in Moab is 7.07% (4.50% county + 1.07% state + 1.50% municipal) on top of the 9.35% combined sales tax, i.e. roughly 16.4% total tax on nightly rentals. | 1.5% | platform |
Enforcement & penalties
Licenses are administered by the City Treasurer; inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department is required before issuance 'and as often as necessary for enforcement of this chapter' (MMC 5.67.030). The license is non-transferable; a buyer of a nightly rental property must apply for a new license within 10 business days of closing. Owners/property managers must respond to complaints within one hour or risk fines and license revocation. Under Utah HB 256 (effective May 7, 2025), the city may use an online STR listing as evidence of a violation when it has additional supporting information, and may ask a listing website to remove a listing that violates licensing or zoning rules.
Operating a nightly rental without a license is a Class A misdemeanor, with the fine imposed for each day the violation continues; the city may alternatively pursue civil action and recover attorney fees. The Master Fee Schedule sets civil penalties of $750.00/day/infraction for 'Illegal short-term rental' and 200% of the license fee for business license noncompliance.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Moab
October 1, 2025material
Grand County transient room tax rises from 4.25% to 4.5%
Grand County raised its county TRT from 4.25% to 4.5%, the new maximum allowed after 2025 HB 456 lifted the state cap effective July 1, 2025. Applies to all Moab short-term rental stays. Confirmed by the Utah Tax Commission rate charts: Moab TR 4.25% on July 1, 2025 vs 4.50% on October 1, 2025.
Official source →July 1, 2025material
Utah state transient room tax rises from 0.32% to 1.07%
2025 HB 456 (effective July 1, 2025) increased the statewide state-imposed transient room tax from 0.32% to 1.07% by adding a 0.75% 'secondary rate', with revenue directed to a new Outdoor Recreation Mitigation Grant Fund and the General Fund. The Utah Tax Commission chart effective July 1, 2025 shows Moab's state TRT (SR) at 1.07%; the July 2026 chart shows Moab's total transient room rate at 7.07%.
Official source →June 24, 2025
Ordinance 2025-08 updates Master Fee Schedule (nightly rental license fee unchanged)
The City Council updated the Chapter 3.50 Master Fee Schedule; nightly rental business license fees remained $250 initial / $52 renewal, and the illegal short-term rental civil penalty remained $750/day/infraction.
Official source →May 7, 2025material
Utah HB 256 clarifies municipal STR enforcement powers
Statewide law (effective May 7, 2025) confirms cities may require STR business licenses, may use an online listing as evidence of an illegal rental when corroborated by additional information, and may request listing websites remove listings that violate licensing or zoning requirements.
Official source →June 11, 2024material
Ordinance 2024-03 replaces MMC 17.09.700 and removes 'Lodging' from C-3 zone
Repealed and replaced the residential short-term rental prohibition section, added an exception for 'accommodations for qualifying participants' operated by adaptive recreational service providers in the C-3 Central Commercial Zone, and removed 'Lodging' as a C-3 permitted use.
Official source →April 25, 2023material
Ordinance 2023-06 raises nightly rental license fees to $250 initial / $52 renewal
Business license fee overhaul (public hearing April 25, 2023; adopted 2023) raised the nightly rental license from $116 initial/$26 renewal (3 units or less; $145/$26 for more than 3 units) to a flat $250 initial/$52 renewal for 'Nightly rentals, 4 units or less'.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Moab?
Airbnb is legal in Moab, UT, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Moab?
Yes. Moab requires a Nightly Rental Business License to operate a short-term rental, which costs $250 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Moab short-term rental permit cost?
The Nightly Rental Business License costs $250 (annual renewal). $250.00 initial application plus $52.00 annual renewal for 'Nightly rentals, 4 units or less' (Master Fee Schedule 3.50.050, current through Ord. 2025-08). Fee is assessed per property location; an owner with multiple nightly rental properties must obtain a separate license for each property but may list up to four locations on one application. Fee was raised from $116 initial/$26 renewal by Ord. 2023-06. Pre-license inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department is required.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Moab?
Yes — Moab does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Moab?
Hosts in Moab are subject to: Utah combined sales & use tax (Moab rate, incl. 1.6% resort communities tax) (9.35%), Grand County transient room tax (4.5%), Utah state transient room tax (1.07%), Moab municipal transient room tax (1.5%) — roughly 16.42% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Moab?
Operating a nightly rental without a license is a Class A misdemeanor, with the fine imposed for each day the violation continues; the city may alternatively pursue civil action and recover attorney fees. The Master Fee Schedule sets civil penalties of $750.00/day/infraction for 'Illegal short-term rental' and 200% of the license fee for business license noncompliance. Licenses are administered by the City Treasurer; inspection by the Building Inspector, Fire Chief and Health Department is required before issuance 'and as often as necessary for enforcement of this chapter' (MMC 5.67.030). The license is non-transferable; a buyer of a nightly rental property must apply for a new license within 10 business days of closing. Owners/property managers must respond to complaints within one hour or risk fines and license revocation. Under Utah HB 256 (effective May 7, 2025), the city may use an online STR listing as evidence of a violation when it has additional supporting information, and may ask a listing website to remove a listing that violates licensing or zoning rules.
Moab's STR rules changed 4 times recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Park City, UTPermit required
- Breckenridge, CORestricted
- Denver, COPrimary residence only
- Sedona, AZPermit required
- Las Vegas, NVPrimary residence only
Sources
- Moab Municipal Code Ch. 5.67 Nightly Rental Licenses (city-posted PDF)retrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Moab Ordinance 2025-08 with Master Fee Schedule (Ch. 3.50) attachmentretrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Moab Ordinance 2024-03 (amending 17.06.020, 17.09.700, 17.24.020(A))retrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Moab Ordinance 2023-06 Master Fee Schedule redline (business license fee increase)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Utah State Tax Commission - Combined Sales and Use Tax Rates, effective July 1, 2026retrieved July 10, 2026
- Utah State Tax Commission - Other Sales Tax Rates and Fees (transient room), effective July 1, 2026retrieved July 10, 2026
- Utah H.B. 256 Municipal and County Zoning Amendments (2025), enrolledretrieved July 10, 2026
- Utah H.B. 456 Transient Room Tax Amendments (2025), enrolled (effective July 1, 2025)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Utah State Tax Commission - Other Sales Tax Rates and Fees (transient room), effective July 1, 2025retrieved July 10, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center - Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Utahretrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Moab and a qualified professional before operating.