Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Fountain Green, UT?

EXPLICIT ANSWER: Short-term rentals are NOT currently permitted in Fountain Green, UT, but the city is actively moving toward allowing them with strict owner-occupied requirements.

As of January 2025, the Fountain Green Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance permitting short-term rentals, but only on an owner-occupied basis. The City Council has not yet voted on or formally adopted these regulations. Until the City Council takes formal action, short-term rentals remain prohibited in Fountain Green.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Fountain Green

Current Status and Timeline

The Planning Commission recommended the STR ordinance to the City Council in January 2025. The recommendation requires the ordinance to be placed in formal format before the City Council can vote on it. Investors should monitor City Council meetings for final adoption.

Proposed Owner-Occupied STR Framework

When adopted, the framework will require:

Primary Residency Requirement: The STR unit must be the owner's primary residence for at least 51% of a 12-month period (approximately 180 days). This occupancy requirement does not need to be consecutive.

Local Representative: Each STR must designate a local responsible party who can respond to complaints within 30 minutes during rental periods.

Occupancy Limits: Guest limits will be tied to the size and accommodations of the dwelling rather than fixed arbitrary numbers.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Permits and Licenses (Proposed)

• Business License: Required before operation, subject to annual renewal
• Conditional Use Permit: May be required depending on zone designation
• Annual Safety Inspection: Required before business license issuance or renewal

Safety Requirements (Proposed)

• Smoke Alarms: Must meet current building code requirements
• Egress Requirements: Proper emergency exits as per building standards
• Fire Safety Compliance: Adherence to fire code regulations

Application Requirements

• Inspection Form: Completion of city-provided inspection form
• Owner Documentation: Proof of primary residence status
• Local Representative Contact: Information for on-call responsible party

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State Level

City-Level Regulations (Proposed Fountain Green STR Ordinance)

Owner-Occupancy Requirement:

• Must be owner's primary residence ≥51% of 12-month period
• No requirement for consecutive occupancy
• Applies to residential units within mixed-use buildings if they meet dwelling standards

Operational Requirements:

• Designated local representative able to respond within 30 minutes
• Guest limits based on unit size and accommodations
• Annual inspection and business license renewal process
• Compliance with all applicable building and fire codes

Zoning Considerations:

• Planning Commission noted that ordinance should apply to residential units in commercial buildings (e.g., apartments above Main Street businesses)
• These units must meet dwelling standards including smoke alarms and egress requirements

Enforcement Mechanisms:

• Business licensing and inspection-based enforcement
• No citywide cap on number of STRs currently proposed
• Future re-evaluation planned after trial period

County-Level Regulations (Sanpete County)

No specific Sanpete County STR regulations were found in the provided content. STR regulations would likely be governed by state law and city ordinances unless the county has adopted separate regulations.

State-Level Regulations (Utah)

The provided content does not include specific Utah state-level STR regulations. Utah state law generally allows municipalities to regulate short-term rentals through local ordinances, but investors should consult current state regulations for any requirements that may apply.

Contact Information for Local Authority

Fountain Green City Officials

Mayor: Mark Coombs
City Recorder: Michelle Walker
Address: Fountain Green City Hall, 375 N. State, Fountain Green, UT 84632

City Council Members

• Rod Hansen
• Alyson Strait
• Jacob Littlefield
• Kim Johnson
• Kerry Farnsworth

Planning and Zoning Commission

Chairman: Mark Woods
Co-Chair: Tyler Smith

Building and Safety

Building Inspector: Sanpete County official designated to inspect buildings under construction

Contact Information

For specific STR inquiries, contact:

• Fountain Green City Hall: For business licenses and permits
• Planning Commission: For zoning and ordinance questions
• Sanpete County: For building inspections and codes

Source Pages and References

1. Planning Commission Recommendation Article (January 9, 2025): citizenportal.ai/articles/6675564/Planning-commission-recommends-owner-occupied-short-term-rental-rules-to-City-Council

2. Planning Commission Meeting Summary (January 9, 2025): citizenportal.ai/articles/6644539/Planning-commission-recommends-owner-occupied-short-term-rental-rules-to-city-council

3. Fountain Green City Council Meeting Minutes (January 16, 2025): www.utah.gov/pmn/files/1234791.pdf

4. Fountain Green City General Plan and Land Use Ordinance - Chapter 2 Definitions: fountaingreencity.gov/general-plan-and-land-use-ordinance/chapter-2-definitions/index.html

Important Considerations for Investors

Market Approach

The Planning Commission chose to start with restrictive owner-occupied rules to "test the water" before potentially loosening restrictions later based on community feedback and market experience.

Timeline Uncertainty

The exact timeline for City Council adoption of the ordinance is not specified in the provided content. Investors should monitor City Council meetings for updates.

Future Policy Flexibility

Commissioners indicated the ordinance would be revisited after a trial period, with potential for loosening restrictions if community concerns are not realized.

Enforcement Infrastructure

The city plans to use business licensing and inspection processes for enforcement, with staff committed to creating forms to track inspection dates and compliance.

Disclaimer: This guide is based on the provided content as of January 2025. STR regulations are subject to change. Investors should verify current requirements with Fountain Green City Hall before making investment decisions.