Ephraim Council adopts fire-inspection changes, multi-family green-space rules, short-term rental limits, and a utility assistance program

Ephraim — At its May 20 meeting the Ephraim City Council approved multiple ordinances and one conditional use permit intended to adjust inspection frequency, regulate housing amenities and short-term rentals, and provide modest utility assistance for qualifying residents.

The council adopted Ordinance ECO 26-04, which changes the frequency of required fire inspections. City Manager Katie Witt presented the ordinance; Councilmember Bud Powell moved for adoption and Councilmember Anthony Beal seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The council approved a conditional use permit for the construction of a duplex at approximately 150 South 200 West. Planner Megan Spurling said the application met municipal-code standards and the Planning Commission recommended approval. The permit was approved subject to conditions including a six-foot site-obscuring fence, two paved parking spaces per unit, separate utility meters for each unit, required landscaping and open space, dark-sky-compliant lighting, and payment of required permits and impact fees.

On multi-family development standards, the council adopted Ordinance ECO 26-06, which requires developments with 10 or more units to provide tenant amenities equal to 10% of the development area in addition to the standard 20% landscaping requirement; smaller developments must provide tenant amenities that can be incorporated within landscaping. Councilmember Loren Steck moved for adoption; Councilmember Jack Dalene seconded and the vote was unanimous.

The council also adopted Ordinance ECO 26-07 to regulate short-term rentals (platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO). The ordinance requires local property management, annual business licensing, fire inspections, and transient-room-tax collection. It limits short-term rentals to one unit in developments of 10 units or fewer, caps rentals at 10% of units in larger developments, and restricts licensing to the legal property owner; staff reported roughly 30 unlicensed short-term rentals citywide and five already licensed units. Councilmember Jack Dalene moved adoption; Councilmember Anthony Beal seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Finally, Council adopted Ordinance ECO 26-09 establishing a Water and Sewer Assistance Program for qualifying utility customers. The program is limited to residents and principal residences and will use qualification for the HEAT program as the basis for eligibility. Councilmember Bud Powell emphasized the program’s intent to assist senior citizens and residents on fixed incomes. The program provides a monthly credit of $15 for water and $5 for sewer, for a total monthly assistance amount of $20; participants must recertify annually and assistance will be applied directly to utility accounts. The Council approved a motion containing an interlineated amendment to Section 2(F)(1) allowing the City to unilaterally terminate assistance for an individual account with or without cause. The motion to adopt ECO 26-09 passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance: ECO 26-04 (adopted) — mover: Bud Powell; second: Anthony Beal; ECO 26-06 (adopted) — mover: Loren Steck; second: Jack Dalene; ECO 26-07 (adopted) — mover: Jack Dalene; second: Anthony Beal; ECO 26-09 (adopted) — mover: Bud Powell; second: Anthony Beal; Conditional Use Permit for 150 S 200 W (approved) — mover: Dennis Nordfelt; second: Loren Steck. All recorded votes were unanimous among the six councilmembers present.

What it means: The short-term rental ordinance tightens registration and enforcement to protect residential neighborhoods while allowing limited rental activity; the green-space ordinance increases amenity obligations for larger multi-family projects; the assistance program provides a modest monthly credit for eligible households and requires annual recertification. The council also cleared a CUP to add a duplex under specified conditions.

The meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m. The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026.

Note on sourcing: Reporting is based on the official meeting minutes and transcript; the transcript does not contain verbatim quotes from staff or councilmembers.