Business/Land use
UTAH COUNTY, Utah — Neighborhoods and policymakers are wrestling with shifts in public acceptance of short-term property rentals that cater to travelers, tourists, vacationers and sightseers.
Like the popular preference of choosing Lyft or Uber transportation over established taxi or shuttle services, people can find cost savings and homelike conveniences in the rental of privately owned and operated host accommodations — booked online and on short notice — over traditional hotel or motel management offerings.
For homeowners, the concept can provide a lucrative alternative to property left unused while occupants are away on business or leisure. For investors, the per-day rates can substantially contribute toward the purchase of a house.
Typically, government authorities at various levels require licensing to pursue such an income-producing venture and may have limits on where or when that business activity may be conducted.
Also, mortgage lenders may be concerned with how a property they lend on is occupied and used.
For instance, the topic of short-term rentals of less than 30 consecutive days was discussed during recent land-use ordinance deliberations in Vineyard, Utah. Single-family residence owners presented reasons for allowing short-term rentals, which some said they were already conducting.
The town is expanding rapidly and attracting investors as well as those who seek a primary residence. Vineyard officials are firming up language in the town’s planning code. Vineyard is far from build-out status; what officials decide now will have far-reaching impacts for residents.
Also, a revision of the Real Estate Purchase Contract that is coming into use by Jan. 1, 2018 for Utah residential real-estate transactions considers existing long-term leases and rentals, as in earlier REPC versions, plus the addition of short-term rental bookings.
The town of Vineyard, Utah schedules (subject to change) its Planning Commission meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, and its City Council meetings at 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at City Hall, 240 E. Gammon Road in Vineyard.
—Gary Brodeur
Fire Poppy 