Weber County staff outlines short-term rental enforcement plan, reports 515 identified listings

Weber County planning staff told an Ogden Valley public meeting that the county has identified 515 short-term rental (STR) units through a contract with data firm Granicus and is moving to enforce a new STR ordinance adopted in December 2022. The presenter said the 515 figure includes eight listings found in the last 30 days and represents roughly 84–85% of the online listings the county has been able to match to addresses.

The update explained how Granicus ‘‘scrapes’’ advertising platforms including Airbnb and VRBO, geospatially links listings to county parcel data and helps staff reconcile duplicate postings that represent the same unit. Staff said some listings disappeared after outreach, which affects compliance counts. ‘‘We currently have 515 short term rentals that are identified in the county, including 8 as of the last 30 days,’’ the presenter said. Staff cautioned that the identification rate remains in flux while addresses are verified.

Iris, the county’s STR enforcement staff, walked the commission through the application and operating requirements that must be met for an STR license. Required materials include a complete online application, proof of occupancy, a site and parking plan, a detailed floor plan for emergency responders, written approval from the unit’s water provider and an entity/tax number for remitting taxes. Iris said about 63 applications are currently pending because they are missing required documentation. ‘‘If your application is not complete, we will not move forward,’’ she said.

The county’s operating standards published under the ordinance will require hosts to post their STR license number on listings or include a copy of the license, provide 24-hour emergency contact information, display occupant limits in advertisements and follow a noise limit after evening hours. Iris described the default occupancy rule under the new code as ‘‘two per bedroom plus four, with a total of 10,’’ and said properties that seek a higher limit must show additional fire protection (for example, a sprinkler system), adequate parking and utility approvals.

Staff described an escalating enforcement ladder: an initial minor violation results in a warning, repeat minor violations move to fines and repeated or serious violations can trigger revocation or a judicial process. Iris said the county will pursue administrative penalties and may refer persistent unlicensed operations for court collection; staff cited examples of unpaid penalties now subject to further action. The presentation noted unlicensed violations may be fined as a multiple of the nightly rate listed online; staff said the county is setting up banking arrangements so Granicus can assist in fine collection and follow-up.

The presentation emphasized that Granicus handles the large-scale online scraping and initial lists while county staff verify addresses, consult parcel and assessor records and perform targeted enforcement. Staff also said they maintain a separate count of word-of-mouth reports from residents that are not automatically included in Granicus’ 515 listing tally. ‘‘For 95% of what is going on in the valley, Granicus does for us. But the other 5% we have a very loyal public that will call in and say, I don't know if you know, but this is going on,’’ Iris said.

Staff and legal counsel made clear that expanding where STRs are allowed would require a rezoning or other formal process that includes public hearings; they said the recent ordinance was not intended to create broad new allowances in zones where STRs were previously prohibited. The meeting closed with staff asking residents to continue reporting suspected illegal listings while the county refines the verification and enforcement process.

What happens next: staff said they will continue to reconcile Granicus data with county records, proceed with the staged letter and fine process for noncompliant listings and work with the public and enforcement partners — fire, utilities and inspections — on safety and occupancy questions.