Current permit-cap status, minimum-stay requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and jurisdiction breakdown for short-term rentals in Moab. Every field is cited to a primary source below. Always verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before writing an offer.
Moab Municipal Code 17.09.700 prohibits residential short-term rentals in virtually all residential and most commercial zones; new STRs are only possible in specific resort/overlay zones or via grandfathered licenses under Ch. 5.67.
Have a specific property in mind? Analyze it with a $99 report →Moab is the hardest STR market in this batch to enter new. MMC 17.09.700 prohibits STRs in almost every residential and general commercial zone; MMC Ch. 5.67 requires a nightly rental license (issuance 3–6 weeks, requires proof of insurance, site plan, and local contact) and operating without one is a Class A misdemeanor. Utah HB 82 (2021) preempts cities from using online listings alone as enforcement, so verification must be property-based. Investible inventory is essentially limited to (a) grandfathered licensed units, (b) parcels in city resort/overlay zones already zoned for nightly rental, or (c) unincorporated Grand County parcels in designated overlays. Verify chain-of-title license transferability before offer; unlicensed 'STR-ready' listings are common but non-operable.
Short-term rentals in Moab are classified as effectively banned as of 2026-08-16. Moab Municipal Code 17.09.700 prohibits residential short-term rentals in virtually all residential and most commercial zones; new STRs are only possible in specific resort/overlay zones or via grandfathered licenses under Ch. 5.67.
Yes. Effective supply cap via zoning: MMC 17.09.700 bars STRs in A-2, C-1, C-3, C-5, FW, I-1, R&D-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RA-1 and any zone where STR is not a permitted use. Moratorium on new construction intended for STR use has been repeatedly extended.
The primary source does not specify a minimum stay for short-term rentals.
Moab does not require owner-occupancy for short-term rental operators as of 2026-08-16. Verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before offering, as owner-occupancy rules interact with zoning overlays.
Contact the operating jurisdiction directly using the primary-source links published on this page. Zoning, HOA restrictions, and pending regulatory changes are parcel-specific and can override the citywide profile above. DepreciMax's $99 property report separately sizes the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction for a specific address, once regulatory clearance is confirmed.
Once you've verified the regulatory profile of a listing you're considering, run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the actual Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction. The report analyzes the listing photos to classify finishes as 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural — producing a line-item estimate closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
Use the DepreciMax STR Regulations Database for the full top-50 market fleet — every market cited to a primary jurisdiction source, updated quarterly.
Not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental regulations change frequently and vary by parcel, zone, and HOA. The information on this page is a summary of publicly available primary sources as of 2026-08-16. Before acting — buying, listing, or operating a short-term rental in Moab — verify current rules with the operating jurisdiction and consult a local attorney and CPA.