MoabShort-term rental rules

Additional vacation and regional market / Utah

Moab publishes a nightly-rental license chapter that separates licensing from land-use permission.

Research reviewed Oct 31, 2026. Primary sources linked.

Compare this market What changed Start a property worksheet

Does the operating permit transfer?: New application
Current section 5.67.065 prohibits assigning a nightly-rental license to another owner or property. A buyer intending to continue nightly rentals must apply for a new license within ten business days after the sale or conveyance. The filing deadline does not itself authorize operation.
Can the land-use approval continue?: Verify the property approval
The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
Can this buyer obtain approval?: Confirm current zoning and whether the property has an authorized nightly-rental use. An old license chapter does not establish that new lodging is allowed at the site.
License or registration: The published Chapter 5.67 requires a nightly-rental license in the property owner name for each rental property.
Application availability: Confirm current availability
Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
Timing to verify: Apply for a new nightly-rental license within ten business days after sale or conveyance if intending to continue nightly rentals.
Changes and uncertainty: The current code, through Ordinance 26-22 of September 22, 2026, confirms the buyer rule previously found in the December 2018 compilation. Verify the parcel use approval separately.

What this means for the appraisal

Obtain the buyer application requirements and confirm the earliest approved operating date before assuming continuity of rental income.
Verify the property’s land-use approval and continuation conditions. Research finding: Verify the property approval.
Check the proposed buyer against the recorded requirements: Confirm current zoning and whether the property has an authorized nightly-rental use. An old license chapter does not establish that new lodging is allowed at the site.
In the assignment analysis, identify the evidence supporting the proposed rental use, any operating interruption and any unresolved assumptions.

Use these prompts to plan the property review. The appraiser must evaluate the evidence and reach the assignment-specific conclusions.

Record the property evidence in a worksheet

Request documents from the owner or agent

Copy this market-specific request, add the property address and edit it for the assignment.

Read or select the document request

Document request for Moab

Subject: STR property document request | Moab, UT

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: Current section 5.67.065 prohibits assigning a nightly-rental license to another owner or property. A buyer intending to continue nightly rentals must apply for a new license within ten business days after the sale or conveyance. The filing deadline does not itself authorize operation.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: Confirm current zoning and whether the property has an authorized nightly-rental use. An old license chapter does not establish that new lodging is allowed at the site.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.
9. Confirmation of the applicable deadline and filing evidence: Apply for a new nightly-rental license within ten business days after sale or conveyance if intending to continue nightly rentals.
10. Written clarification: Confirm the parcel retains an approved nightly-rental use and whether any zoning approval needs amendment. A new license application does not establish land-use eligibility.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
Moab Chapter 5.67, city-hosted 2018 code compilation: https://www.moabcity.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/510?fileID=1168
Moab current code, section 5.67.065, buyer application and nontransferability: https://moab.municipal.codes/Code/5.67.065

Subject: STR property document request | Moab, UT

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: Current section 5.67.065 prohibits assigning a nightly-rental license to another owner or property. A buyer intending to continue nightly rentals must apply for a new license within ten business days after the sale or conveyance. The filing deadline does not itself authorize operation.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: Confirm current zoning and whether the property has an authorized nightly-rental use. An old license chapter does not establish that new lodging is allowed at the site.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.
9. Confirmation of the applicable deadline and filing evidence: Apply for a new nightly-rental license within ten business days after sale or conveyance if intending to continue nightly rentals.
10. Written clarification: Confirm the parcel retains an approved nightly-rental use and whether any zoning approval needs amendment. A new license application does not establish land-use eligibility.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
Moab Chapter 5.67, city-hosted 2018 code compilation: https://www.moabcity.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/510?fileID=1168
Moab current code, section 5.67.065, buyer application and nontransferability: https://moab.municipal.codes/Code/5.67.065

Research and guide updates

Oct 31, 2026 Research record: Research recorded for this market. Primary sources linked. See the findings, open questions and official sources below.
Nov 1, 2026 Guide tools: Added assignment prompts, a document request and consistent research questions. This tool update does not change the market research date.

Changes and uncertainty to verify

The current code, through Ordinance 26-22 of September 22, 2026, confirms the buyer rule previously found in the December 2018 compilation. Verify the parcel use approval separately.

Still to confirm

Confirm the parcel retains an approved nightly-rental use and whether any zoning approval needs amendment. A new license application does not establish land-use eligibility.

Sources and research limits

The sale summary cites official code, program guidance or a court record. Read its scope and any remaining questions; it is not a parcel determination.

Use this summary to identify the documents and questions for a property review. A seller's rental history alone does not establish a buyer's permission to operate.

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