City reviews rental data to identify illegal short term rentals

The Provo City Council held a work meeting on March 25, 2025, focusing on various issues related to rental properties and compliance with city regulations. The meeting began with discussions on the ongoing efforts to analyze rental data from both the city and the county. Council members emphasized the importance of identifying potential illegal rentals and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) through this data comparison.

City officials reported that they are currently addressing challenges with the data reporting system, which has hindered effective comparisons with county data. They are in the process of gathering long-term rental data, a task that has undergone legal review to ensure compliance with regulations. A request for proposals (RFP) related to this data gathering is expected to be released next month, which will help streamline the identification of rental properties.

The conversation also touched on the overlap between long-term rentals and short-term rentals, with officials noting that many properties identified as short-term rentals through the Granicus system are operating without the necessary licenses. The council discussed the possibility of sending letters to these property owners, informing them of their need to obtain a short-term rental license and the potential consequences of non-compliance.

Additionally, it was noted that the county had recently reached out to property owners suspected of operating illegal short-term rentals, directing them to the city for licensing. However, city officials clarified that many of these properties would not qualify for a license under current regulations.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for continued monitoring of rental properties to ensure compliance with city laws. The council plans to follow up on these discussions in future meetings, focusing on enforcement strategies and the implementation of the new data gathering system.