Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in St. George?

Yes. St. George requires Short Term Rental Business License (City of St. George business license), and the fee is $50. Short-term rentals (stays of 29 days or less) are legal in St. George only inside city-designated resort/planned-development areas (e.g., Las Palmas, Sports Village and other Green Valley communities, parts of Entrada and The Ledges, and the Desert Color Resort); they are prohibited in single-family residential zones, with a narrow exception for homes on 2+ acres fronting an arterial street. Operators must hold a city Short Term Rental business license (general business license fee $50/year, renewed annually) and collect roughly 13.3% in combined sales and transient room taxes. The single biggest restriction is location: if the property is not on the city's Approved Short Term Rental Properties list, it generally cannot be an STR. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in St. George?

The Short Term Rental Business License (City of St. George business license) fee in St. George is $50, renewed annual. The FY2026 Master Fee Schedule has no STR-specific line item; the General Business License Fee is $50 annually (a 'Rental Dwelling Business License' is also $50 annually), plus $10 per full-time and $5 per part-time employee (max $350 before late fees) and a $25 late fee after 60 days. Applications are filed through the city's Citizenserve portal, which lists a dedicated 'Short Term Rental' license type. Under city code 3-2V-1, an owner of multiple STR properties needs only one business license covering all of them. Fire Department inspection/approval and planning/zoning approval are part of the application.

How to get a short-term rental permit in St. George, UT (2026)

St. George requires Short Term Rental Business License (City of St. George business license) — the fee is $50, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short Term Rental Business License (City of St. George business license)
Permit fee	$50
Renewal	Annual

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs are prohibited in single-family residential zones and allowed only in designated areas. The city's Approved Short Term Rental Properties list (updated 06/04/2026) covers: Green Valley (Las Palmas, Point Vista Condos, Sports Village, Estancia, Amira, The Lofts, The Vue, Worldmark/The Resort), Entrada (Shinava Ridge units 24-39 only, The Inn @ Entrada), The Ledges (Escapes, Fairways, Sand Cove), Bloomington Country Club Vacation Villas, Villas at Sun River (per plat), Redhawk, Historic Landmark Properties as approved, and Desert Color (Resort only). Separately, city code 10-17A-13 allows a single-family residence to qualify only if it sits on a lot of 2+ acres, is contiguous to and fronts a major collector or arterial street (66-ft+ right-of-way), and is at least 500 feet from another STR property. Short-term rental of an accessory dwelling unit is not permitted.
2
Apply for the Short Term Rental Business License (City of St. George business license)
Submit the Short Term Rental Business License (City of St. George business license) application to St. George and pay the $50 fee. The FY2026 Master Fee Schedule has no STR-specific line item; the General Business License Fee is $50 annually (a 'Rental Dwelling Business License' is also $50 annually), plus $10 per full-time and $5 per part-time employee (max $350 before late fees) and a $25 late fee after 60 days. Applications are filed through the city's Citizenserve portal, which lists a dedicated 'Short Term Rental' license type. Under city code 3-2V-1, an owner of multiple STR properties needs only one business license covering all of them. Fire Department inspection/approval and planning/zoning approval are part of the application.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for St. George. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment St. George changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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Verified July 13, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with St. George before applying.

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